Usage

Energy use involves multiple sectors of the economy, particularly buildings, transportation, and industry. Our work focuses on the role that energy use plays in the transition to a zero-carbon world, and how this can be enabled by improving energy efficiency and reducing energy demand.  

The goal is to lower energy demand, decrease environmental impact, and reduce energy production and consumption costs. In the building sector, for example, this entails adopting climate-responsive designs that address both mitigation and adaptation goals, creating a resilient built environment while minimising its carbon footprint. This approach integrates advanced materials and techniques to reduce energy demand, and smart control technologies to enable real-time monitoring and management to optimise usage patterns and reduce energy waste. In another example, in the transport sector, energy efficiency is pursued by promoting fuel-efficient transport modes and optimising logistics and travel patterns to minimise fuel use and emissions. In industrial settings, energy conservation is achieved by implementing more efficient manufacturing processes and recycling waste heat for other purposes.  

Moreover, optimising lifestyle choices to and minimising consumption patterns while sustaining quality of life is a crucial aspect of energy use. This includes encouraging behavioural changes among consumers, such as adopting energy-saving habits, and creating robust institutional structures that can implement policies that promote the use of renewable energy sources and discourage excessive energy consumption. Together, this enables significantly reduced overall energy demand, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and action towards a more sustainable and resilient zero-carbon energy system. 

Our Research Areas