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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2018

Automating Test Procedures Using Robot Software

This paper will discuss the project I was assigned during the 2018 Spring semester NIFS internship, what the project does for NASA, and what I contributed to the project. It will begin with a broad analysis of the types of software I worked on and how they were used to complete the project. Then, it will narrow in scope to concentrate on the group and parts of NASA assigned the project. Next, it will pay attention to the project itself and how it worked. After that, it will focus on my direct contributions to the project. Lastly, a few personal experiences I encountered to make my internship relatable. The initial points discussed will be an introduction to the basics of automated testing and the types of software used. Next, I will briefly discuss why these tools were chosen and whether or not they can be improved. Then, a look at where my group fits into the hierarchy of NASA, what the group working on my project did for NASA, and who were the entities working together for this project. Afterwards, a review of my involvement in the program, my development as an individual, and my new skills and abilities. Finally, a sense of involvement with the community through personal development will be demonstrated using unique experiences only available to me through this internship..

SikuliX↗
DOE OSTI2020

Chemical Modeling of the Capture of Radioiodine Species

Iodine is a common fission product resulting from the transmutation of uranium fuel in nuclear power reactors. The short-lived radioactive isotope, 131 I, with a half-life of around eight days, would be a particular health concern if released into the environment. Capture materials, such as activated carbon, are used routinely in nuclear power plants and medical isotope production facilities to remove this hazard during normal operations to reduce emissions to acceptable levels. Iodine, unlike other common fission products such as noble gases, is challenging because of the wide range of molecular forms and oxidation states (from +VII in IF 7 to -I in iodide) that it displays, which can interconvert both in the gas phase and in the solution phase for example. The work in this project is focused on three computational tasks. In the first, we consider the binding of iodine-containing molecules of varying oxidation states to the major component of activated carbon – pristine graphene-like sheets. The second task focused on molecular binding and possible chemical transformations resulting from the reaction of molecular iodine with chemical functional groups on the edge of the graphene sheets or surface defects in the sheet itself. The final task was associated with radiolytic breakdown of 131 I to 131 Xe in iodine containing molecules and investigated the resulting molecular fragmentation process both in the gas phase and on the graphene-like surface. For each of the tasks, the intent was to learn about the thermodynamics and kinetics of the chemical transformations and use the calculations to provide parameters for input into kinetic models describing these processes for interpretation of experimental data in future work.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

High concentrations of ice: Investigations using polarimetric radar observations combined with in situ measurements and cloud modeling (Final Report)

