Empirical assessment of health and wellbeing in low energy buildings

This project will research key relationships between occupant health and wellbeing and low energy buildings. Firstly, how active building monitoring can ensure ongoing performance-gap-free energy performance. Secondly, the relationship between low energy buildings and the health and wellbeing of occupants.
Existing research has demonstrated gaps between predicted and in-use energy performance in non-domestic buildings of 2-10 times. Low energy/carbon buildings can be achieved in practice through best practice to reduce the energy performance gap, using high levels of design and construction scrutiny. However, the performance of low energy buildings with regard to their indoor environmental quality is still poorly understood: this includes indoor temperature, moisture/humidity, air pollutants, and associated exposures that could impact on human health and wellbeing. Commissioning issues and user operation can still impact in-use energy demand and environmental conditions which can positively or negatively impact occupant health and wellbeing, along with their satisfaction and productivity. Building monitoring can potentially enable real-time and retrospective insights into these key conditions.

Architype Architects have been delivering industry-leading low energy buildings for almost 4 decades, with over 15 years of experience delivering Passivhaus projects. Their in-house Building Performance team have expert experience in these topics with an online portal for real-time monitoring of buildings. They have previously undertaken and supported multiple research projects in this area. The successful candidate will be supported by members of Architype's building performance and research team and will be welcomed by the wider practice community.