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Green Construction Simulator - A greener shade of steel

Ability and reputation are the qualities that draw industrial users to ORNL's Building Technologies Research and Integration Center (BTRIC). Manufacturers know that if they need to send energy efficiency data to a building code agency or a potential customer, a report that says "ORNL" on the letterhead guarantees the credibility of the information. The BTRIC boasts a range of sophisticated research facilities. For example, the center's Large-Scale Climate Simulator can enclose building components, such as roof or wall sections, within a highly customizable micro-climate and subject them to a range of temperature, humidity, sunlight, rainfall and several other environmental variables. Industrial users have been particularly enthusiastic about using the simulator to study the efficiency of roofing systems because roofs and attics are responsible for about 25 percent of commercial heating and cooling costs. Currently, the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) is using the simulator to develop new construction methods that will result in more energy-efficient metal buildings. In the longer term, MBMA hopes to work with BTRIC to conduct whole building energy measurements to determine what changes can be made to increase the efficiency of existing buildings, as well as that of new building designs.