Building energy

Buildings currently utilise 40% of all UK energy and are responsible for 43% of our CO2 emissions. This needs to drastically reduce to meet Government targets and mitigate climate change.

We have conducted pioneering research for over 40 years, continually adapting our fundamental skills. Our expertise covers the measurement, modelling and monitoring of buildings and energy systems, low energy building design, ventilation, cooling, and thermal comfort.

Our built environment research integrates ideas and expertise from design, engineering, science, art and the humanities, to produce innovative solutions. Research into heating, cooling, ventilating, and powering buildings have produced safer, healthier and more sustainable places to live and work.

Person controlling digital heating thermostat

SMETER technical evaluation

A new approach to measuring heat loss from homes with smart meters will make buildings more energy efficient. Part of a £4M project funded by BEIS, the Smart Meter Enabled Thermal Efficiency Ratings (SMETER) Innovation Programme found that SMETERs could play a role in energy ratings, quantifying energy efficiency improvements following refurbishment, and identifying under-performance in new homes.

SMETER technical evaluation
City scene showing high temperature on thermometer

Quantifying overheating in homes

Our large-scale field surveys have quantified the risk of overheating in UK homes and so informed the work of the Commission on Climate Change, developed new guidelines and standards and ultimately led to new building regulations.

Research impact Published research

Matched-pair test houses

Our matched-pair test houses have enabled the identification of dwellings that would benefit from refurbishment and quantified the potential energy savings of alternative technologies. Using this unique facility allows even small energy savings to be accurately quantified.

Royal Academy of Engineering logo

RAEng Centre of Excellence

Our expertise is recognised though our designation as a Royal Academy of Engineering Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design.

New centre of excellence

Meet the experts

The experts below represent the broad interests of our researchers in building energy. We look forward to hearing from you.

Dr David Allinson - Senior Lecturer in Building Physics: Measurement and Modelling

Dr David Allinson

Senior Lecturer in Building Physics: Measurement and Modelling

Professor Malcolm Cook - Professor of Building Performance Analysis

Professor Malcolm Cook

Professor of Building Performance Analysis

Dr Steven Firth - Reader in Building Performance Modelling

Dr Steven Firth

Reader in Building Performance Modelling

Photograph of Matthew Li

Matt Li

Research Associate

Professor Kevin Lomas - Academic Lead, Built Environment Beacon

Professor Kevin Lomas

Professor of Building Simulation