Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory announced its User Test Bed Facility. Like a giant, life-size set of building blocks, the facility will allow researchers and manufacturers to test buildings systems and components under “real-world” conditions by swapping out systems and changing configurations and then allow rigorous monitoring of performance of every key building element that impacts energy consumption.
“One can think of these test beds as kind of an erector set. They’re designed with extreme flexibility in mind,” said Berkeley Lab engineer Oren Schetrit, a program manager for the Test Bed Facility. “You’ll be able to change out the walls, windows, lighting, HVAC system, external or internal shading and the configuration of the internal office systems. You can also lower or raise the ceiling height and floor height.”