This DOE-funded joint project had the over-arching goal of understanding the reasons for observed size distributions of ice particles in cold clouds. Its approach involves the use of cloud models and field observations by radar and aircraft of real storms. The project addresses three major research objectives: (1) Utilize a novel polarimetric radar technique to retrieve size distributions and amounts of ice from radar data collected during the previous DOE ARM field campaigns; (2) Evaluate the results of ice microphysical retrievals using available in situ aircraft measurements and other remote sensors (e.g., vertically pointing cloud radars and wind profilers); (3) Improve the treatment of microphysical processes leading to cloud glaciation and ice multiplication in numerical cloud models. The study was performed by three research organizations: University of Oklahoma, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, and Lund University, Sweden. The Israel and Swedish partners were funded by the sub-awards from the University of Oklahoma. Cloud modeling studies have been performed by the research teams at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ) and Lund University to identify the origins of high concentrations of cloud ice in areas of high ice water content (HIWC). The Hebrew University Cloud Model (HUCM) with full spectral bin microphysics and the Lund University aerosol-cloud (AC) model with a hybrid bin / bulk microphysics scheme complementing HUCM were utilized for simulations. Both research teams had particular focus on secondary ice production (SIP) as one of the possible sources of enhanced ice concentration. The HUJ group suggested a novel concept of ice multiplication during droplet freezing. It is assumed that splintering and droplet fragmentation during droplet freezing takes place because of dendritic growth within a supercooled drop. The resulting simulations of SIP generated small ice in concentrations exceeding hundreds per liter similar to what was observed in the HIWC regions of the tropical storms. The Lund team explored the SIP mechanisms such as breakup of ice particles due to ice-ice collisions and ice sublimation that are expected to dominate the continental storms. They also quantified the impact of homogeneous nucleation of cloud droplets on the total number concentration of ice at very low temperatures near the tops of the clouds. Additionally, the Lund AC model is able to simulate the effect of aerosols of various types (including biological) on the cloud life cycle and the corresponding ice production. The HUCM / AC model was used to simulate one of the “golden” cases of the DOE MC3E campaign on 20 May 2011. The model output was converted into the fields of polarimetric radar variables using the polarimetric radar forward operator developed at the University of Oklahoma and compared with radar observations and in situ microphysical measurements onboard research aircraft. It was demonstrated that specific differential phase KDP is the best radar parameter to identify the HIWC areas and quantify the corresponding ice parameters. For the first time, the shape of the vertical profile of KDP was realistically reproduced by the cloud model with the KDP maximum in the dendritic growth layer (DGL) centered at the -15°C isotherm. The University of Oklahoma team has developed a methodology for polarimetric radar retrievals of such microphysical parameters of ice as ice water content (IWC), mean volume diameter (Dm), and total number concentration (Nt) of ice particles. These retrievals have been validated using in situ aircraft measurements during 6 field campaigns and proved to be quite robust and reliable. This allowed to build the first climatology of the vertical profiles of polarimetric radar variables and retrieved microphysical parameters for the three types of weather systems: continental MCSs, maritime MCSs, and tropical cyclones / hurricanes (Hu and Ryzhkov 2022). The data were collected by a multitude of the WSR-88D radars in 13 continental and 10 maritime MCSs and 11 landfalling hurricanes. The HIWC areas were identified within the examined storms and the corresponding “HIWC statistics” was compared with the “background” one without HIWC. An overarching conclusion of the study is that maritime tropical storms (MCSs and hurricanes) are characterized by smaller size ice in higher concentration compared to the continental MCSs. High ice water content in the HIWC areas is primarily caused by a strong jump in a number concentration of ice particles rather than the increase of their size compared to the “background” environment. This may point to the homogeneous nucleation of excessive amounts of supercooled droplets and / or secondary ice production as the possible origins of HIWC. Such a climatology provides a good observational reference for the modelers to evaluate the performance of their models. As an example, the in-depth analysis of the 20 May 2011 MC3E case shows that the advanced cloud models developed in the course of this study still tend to underestimate the number concentration of ice in the HIWC areas although they succeed in reproducing realistically looking vertical profiles of IWC and Nt. The results of the project research are summarized in 13 journal papers.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1993

NASA/DOD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Paper 34: Users and uses of DOD technical reports: A report from the field

The NASA/DoD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project attempts to understand the information environment in which U.S. aerospace engineers and scientists work, the information-seeking behavior of U.S. aerospace engineers and scientists, and the factors that influence the use of scientific and technical information (STI) (Pinelli, Barclay, and Kennedy, 1991). Such an understanding could (1) lead to the development of practical theory, (2) contribute to the design and development of aerospace information systems, and (3) have practical implications for transferring the results of federally funded aerospace research and development (R&D) to the U.S. aerospace community. This paper presents data from two information-seeking behavior studies involving U.S. aerospace engineers and scientists that were undertaken as Phase 1 activities of the NASA/DoD Aerospace Knowledge Diffusion Research Project. Responses from three groups of respondents - DoD, other government, and industry - are presented for two sets of selected questions. One set focuses on DoD technical reports: their use and importance, reasons for non-use, the factors affecting their use, the sources used to find out about them and the sources used to physically obtain them, and the quality of DoD technical reports. The second set focuses on information sources used in problem solving: the use of U.S. government technical reports in problem solving and the information sources used to find out about U.S. government technical reports.

