Design, illustration, and layout of a
114-page technical document
Decarbonizing Building Thermal Systems
Client: U.S. Department of Energy's Better Buildings Program, The National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL) and ASHRAE
Overview​
Buildings are a major contributor to carbon emissions, largely due to the energy used for heating. This guide examines how heat pump systems can significantly reduce these emissions and support the transition to more sustainable building practices.
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Designed for architects, engineers, and contractors, the guide provides practical, design-focused, and installation-ready guidance for implementing heat pump systems in buildings.
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The publication serves as a comprehensive technical resource, with a follow-up edition planned for release in 2026.
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View complete document at: https://docs.nlr.gov/docs/fy24osti/87812.pdf.
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Cover and example pages shown below
Cover with NREL and ASHRAE logos displayed to show the collaboration to produce the document.
The sections had different accent colors to make flipping through to the right section easier.
Clear schematics are an important part of providing information and clarity to the document.
Cover with NREL and ASHRAE logos displayed to show the collaboration to produce the document.
Results
​5,500+ downloads from the National Laboratory of the Rockies site and additional downloads from the ASHRAE site.
My Contributions
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Developed a design system for colors and symbols used in the diagrams to ensure consistency.
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Designed and laid out the document to follow the NREL branding guidelines and also give credit to ASHRAE.​
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Created diagrams and schematics to show different system types.
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Produced an accessible PDF using InDesign and Acrobat.
Diagram Style Guide
Created a style guide for the diagrams, selecting colorblind friendly colors and symbols to represent components, water pipes, refrigerant pipes, and air flow.
