Fuel poverty can directly and indirectly impact people’s mental and physical health

With energy prices skyrocketing, there are major concerns of how they impact on vulnerable segments of society. Apostolos Davillas, Associate Professor in Health Economics at University of East Anglia; Andrew Burlinson, Lecturer in Energy Economics at the University of East Anglia; and Hui-Hsuan Liu, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Comparative Biomedical Science at the Royal … Continue reading Fuel poverty can directly and indirectly impact people’s mental and physical health

The benefits of green buildings

Md Sazan Rahman, PhD Candidate, Bioresource Engineering at McGill University in Canada writes on The Conversation website about the multiple benefits of green buildings.   Green buildings can boost productivity, well-being and health of workers Most people now recognize the energy savings benefits of green buildings. These buildings use less water, energy and other natural resources. … Continue reading The benefits of green buildings

A new and innovative way to apply advanced AI techniques and adapt them in cooling buildings in Oman

Research led by Dr Maryam Zuhair Al Lawati, from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, discovered a new and innovative way to apply advanced AI techniques and adapt them in cooling buildings in Oman. A Times News Service article on the Times of Oman website discusses the new research.   Research finds new … Continue reading A new and innovative way to apply advanced AI techniques and adapt them in cooling buildings in Oman

How to stay cool – sustainably

Rising temperatures are leading to a surge in demand for cooling. But, ironically, the more we rely on energy-intensive air conditioners, the more the planet warms. Natalie Muller and Neil King discuss the options in an article on the Deutsche Welle website.   Climate emergency: Keeping homes cool on a warming planet In many places, … Continue reading How to stay cool – sustainably

The construction sector is a major GHG emitter, so what can the industry do to cut CO2?

Millions of homes will need to be built for booming city populations in the coming decades. There are major challenges to minimise environmental damage and meet long-term energy and climate objectives. Some argue that tackling the climate crisis and meeting housing demands in cities will require a rethink of how space is used.  Natalie Muller … Continue reading The construction sector is a major GHG emitter, so what can the industry do to cut CO2?

New smart glass innovations for improving energy performance of buildings

Tim Radford writes on the Energy Mix website about research from both Singapore and the US that hold promise for important efficiency improvements. The author writes that each “is yet more testimony to the explosion of inventive thinking and technical ingenuity on show in the world’s laboratories and universities, as researchers seek new ways to … Continue reading New smart glass innovations for improving energy performance of buildings

New BPIE report: climate impact of new buildings much too high

This week, the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) published a new report on nearly zero energy building standards in six member states that show decarbonisation of new buildings in is not happening fast enough. A failure to decarbonise newly constructed buildings could prevent the EU from achieving its climate targets for 2030 and 2050, according … Continue reading New BPIE report: climate impact of new buildings much too high

The “architectural rebound effect” – new technology has often encouraged extravagant forms of consumption

Bashar Al Shawa, PhD Student in Architecture at the University of Bath writes on The Conversation website that new technology has made many buildings less climate friendly. However, architects can keep pushing the limits of design without making the planet pay.   Technology has made buildings less climate-friendly: but we can look back in time … Continue reading The “architectural rebound effect” – new technology has often encouraged extravagant forms of consumption

The future of cooling our buildings must become a present-day priority

At the moment, reducing cooling energy demand is not explicitly part of energy policies for buildings in the UK. Of concern is that it’s projected that 75% to 85% of UK households will install air conditioning in response to rising temperatures by the end of the century. Radhika Khosla Associate Professor of Sustainable Development at … Continue reading The future of cooling our buildings must become a present-day priority

Blog from Jane Marsh: How Does Low Carbon Housing Benefit the Environment?

The U.S. generates 5.1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide each year, which come from activities like powering appliances or heating your home. In addition, carbon is released when building materials, such as concrete, are manufactured. The overproduction of carbon can lead to air pollution and increase global warming. These emissions also disturb natural habitats … Continue reading Blog from Jane Marsh: How Does Low Carbon Housing Benefit the Environment?