My broader research aims to the development of tools and technologies that will lead to improved built environments that reduce the impacts on the energy resources and the environment, while providing healthy and comfortable indoor spaces for the occupants.
I am particularly interested in the development and validation of whole building energy simulation programs that enable a rigorous quantification of metrics associated with the above aim.
My research projects and activities also include research on developing and embedding IoT devices in buildings to enable a better understanding of building operations at high spatial and temporal resolutions.
Finally, some additional generic areas/technologies that excite my curiosity are: Green roofs and living walls; Phase Change Materials (PCMs); building integrated renewable energy systems; smart ventilation systems; and the development of calculation methodologies for improved building energy regulations (e.g. to enable innovative technologies to gain credits in building energy certification schemes).
Built to Perform - University of Wollongong contributes to improving the future energy performance of buildings
In July 2018 ASBEC and ClimateWorks Australia released their report: <em><a href="http://www.asbec.asn.au/research-items/built-perform/" title="Built to Perform: An Industry Led Pathway to a Zero Carbon Ready Building Code" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Built to Perform: An Industry Led Pathway to a Zero Carbon Ready Building Code</a></em>. The report presents the findings of the Building Code Energy Performance Trajectory project, an industry-led effort to support long-term improvements to the energy requirements of the National Construction Code.<br /> <br />Built to Perform was produced with the support of the <a href="http://lowcarbonlivingcrc.com.au/research/program-3-engaged-communities/sp0016-building-code-energy-performance-trajectory-project-2" title="Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living</em></a>, the RACV and dozens of building industry and government partners. The project was delivered in partnership with CSIRO, Energy Action, Strategy Policy Research and the <em><a href="https://sbrc.uow.edu.au/index.html" title="Sustainable Buildings Research Centre" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sustainable Buildings Research Centre</a></em> at the University of Wollongong, with oversight by ASBEC’s Building Code Task Group.<br /><br />The report recommends that the States, Territories and the Commonwealth:<br /><ol><li>Commit to a Zero Carbon Ready Building Code, as part of a transition to net zero carbon new buildings by 2030. This would mean setting energy efficiency targets, and introducing net energy targets.</li><li>Deliver a step change in the energy requirements in the 2022 Code, with a strong focus on residential, and a further incremental increase in non-residential requirements.</li><li>Expand the scope of the Code and progress complementary measures, to prepare for future sustainability challenges and opportunities, including health, peak demand, maintainability, electric vehicles and embodied carbon.</li></ol><br />The Sustainable Buildings Research Centre was a key contributor to the project by completing an extensive number of building energy simulations for the project for numerous design changes to three defined archetype buildings (an apartment, an attached townhouse, and a detached standalone house) across four Australian climate zones. Please find a link to the <em>Built to Perform</em> report <a href="http://www.asbec.asn.au/research-items/built-perform/" title="Built to Perform: An Industry Led Pathway to a Zero Carbon Ready Building Code" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. The full Final Technical Report containing the evidence supporting the <em>Built to Perform,</em> compiled by the Building Code Energy Performance Trajectory project partners, and includes the University of Wollongong building energy simulation results, was be released in October 2018 and can be found <a href="http://www.lowcarbonlivingcrc.com.au/sites/all/files/publications_file_attachments/sp0016_trajectory_project_final_tech_report.pdf" title="SP0016: Final Building Code Energy Performance Trajectory Final Technical Report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Energy standards in Australia’s National Construction Code must be urgently upgraded if new buildings are to be fit and ready for a zero carbon future. <em>Built to Perform</em> shows that setting stronger energy standards for new buildings in the Code could, between now and 2050, reduce energy bills by up to $27 billion, cut energy network costs by up to $7 billion, and deliver at least 78 million tonnes of cumulative emissions savings.
Beneficiary
Quantification
Description
Evidence
Description
Supervision
Available as Research Supervisor
Potential Supervision Topics
Building performance simulation: Topics include research on advancing the state-of-the-art on the available tools and numerical methods for better understanding the complexities of the built environment.
Monitoring of building energy performance: Topics include analysis of building performance with in-situ measurements and with prescribed lab methodologies.
Internet of Things, Big Data and smart buildings: The specific area focuses on taking advantage the recent innovations of low cost sensors and the advances in computational data analytics to evaluate issues surrounding the built environment.
Advisees
Graduate Advising Relationship
Degree
Research Title
Advisee
Doctor of Philosophy
Energy Consumption and Indoor Air Temperatures in the Homes of Low-Income Elderly Australians
Doctor of Philosophy
Develop Building Energy Modelling Techniques to Optimise Energy Retrofit Measures in Residential Buildings
Carratt, Anneleise
Doctor of Philosophy
Household Energy Efficiency and Comfort: Development of Building Simulation and Rating Tools that Incorporate Realistic Occupant Practices
Wickrama Achchige, Dilini Nishadika Gunathilake
Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated)
Robustness Enhancement for Air-conditioning Unit Sequencing Control under Uncertainty
My broader research aims to the development of tools and technologies that will lead to improved built environments that reduce the impacts on the energy resources and the environment, while providing healthy and comfortable indoor spaces for the occupants.
