Energy and the Built Environment

Energy and the Built Environment covers the domestic and industrial uses of energy. One of the central aims of the EU 20:20:20 energy policy is to reduce the consumption of energy by 20%. From a domestic perspective, abatement and efficiency savings in energy use can be achieved by appropriate retrofitting of existing buildings using novel materials and by changes in consumer habits. For new buildings, emerging technologies in design, construction and operation allow new ways of conceptualising the sustainability and energy aspects of our built environment.

There is significant interest at The Open University in demand-side aspects of energy use. In particular, we research into  perceptions of energy use and identify factors that affect consumer responses to novel technologies (e.g. smart meters). We also investigate the potential of new methods of design using Building Information Modelling (BIM) technologies across built environment lifecycles and scales.

Further Information

For further information on OU energy and the built environment research, please contact Derek Jones (Lecturer in Design):

Telephone: 01908 653858
URL: http://www9.open.ac.uk/mct/people/Derek.Jones

From May - Oct 2021, Professor Robin Roy will be acting as a high level academic advisor to a Sustainable Energy Agency Ireland/London Economics research project on heat pump controls.

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