Pinelli, Thomas E.↗
NASA NTRS2002

CRYSTAL-FACE: A Field Experiment and Modeling Program Focused on Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers

The Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers - Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL-FACE) is a measurement campaign designed to investigate tropical Cirrus cloud physical properties and formation processes. Understanding the production of upper tropospheric cirrus clouds is essential for the successful modeling of 'he Earth's climate. The deployment phase will occur in July, 2002 in southern Florida, USA. Several aircraft will be used, including the ER-2 and Proteus for cloud remote sensing, the WB-57 and Citation for in situ cloud measurements, the P-3 with a Doppler radar for characterization of convective systems, and the Twin otter for sampling of inflow airmasses. In addition, numerous ground-based and satellite remote sensing measurements will be contributing. A central focus of the mission is improvement of our ability to model cirrus clouds with numerical models. Several research groups with a variety of model types (cloud-resolving models, mesoscale models, weather-prediction models, and general circulation models) will be participating. Our hope is to fully characterize several mulonimbus/cirrus anvil systems that can be used as case studies for testing and improvement of the models. The models will be used for investigating cirrus generation and dissipation processes and the sensitivity of tropical cirrus to convective intensity and aerosol properties. Ultimately, we expect this effort to improve our ability to represent tropical cirrus in GCMs. A general description of the CRYSTAL-FACE program will be presented, with an emphasis on the cloud modeling approach.

Jenson, Eric↗
NASA NTRS2008

Geologic Evolution of the Martian Highlands: MTMs -20002, -20007, -25002, and -25007

As part of a continuing study to understand the relationship between valleys and highland resurfacing through geologic mapping, the authors are continuing to map seven 1:500,000-scale MTM quads in portions of the Margaritifer, Arabia, and Noachis Terrae. Results from this mapping will also help constrain the role and extent of past water in the region. The MTMs are grouped in two different areas within the region and compliment previous mapping in adjacent areas. Three western quads focus on Jones crater and the Himera, Samara, and Loire Valles systems. This abstract focuses on the four eastern quads wherein a large, ancient impact structure, Noachis basin, is flanked on its south and east by a series of valley networks. A solitary valley drains this basin and stretches north-northeast for approximately 450 km, transporting materials into Arabia Terra. Pertinent raster and vector data have been imported and registered using ESRI's ArcMap GIS software. To inspect and quantify stratigraphic relations, crater counts are being compiled in ESRI's ArcView GIS software to make use of crater counting tools specifically developed for planetary mappers. New datasets from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter including 4 CTX images, 31 CRISM multi-spectral pushbroom images, and 4 HiRISE images were incorporated into the project during the third year. The CRISM dataset uses summary parameters with thresholds to select targets for the high-resolution datasets. The befit for mappers is the extensive coverage and general compositional information. Results of a cursory analysis show strong mafic absorptions on the floors of Peta crater and Noachis basin. LCP absorptions occur more often than olivine, however, olivine tends to be denser than both pyroxenes. Olivine and HCP mat indicate relatively younger rocks, which is supported by the occurrence of wrinkle ridges associated with high olivine and HCP absorptions in the Peta crater and Noachis basin floors.

Fortezzo, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Robotic Technology Development at Ames: The Intelligent Robotics Group and Surface Telerobotics

Future human missions to the Moon, Mars, and other destinations offer many new opportunities for exploration. But, astronaut time will always be limited and some work will not be feasible for humans to do manually. Robots, however, can complement human explorers, performing work autonomously or under remote supervision from Earth. Since 2004, the Intelligent Robotics Group has been working to make human-robot interaction efficient and effective for space exploration. A central focus of our research has been to develop and field test robots that benefit human exploration. Our approach is inspired by lessons learned from the Mars Exploration Rovers, as well as human spaceflight programs, including Apollo, the Space Shuttle, and the International Space Station. We conduct applied research in computer vision, geospatial data systems, human-robot interaction, planetary mapping and robot software. In planning for future exploration missions, architecture and study teams have made numerous assumptions about how crew can be telepresent on a planetary surface by remotely operating surface robots from space (i.e. from a flight vehicle or deep space habitat). These assumptions include estimates of technology maturity, existing technology gaps, and likely operational and functional risks. These assumptions, however, are not grounded by actual experimental data. Moreover, no crew-controlled surface telerobotic system has yet been fully tested, or rigorously validated, through flight testing. During Summer 2013, we conducted a series of tests to examine how astronauts in the International Space Station (ISS) can remotely operate a planetary rover across short time delays. The tests simulated portions of a proposed human-robotic Lunar Waypoint mission, in which astronauts in lunar orbit remotely operate a planetary rover on the lunar Farside to deploy a radio telescope array. We used these tests to obtain baseline-engineering data.

robotics↗
NASA NTRS2017

Applying Standard Independent Verification and Validation (IVV) Techniques Within an Agile Framework: Is There a Compatibility Issue?

