Resources

RM&V 2.0

RM&V is an open-source application for performing advanced measurement and verification (M&V 2.0) using free R software. RM&V’s modeling approach is fully transparent and follows methods published by LBNL. The intent of this package is to help M&V practitioners to perform with a high level of automation for commercial building projects.RM&V is an open-source application for performing advanced measurement and verification (M&V 2.0) using free R software. RM&V’s modeling approach is fully transparent and follows methods published by LBNL. The intent of this package is to help M&V practitioners to perform with a high level of automation for commercial building projects.

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What you need to know about cool roofs in your home or in buildings. How to reach net-zero and save money. Photo Credit: Robin Kutesa

Cool Roof Facts

Cool roofing is the fastest growing sector of the building industry, as building owners and facility managers realize the immediate and long-term benefits of roofs that stay cool in the sun. Studies exploring the energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of cool roofs show that in warm or hot climates, substituting a cool roof for a conventional roof can have enormous benefits. Photo Credit: Robin Kutesa

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What you need to know about planting trees to make your home reach net zero energy and save money. Photo Credit: Scott Webb

A Guidebook On Tree Planting And Light-Colored Surfacing 

A primer on how to reduce the urban heat island effect by implementing effective mitigation strategies.

Summer temperatures in urban areas are now higher than in their rural surroundings, due to a phenomenon known as the “heat island effect.” Research shows that increases in electricity demand, smog levels, and human discomfort are linked to this phenomenon. Planting trees to provide shade and protection from winter winds, and lightening the color of building and pavement surfaces have the potential to significantly reduce energy use for cooling, and lower electrical bills.

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What you need to know about heat islands and how they affect your home or buildings and your community. Photo Credit: Jonas Weckschmied

Heat Island Compendium

EPA’s Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies 

Urban areas are usually warmer than their rural surroundings, a phenomenon known as the “heat island effect.” As cities develop, more vegetation is lost and more surfaces are paved or covered with build­ings. The change in ground cover results in less shade and moisture to keep urban areas cool. Built-up areas also evaporate less water, which contributes to elevated surface and air temperatures. Properties of urban materials, in particular solar reflectance, thermal emissivity, and heat capacity, also influence the development of urban heat islands, as they determine how the sun’s energy is reflected, emitted, and absorbed.

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