Buildings & Communities

Evaluating indoor and outdoor environments for healthier human settlements.

Energy studies in buildings

Reducing energy demand in dwellings is an important component of meeting carbon reduction targets. The research shows that a human – centric approach, understanding the drivers of occupant behaviour is required to achieve energy savings without compromising people’s health and well-being.  

Research areas: residential heat as an energy system service, holistic energy and architectural retrofit toolkit (HEART) and decarbonising New Zealand, Saudi Arabia and UK residenital dwellings.

Liveable spaces and communities

Research develops evidence to inform regeneration strategies for city planners and local authorities to create liveable spaces within cities, ensuring areas meet the needs of inhabitants on a micro and macro scale. 

Research areas: reinvigoration of high streets, caring for the community, liveable cities and electricity access capacity building

Thermal comfort and indoor environments

Heating, is the main component of energy demand in UK dwellings and is often associated with thermal comfort.  Our research investigates how domestic buildings and their occupants use energy and how they interact with building systems in order to adjust their comfort. 

Research areas: thermal comfort, thermal perception scales, indoor air quality and low carbon comfort