Hashem Akbari, leader of the Heat Island Group, is a Staff Scientist in the Environmental Energy Technologies Division (since 1977).  He has performed research in energy use and conservation in buildings, advanced energy technologies, utility energy forecasting, advanced utility-customer communication, computation, and control systems, energy-efficient environment, air pollution control, and environmental simulation and modeling. He has led LBNL's efforts to investigate the energy conservation potential and environmental impacts of increased tree planting and modifications of surface albedo. In addition, his research has identified the attributes of these energy efficiency strategies to mitigating the urban heat island effect.Expertise: Cool Roof Colored Materials