Agile methods have gained wide acceptance over the past several years, to the point that they are now a standard management and execution approach for small-scale software development projects. While conventional Agile methods are not generally applicable to large multi-year and mission-critical systems, Agile hybrids are now being developed (such as SAFe) to exploit the productivity improvements of Agile while retaining the necessary process rigor and coordination needs of these projects. From the perspective of Independent Verification and Validation (IVV), however, the adoption of these hybrid Agile frameworks is becoming somewhat problematic. Hence, we find it prudent to question the compatibility of conventional IVV techniques with (hybrid) Agile practices.This paper documents our investigation of (a) relevant literature, (b) the modification and adoption of Agile frameworks to accommodate the development of large scale, mission critical systems, and (c) the compatibility of standard IVV techniques within hybrid Agile development frameworks. Specific to the latter, we found that the IVV methods employed within a hybrid Agile process can be divided into three groups: (1) early lifecycle IVV techniques that are fully compatible with the hybrid lifecycles, (2) IVV techniques that focus on tracing requirements, test objectives, etc. are somewhat incompatible, but can be tailored with a modest effort, and (3) IVV techniques involving an assessment requiring artifact completeness that are simply not compatible with hybrid Agile processes, e.g., those that assume complete requirement specification early in the development lifecycle.

Agile↗
NASA NTRS2022

The Visual Survey Group: A Decade of Hunting Exoplanets and Unusual Stellar Events with Space-based Telescopes

This article presents the history of the Visual Survey Group (VSG)—a Professional-Amateur (Pro-Am) collaboration within the field of astronomy working on data from several space missions (Kepler, K2 and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite). This paper covers the formation of the VSG, its survey-methods including the most common tools used and its discoveries made over the past decade. So far, the group has visually surveyed nearly 10 million light curves and authored 69 peer-reviewed papers which mainly focus on exoplanets and discoveries involving multistellar systems. The preferred manual search-method carried out by the VSG has revealed its strength by detecting numerous objects which were overlooked or discarded by automated search programs, uncovering some of the most rare stars in our galaxy, and leading to several serendipitous discoveries of unprecedented astrophysical phenomena. The main purpose of the VSG is to assist in the exploration of our local universe, and we therefore advocate continued crowd-sourced examination of time-domain data sets, and invite other research teams to reach out in order to establish collaborating projects.

Martti H Kristiansen↗
DOE OSTI2020

Cyberguardians Webinar

Robust solar industry growth is creating a shortage of U.S. workers who are knowledgeable in emerging Distributed Energy Resource (DER) technologies including networking, operational software, smart advanced inverters, smart advanced PV modules, and cybersecurity. Retraining military veterans and other qualified individuals to fill workforce gaps in those technologies is the project focus. The project leverages the experience and contributions of DER and cybersecurity experts, educational organizations offering accreditation, and groups serving our nation’s veterans to meet its goals. To bridge this workforce skills gap, the Cyberguardians and STEM Warriors project will establish a complete learning and career advancement system for veterans, transitioning military personnel and other qualified individuals into the DER workforce. The project will guide participants successfully through the process of program/vocation selection, curriculum enrollment, academic mentoring, degree or certificate attainment, job board enrollment, introduction to hiring managers at DER companies, and successful job acquisition. This webinar was used to promote the Cyberguardians program and to ensure ample news coverage to reach veterans, employers, and others that would benefit from this program.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Scaling Decarbonization Development Innovation with Emerging Community-Based Developers: Preprint