I am particularly interested in the development and validation of whole building energy simulation programs that enable a rigorous quantification of metrics associated with the above aim.
My research projects and activities also include research on developing and embedding IoT devices in buildings to enable a better understanding of building operations at high spatial and temporal resolutions.
Finally, some additional generic areas/technologies that excite my curiosity are: Green roofs and living walls; Phase Change Materials (PCMs); building integrated renewable energy systems; smart ventilation systems; and the development of calculation methodologies for improved building energy regulations (e.g. to enable innovative technologies to gain credits in building energy certification schemes).
Built to Perform - University of Wollongong contributes to improving the future energy performance of buildings
In July 2018 ASBEC and ClimateWorks Australia released their report: <em><a href="http://www.asbec.asn.au/research-items/built-perform/" title="Built to Perform: An Industry Led Pathway to a Zero Carbon Ready Building Code" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Built to Perform: An Industry Led Pathway to a Zero Carbon Ready Building Code</a></em>. The report presents the findings of the Building Code Energy Performance Trajectory project, an industry-led effort to support long-term improvements to the energy requirements of the National Construction Code.<br /> <br />Built to Perform was produced with the support of the <a href="http://lowcarbonlivingcrc.com.au/research/program-3-engaged-communities/sp0016-building-code-energy-performance-trajectory-project-2" title="Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living</em></a>, the RACV and dozens of building industry and government partners. The project was delivered in partnership with CSIRO, Energy Action, Strategy Policy Research and the <em><a href="https://sbrc.uow.edu.au/index.html" title="Sustainable Buildings Research Centre" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sustainable Buildings Research Centre</a></em> at the University of Wollongong, with oversight by ASBEC’s Building Code Task Group.<br /><br />The report recommends that the States, Territories and the Commonwealth:<br /><ol><li>Commit to a Zero Carbon Ready Building Code, as part of a transition to net zero carbon new buildings by 2030. This would mean setting energy efficiency targets, and introducing net energy targets.</li><li>Deliver a step change in the energy requirements in the 2022 Code, with a strong focus on residential, and a further incremental increase in non-residential requirements.</li><li>Expand the scope of the Code and progress complementary measures, to prepare for future sustainability challenges and opportunities, including health, peak demand, maintainability, electric vehicles and embodied carbon.</li></ol><br />The Sustainable Buildings Research Centre was a key contributor to the project by completing an extensive number of building energy simulations for the project for numerous design changes to three defined archetype buildings (an apartment, an attached townhouse, and a detached standalone house) across four Australian climate zones. Please find a link to the <em>Built to Perform</em> report <a href="http://www.asbec.asn.au/research-items/built-perform/" title="Built to Perform: An Industry Led Pathway to a Zero Carbon Ready Building Code" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. The full Final Technical Report containing the evidence supporting the <em>Built to Perform,</em> compiled by the Building Code Energy Performance Trajectory project partners, and includes the University of Wollongong building energy simulation results, was be released in October 2018 and can be found <a href="http://www.lowcarbonlivingcrc.com.au/sites/all/files/publications_file_attachments/sp0016_trajectory_project_final_tech_report.pdf" title="SP0016: Final Building Code Energy Performance Trajectory Final Technical Report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Energy standards in Australia’s National Construction Code must be urgently upgraded if new buildings are to be fit and ready for a zero carbon future. <em>Built to Perform</em> shows that setting stronger energy standards for new buildings in the Code could, between now and 2050, reduce energy bills by up to $27 billion, cut energy network costs by up to $7 billion, and deliver at least 78 million tonnes of cumulative emissions savings.
Beneficiary
Quantification
Description
Evidence
Description
Supervision
Potential Supervision Topics
Building performance simulation: Topics include research on advancing the state-of-the-art on the available tools and numerical methods for better understanding the complexities of the built environment.
Monitoring of building energy performance: Topics include analysis of building performance with in-situ measurements and with prescribed lab methodologies.
Internet of Things, Big Data and smart buildings: The specific area focuses on taking advantage the recent innovations of low cost sensors and the advances in computational data analytics to evaluate issues surrounding the built environment.
Advisees
Graduate Advising Relationship
Degree
Research Title
Advisee
Doctor of Philosophy
Energy Consumption and Indoor Air Temperatures in the Homes of Low-Income Elderly Australians
Doctor of Philosophy
Develop Building Energy Modelling Techniques to Optimise Energy Retrofit Measures in Residential Buildings
Carratt, Anneleise
Doctor of Philosophy
Household Energy Efficiency and Comfort: Development of Building Simulation and Rating Tools that Incorporate Realistic Occupant Practices
Wickrama Achchige, Dilini Nishadika Gunathilake
Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated)
Robustness Enhancement for Air-conditioning Unit Sequencing Control under Uncertainty
