Modern Methods of Construction
| Our group has researched ways to reduce domestic energy use since 1992. We work with developers and suppliers to improve methods of constructing new homes and on refurbishing existing buildings to extend their lives and reduce their carbon emissions. We recognise the importance of passive design (such as daylighting, ventilation strategies, and developing insulation products) on building performance. We are also interested in understanding how micro-generation and other technologies can be used to reduce energy demands and on improvements to the controls and usability of the systems operating to heat and condition the internal environment. | |
| NEWS | |
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26 April 2018 Paris Institute of Technology visit, 16-20 April 2018 It was a pleasure to welcome again a group from Paris during this week. As always, a varied programme of visits, presentations and social events was organised by the LSI team, ably co-ordinated by Ellen Glover with her usual efficiency, with help from Felix Thomas. For me, as the oldest member of the LSI group, this was my latest experience of the benefits of international contact, in a series going back for me, to the 1970’s. Full details |
| POSTGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES | |
| PhD and MPhil: Doctoral and Masters in Sustainability and Low Carbon Construction Students interested in studying for a PhD within the field of Sustainability and Low Carbon Construction should contact Professor Chris Gorse. We are keen to encourage and further advance knowledge in this rapidly growing field. |
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| RECENT PUBLICATIONS | |||||||||
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BRIDGING THE DOMESTIC BUILDING FABRIC PERFORMANCE GAP It is recognized that there is often a discrepancy between the measured fabric thermal performance of dwellings as built and the predicted performance of the same dwellings and that the magnitude of this difference in performance can be quite large. This paper presents the results of a number of in-depth building fabric thermal performance tests undertaken on three case study dwellings located on two separate Passivhaus developments in the UK: one masonry cavity and the other two timber-frame. D. Johnston, D. Farmer, M. Brooke-Peat & D. Miles-Shenton (2014) Bridging the domestic building fabric performance gap |
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DYNASTEE PUBLICATIONS Dynastee is the European network for the Dynamic Analysis, Simulation and Testing Applied to the Energy and Environmental Performance of Buildings. Gorse, C. A., Miles Shenton, D., Farmer, D., Fletcher, M., Glew, D., Stafford, A. and Parker, J. (2014) The gap between calculated and real performances: Experiences from laboratory and field and the measures to address the difference. Real Building Energy Performance Assessment, Universiteit Gent & BBRI Belgium DYNASTEE Seminar www.dynastee.info 16 April 2014. Malcolm Bell, Building nearly zero-carbon housing: for real! |
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BUILDING PERFORMANCE MODELLING On-going research in CeBE aims to improve the accuracy of whole building dynamic simulation models by refining input data through robust building pathology investigations combined with forensic modelling of building fabric. |
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WHOLE HOUSE HEAT LOSS TEST METHOD (COHEATING) International Energy Agency Annex 58: Reliable Building Energy Performance Characterisation. |
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BUILDING CONFIDENCE - A WORKING PAPER The purpose of this paper is to offer an analysis of the accumulated data around as-built thermal performance for new build and retrofitted homes. |
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THE RETROFIT CHALLENGE: DELIVERING LOW CARBON BUILDINGS The Centre for Low Carbon Futures commissioned this report as part of a programme of translational research insights on energy efficiency. |
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TEMPLE AVENUE PROJECT Evaluation of design & construction process and measurement of fabric performance of 2 prototype dwellings and the refurbishment of 1 existing dwelling. The two prototype dwellings contained some technological innovation and were constructed between July and December 2009. |
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ELM TREE MEWS FIELD TRIAL This report sets out the findings from a low carbon housing trial at Elm Tree Mews, York and discusses the technical and policy issues that arise from it. Published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. |
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STAMFORD BROOK Evaluating the Impact of an Enhanced Energy Performance Standard on Load-bearing Masonry Domestic Construction Partners in Innovation CI 39/3/663 - BD2324 |
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AIRTIGHTNESS OF BUILDINGS - Towards Higher Performance Domestic sector airtightness (C1 61/6/16 BD2429) |
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HARROGATE HEAT PUMPS Evaluation of Heat Pump Installations: Extracting Meaning from Existing Data Sets |
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CONDENSATION RISK Impacts of Improvements to Part L and Robust Details on Part C (C1 71/6/1 BD 2414) |
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EURISOL STUDY Study to investigate Solutions to the Cavity Party Wall Thermal Bypass |
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UrbanBuzz – LowCarb4Real Developing low carbon housing; lessons from the field |
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ST NICHOLAS COURT Trial of Dwelling Energy Performance Standards for 2008 |
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DERWENTSIDE Field Trial of Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery in Local Authority Low-rise Housing |
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COHEATING TEST PROTOCOL Whole House Heat Loss Test Method |
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