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Researchers involved in a unique research facility of zero carbon homes have won a prestigious award for their work on low carbon housing design.
The team from The University of Nottingham have been awarded the Trevithick Fund by the ICE Publishing Awards 2011 for the journal paper entitled ‘Low Carbon Housing Design Informed by Research’.
Dr Mark Gillott, Dr Lucelia Rodrigues and Dr Catalina Spataru from the University’s divisions of Energy and Sustainability, and Architecture and Urbanism undertake research on a ‘living laboratory’ of experimental eco-houses on University Park. They investigate different construction techniques, sustainable energy technologies and the design aspirations of the people who live in them.
The UK Government is committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 in a bid to tackle climate change. As dwellings in the UK account for approximately 27 per cent of the UK total of carbon dioxide emissions through the burning of fossil fuel for heating, lights and appliances, the Government has stated that every new home needs to be zero-carbon by 2016.
The Creative Energy Homes project at The University of Nottingham aims to provide the building industry of the future with homes that meet all the challenges presented by government.
Dr Gillott said: “Research and education are a key part in the successful delivery of affordable and efficient low carbon housing solutions and we are delighted to receive this prestigious award in recognition of the research work undertaken here at the University of Nottingham’s Creative Energy Homes Project.”
The award winning paper outlines the on-going trials and tests which may offer solutions to help home owners and developers achieve the Government targets taking into account the role that occupants play in ensuring that design aspirations are actually met once the dwellings are inhabited.
Each year, ICE Publishing acknowledges the best work published in ICE journals at an awards ceremony, held in London. ICE award authors from both industry and academia who have produced work judged by their peers to be of exceptional quality and benefit to the civil engineering community.
Dr Mark Gillott, Co-Director of the Institute of Sustainable Energy Technology, has been invited to present the paper, on behalf of the authors, at the Institution of Civil Engineers next year as part of the prestigious Thomas Telford Lecture series for 2012.
The paper is free to view on http://tiny.cc/ICEvirtuallibrary
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