Leeds Metropolitan Sustainability Institute aims for near-zero energy

18th September 2012

Leading researchers in energy reduction in the built environment will gather at the University this month as part of a major international programme working towards achieving near-zero energy and carbon emissions in the industry.

The Leeds Sustainability Institute has joined forces with universities and industry partners to work on the International Energy Agency (IEA) led project, focusing on developing methods to more accurately measure building energy performance. The research group meets every six months, with experts coming together from as far as Belgium, Italy, Spain and Hong Kong. The conference will be opened by Professor Mohammad Dastbaz, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Environment and Technology, with keynote speeches given by Professor Malcolm Bell of the Leeds Sustainability Institute and Hans Bloem of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in Belgium.

Professor Chris Gorse at the Institute, with Dr Aitor Erkoreka from EHU University in Spain, have taken the lead on one of the five sub-projects within the programme, to optimise full scale dynamic tests, developing a roadmap for the design of the test environment and data management. This aims to create a standard for best practice that could be implemented internationally with wide-ranging impact. 

 Professor Gorse commented:

“It is a great privilege to be hosting this event in Leeds. Being both invited to join this group and lead a section reflects the standing that Leeds Metropolitan University and the Leeds Sustainability Institute has achieved. The Leeds Sustainability Institute has already made an impact on UK dwellings and Building Regulations, by reducing carbon emissions, and is now influencing change across Europe.”

As part of the meeting a visit to the Energy House at University of Salford has also been arranged.

Find out more at www.leedsmet.ac.uk/news/institute-aims-for-nearzero-energy18092012.htm?type=external