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):
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.
People
For more information on
people working in Energy and the Built Environment, please
click here
Publications
For a list of
publications by researchers at The Open University who
are interested in Energy and the Built Environment, please
click here