Aug, 2026
Conference Paper
Publications
Showing 71 results for Author: Melissa V. Lapsa
Dec, 2025
Journal
Preliminary Routing for a National Laboratory Lab-Wide Commuting Program
There is a growing interest in reducing the amount of vehicle miles traveled (VMT), both in public and private sector organizations, in an effort to reduce overall carbon emissions. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and located within close proximity to Knoxville, Tennessee, has more than 4,500 employees, most of which live in and a…
Jan, 2025
ORNL Report
BTRIC Technical Support for Appalachia: FY 2024 Summary Report on Net Negative Carbon Building Demonstration with AgPod
This report investigates the effects of various concentrations of CO2 on the photosynthesis and biomass accumulation of crops growing in an AgPod, using kale as the test crop. In the first year of the study, increasing the CO2 concentration in the AgPod was found to promote higher photosynthetic rates in kale plants up to 1,300 ppm (the highest CO2 concentration measured).…
Jul, 2024
ORNL Report
2023 Southeast Decarbonization Workshop
Decarbonization refers to a large-scale shift away from fossil fuel sources for energy production and toward energy sources, energy end-use practices, and land management approaches that do not result in a net increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Decarbonization in the Southeastern United States is distinguished from that of other regions in the country by its pot…
Dec, 2023
Conference Paper
Airtightness of Commercial Building Envelopes: Where are we and where could we go?
Air leakage in commercial buildings accounts for about one quad of energy annually; therefore, efforts have been put in place to decrease this energy penalty. Data from blower door tests indicate that the airtightness of new building envelopes has been improving in certain niches because of requirements set by local governments and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), a…
Dec, 2023
Journal
Occupant Behavior for Energy Conservation in Commercial Buildings: Lessons Learned from Competition at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Accompanying efforts worldwide to deploy sustainable building technologies shows a pressing need for expanded research on occupant behavior. Discourse is lacking concerning drivers of occupant behavior for energy conservation, especially in the case of commercial buildings. This paper explores potential determinants of occupant behavior for energy conservation in commercia…