The building real estate development industry is being asked to lead in delivering building decarbonization solutions across the United States. However, creating decarbonized best practices and development innovation while increasing developer diversity and community ownership is often not a primary focus of this sector. To address these issues, we have created an incubator and support ecosystem specifically for the innovation scaling we have found in a leading group of emerging, small-scale developers. These leaders are not just working at the forefront of decarbonized development but addressing diversity and bolstering community generational wealth. We have found that small development firms are the ones who often take risks to innovate and demonstrate despite lacking a specific set of resources or support ecosystems focused on emerging decarbonization developers. Those with the fewest resources are being asked to lead our decarbonization innovation efforts. This paper documents the necessity of a cohort and incubator program to provide a decarbonization-specific ecosystem to support small developers and scale innovation. The incubator creates connections, fosters innovative strategies to access incentives and alternative funding, and assembles resources for small and emerging minority developers with the goal of sustainability and affordability. For instance, collaborative efforts with leading developers and utilities can enable the seamless integration of distributed energy resources through optimal metering and interconnection and significantly reduce the utility cost of electrification, benefiting the utility, the developer, and the tenant economically. The process described in this paper will result in case studies and how-to resources to provide tangible examples of innovation within the emerging development field.

carbon↗
DOE OSTI2022

Death at watersheds: Galaxy quenching in low-density environments

The evolution of galaxies is influenced by their local and global environment in the cosmic web. Galaxies with very old stellar populations (VO galaxies with D n (4000) index ≥1.75) mostly lie in the centres of galaxy clusters, where they evolve under the influence of processes characteristic of high-density cluster environments. However, VO galaxies have also been found in poor groups in global low-density environments between superclusters, which we call watershed regions. Our aim is to analyse the properties of galaxies in various cosmic environments with a focus on VO galaxies in the watershed regions to understand their evolution, and the origin of the large-scale morphology–density relation. We employ the Sloan Digital Sky Survey DR10 MAIN spectroscopic galaxy sample in the redshift range 0.009 ≤ z ≤ 0.200 to calculate the luminosity–density field of galaxies, to determine groups and filaments in the galaxy distribution, and to obtain data on galaxy properties. The luminosity–density field with smoothing length 8 h -1 Mpc, D8, characterises the global environment of galaxies. We analyse the group and galaxy contents of regions with various D8 thresholds. We divide groups into low- and high-luminosity groups based on the highest luminosity of groups in the watershed region, L gr ≤ 15 × 10 12 h -2 L ⊙ . We compare the stellar masses, the concentration index, and the stellar velocity dispersions of quenched and star-forming galaxies among single galaxies, satellite galaxies, and the brightest group galaxies (BGGs) in various environments. We show that the global density is most strongly related to the richness of galaxy groups. Its influence on the overall star formation quenching in galaxies is less strong. Correlations between the morphological properties of galaxies and the global density field are the weakest. The watershed regions with D8 < 1 are populated mostly by single galaxies, constituting 70% of all galaxies there, and by low-luminosity groups. Still, approximately one-third of all galaxies in the watershed regions are VO galaxies. They have lower stellar masses, smaller stellar velocity dispersions, and stellar populations that are up to 2 Gyr younger than those of VO galaxies in other global environments. In higher density global environments (D8 > 1), the morphological properties of galaxies are very similar. Differences in galaxy properties are the largest between satellites and BGGs in groups. Our results suggest that galaxy evolution is determined by the birthplace of galaxies in the cosmic web, and mainly by internal processes which lead to the present-day properties of galaxies. This may explain the similarity of (VO) galaxies in extremely different environments.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Satellite-Assisted Particulate Matter (SAPM) for the Models, In situ, and Remote sensing of Aerosols (MIRA) Working Group

