Keywords
Sustainable architecture, energy-efficient buildings,
environmental performance
Buildings consume energy too; their materials, their
construction and daily running all represent an energy
cost. The University works to limit the damage that
buildings have on the climate and environment; we have
architects, social scientists and engineers all working to
develop energy efficient, environmentally-friendly and
sustainable building methods and designs.
Our recent studies used state-of-the-art modelling and
extensive monitoring and surveying in real buildings to
assess parameters such as predicted versus real energy
performance, the ‘eco-refurbishment’ of existing dwellings,
post occupancy evaluation of green offices, the energy
saving potential of daylight in atrium buildings and the
impact that climatic changes in temperature and wind
could have on the potential for natural ventilation and
heating/air conditioning in buildings.
Globally, buildings are responsible for 40% of the
world’s energy use, 35% of the world’s CO
2
emissions
and 30% of the world’s consumption of raw materials.
Collaborating with the Plus Dane Group on an eco
retrofit project of a terraced house in Liverpool, the
University carried out a series of modelling exercises
to test the dwelling’s improved energy performance
under current and future climate scenarios.
The University works with Tile of Spain (the Spanish
Ceramic Tile Association (ASCER)) to produce
prototypes of ceramic components that improve the
distribution of daylight in buildings.
Capabilities and facilities
•
Fan pressurisation facility for testing the air
tightness of buildings, an important parameter for
indoor air quality and energy use
•
Thermal modelling, computational fluid
dynamics (CDF), lighting and acoustic software for
predicting the internal environment of proposed
building designs
•
Monitoring equipment for assessing the
thermal, visual and acoustic conditions in
existing buildings
•
Consultancy and commercial experience of
sustainable architecture and construction methods
•
High quality laboratory facilities for product and system
testing, supported by experienced technical staff.
Relevant centres and groups
•
Stephenson Institute of Renewable Energy.
Energy & Sustainability
80
7.
Living in the sustainable built environment
APPLICATION AREAS
•
Built environment
•
Energy
•
Sustainability
Also see:
Risk, Safety & Security –
1.2
Risk management in the built
environment, page 116
2.3
Robust and reliable structures,
page 123
Materials, Advanced Design &
Manufacturing –
3.3
Acoustic materials, page 100
