Resource & Energy Efficiency Lab

The research interests of faculty and doctoral researchers at RE2 Lab lie at the intersection of sustainable healthy built environments and design computation. Within the field, we conduct research at three scales of building skins, buildings, and cities. Our research primarily focuses on 1) innovative building skin solutions with energy production and carbon absorption capabilities, 2) the assessment of the energy use, and life cycle environmental, social, and health impacts of buildings, and 3) environmental modeling of urban building environments. Our research is supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE), American Institute of Architects (AIA), Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, LiMC2, and other funding agencies.

Electrochemical and thermoelectric-based building skins for energy production and carbon absorption

In this theme of research, we collaborate with engineers and material scientists to develop novel building skin solutions with energy generation and carbon absorption capabilities and test them for thermal and environmental performance. Our research on ‘Artificial Leaf-based Facade Cladding (ALFC) systems has received two American Institute of Architects (AIA) Upjohn Research Grants. The artificial leaf (AL) technology that combines sunlight, CO₂, and water to generate energy in an artificial photosynthesis process promises simultaneous energy production and carbon absorption capabilities. The ALFC uses this concept to reverse the negative impacts of buildings on the environment. We are currently collaborating with investigators from the University of Freiburg, Germany, to develop thermoelectric-based building skin solutions.

Climate change and other threats to the environment have become some of the defining challenges that humans face in the present century. With the significant data and evidence supporting the many negative impacts of buildings on the environment, our research integrates modeling techniques (energy modeling, environmental LCA, social impact assessment, health impact assessment, and urban metabolism) to provide a more holistic insight into the environmental, social and health impacts of buildings and urban environments. The integration of methodologies presents three specific advantages: a) it allows for multi-scalar assessment of the impacts; i.e., at the building, community, and urban scales; b) it expands the system boundaries of LCA methodologies into more indirect and less explored sections of energy and material flows, and c) it expands the regular environmental impact categories used in LCA methodology (such as global warming, acidification, eutrophication, smog formation, etc.) to include social and health impacts; therefore, allows for the multidimensional assessment of impacts.

Environmental modeling of urban building environments

Our research in this area aims to understand the extent and scope of cities’ contribution to direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. We are also interested in examining the interrelations between social justice, urban design, and environmental impacts to help design cities that will be carbon-neutral, socially just, and healthy for their occupants.  Our research in this area is supported by multiple grants including a $25 million US Department of Energy-funded grant that brings together researchers from meteorology, social sciences, engineering, architecture, and urban planning to study Baltimore as a field laboratory through observations and modeling approaches to understand how cities must respond to the effects of climate change.