Models, In situ, and Remote sensing of Aerosols (MIRA) is an international working group that aims to foster collaborations amongst these three major aerosol specialties. It consists of a collection of interdisciplinary and independently funded projects/topics with clearly-defined goals. Currently there are four MIRA topic areas, including Satellite-Assisted Particulate Matter (SAPM), which is focused specifically on fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The study of PM2.5 is important due to its significant contribution to air pollution and resultant, adverse human health effects. The goal of the SAPM topic group is to conduct and provide intercomparisons of various methods and techniques to obtain surface PM2.5 estimates assisted by satellite remote sensors, global aerosol models, and in situ aerosol measurements. Some benefits of space-based/model-assisted PM2.5 retrievals include providing PM2.5 approximations in regions with poor in situ ground station coverage and a means for assessing spatial/temporal PM2.5 variations on regional and/or global scales. Furthermore, benefits of spaceborne lidar/model-assisted PM2.5 retrievals include providing nighttime PM2.5 estimates and characterization of near-surface aerosol vertical structure. SAPM is seeking international datasets of mass scattering/absorption coefficient and aerosol hygroscopic properties for different aerosol species, as well as ground-based in situ PM2.5 measurements. In this poster presentation, we give an overview of SAPM, and show results from three recent/ongoing PM2.5 studies. These efforts involve deriving surface PM2.5 concentrations from two spaceborne lidars, the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) and Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS), and investigating key variables that impact the estimation of PM2.5 from model simulated aerosol optical depth (AOD) using the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model.

Travis D. Toth↗
DOE OSTI2021

Structural analyses of macromolecules by solution scattering (CRADA Final Report)

New innovative Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) methods to visualized macromolecules in solution at low resolution has led the SIBYLS group at Lawrence Berkeley Lab in being a world leader in biological SAXS. This research is particularly important now as LBNL establishes high-priority research topics including molecular to mesoscale analysis. This new expanding area of research relies on and ties in with our efforts towards developing a solution structure modeling tool for RNA structure prediction. Due to the pandemic our efforts focused on the SARS-CoV-2 proteins and RNA interactions. Specifically, we characterized SARS-CoC-2 proteins interaction with RNA (Wilanowski et al. 2021 -Hammel group) and Nucleoprotein interaction with RNA (Schneidman group).

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Efficient continuous Energy-Multigroup hybrid depletion scheme using the Shift Monte Carlo code. Part I: Energy condensation sensitivity analysis

Monte Carlo (MC) codes coupled to depletion solvers are increasingly used to provide high fidelity fuel cycle modeling capabilities. Here, these coupled depletion-MC tools produce accurate results in general but can experience nonphysical spatial oscillations when time steps are large or when a system’s dominance ratio approaches unity. Two substepping techniques have been developed previously to remedy and dampen these spatial oscillations without needing to reduce step sizes. The first approach relied on higher-order techniques to account for spectral changes within steps (extrapolation and interpolation techniques). The second approach used the first order perturbation (FOP) theory to account for the change in the one-group spatial flux distribution within steps. This paper develops a hybrid depletion methodology which, in a way, combines how the flux is handled in both substepping techniques. Specifically, the multigroup (MG) MC Shift code is used to update the flux distribution within steps rather than a one-group FOP solver. A fully reflected pincell is investigated, which is not spatially dependent in the MG representation. Thus, the analysis in this paper is an initial demonstration of hybrid depletion. An upcoming companion paper will focus on how the hybrid depletion dampens spatial oscillations. The hybrid depletion approach is verified to be consistent with previous constant extrapolation depletion (CED) methods. This paper finds that the hybrid CED exhibits some error in the eigenvalue and one group constants within macro steps. To address this discrepancy, a simple interpolation scheme (CELI) is investigated. This work found that CELI sufficiently addresses the discrepancy in spectrum for macro steps up to 100 days. Overall, this work demonstrates that the hybrid depletion method can significantly reduce the number of high fidelity MC executions in a MC-coupled depletion with an acceptable eigenvalue error.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2022

CLARIFYING THE NEXUS BETWEEN LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT AND CIRCULARITY INDICATORS: A SETAC/ACLCA INTEREST GROUP

Purpose Improving the circularity of resources is important to the sustainability of consumer goods. Current research has indicated that circularity practices and circular economy (CE) methods do not always reduce environmental impacts. The aim of this research is to investigate the adoption of the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to improve the environmental impacts of circularity practices. Methods As part of the Society for Environmental Toxicology And Chemistry (SETAC) forum, an interest group (IG) on Circularity and LCA was formed in partnership with the American Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA) to tackle methodological and technical issues related to circularity in LCA. The IG’s research approach is summarized in four key steps: defining goals and objectives, literature review and gap analysis, ideation, and experimentation. The twelve active persons within this IG meet monthly and have been divided into four sub-working groups (sub-WGs) so that complementary tasks can be completed concurrently in an effective manner. Each sub-WG meets monthly and reports back to the main group for collaboration and brainstorming to meet the research objectives. Results and discussion First, the sub-WG #1, focusing on the “pool of circularity and LCA-based indicators”, analyzed the complementarity between two of the most used circularity indicators and LCA. Second, the sub-WG #2, working on the “evaluation of CE loops performance through LCA”, built a mind map of pain points that reflect the challenges that the LCA practitioners face when combining LCA with CE approaches. Third, the sub-WG #3, dealing with the “trade-offs between circularity and sustainability”, highlighted key alignments and/or conflicts between circularity and sustainability performance depending on the scope, product, industry, or system of analysis. Fourth, the sub-WG #4, focusing on “business and industrial cases”, plans to leverage the knowledge base developed within this IG to develop use cases documenting the benefits and challenges associated with CE-related loops modeling in LCA. Conclusions The first findings of this SETAC/ACLCA IG provide a state-of-the-art overview of the synergists of LCA methodology and the CE measurement frameworks reported in the literature. To move forward and capitalize on the first findings, one valuable point will be to discuss and provide concrete solutions to the pain points that emerged when considering circularity in LCA. Eventually, the knowledge base and resources created within this IG ultimately aim to support the proper application of LCA for practitioners in CE contexts, and could provide relevant inputs for the ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 323 working on the upcoming standard for the measurement of CE performance.

Life cycle assessment, circular economy, circulari↗
DOE OSTI2025

Decarbonizing residential buildings in the United States: A comparative analysis of households and construction professionals

In this study, we present a comparative analysis of surveys distributed to home occupants and construction professionals in the U.S., focused on energy upgrades and electrification retrofits that support residential building decarbonization. The surveys were executed by separate research groups and combined for this study. The study examines the decision-making, sentiments, perceptions, experiences, and practices of both groups by analyzing data from three separate surveys. These surveys assess technologies, attitudes, awareness, motivations, barriers, and opportunities related to energy retrofits and electrification. The analysis highlights key differences in the perceptions and behaviors of households and construction professionals, revealing substantial barriers to achieving decarbonization goals. For example, households cite climate change and sustainability as key motivators for pursuing energy retrofits (89%), while construction industry professionals view these themes as less important for their clients (44%). This suggests an opportunity for the construction industry to align its messaging with the values that households prioritize, helping to advance residential decarbonization. Overall, the study identifies challenges faced by both groups, factors influencing the adoption of energy-efficient practices, and inconsistencies between occupant and construction industry professionals' views. These insights contribute to the development of targeted strategies and policies to accelerate the decarbonization of residential buildings in the U.S.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2025

A review of future weather data for assessing climate change impacts on buildings and energy systems

The effectiveness of climate change impact assessments and the development of adaptation strategies depend on the availability of high-quality future weather data. However, significant gaps exist between the needs of the energy research community and the focus of the climate modeling community, primarily due to a historical lack of communication and collaboration between the two groups. Here, to address this issue, this work provides a comprehensive overview of the critical aspects involved in creating future weather data for building and energy system modeling, including emissions scenarios, general circulation models, downscaling methods, categories of future weather data, and uncertainties in climate simulations. Moreover, it critically evaluates the applicability and suitability of various types of future weather data in five key application scenarios: energy use analysis, resilience analysis, HVAC design, utility-scale analysis, and renewable energy analysis. Finally, this work presents recommendations for high-level actions and research directions to foster collaboration between the energy research and climate modeling communities and to promote the integration of future weather data into energy codes and the design practices of buildings and energy systems.

Climate change↗