UK project to ‘significantly’ improve energy efficiency of buildings

A UK project will create new technologies to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, following a £1.65m grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Buildings currently account for over 40% of total UK energy consumption and a similar percentage of the UK CO2 emissions, and researchers from the University of Nottingham, Loughborough University and the University of Exeter will develop new optical components that can be built into conventional double glazing to brighten daylight levels inside buildings.

They believe it could reduce their annual energy consumption from annual artificial lighting, heating and cooling by over 30%.

Lead researcher Dr Yupeng Wu said: ‘We’re delighted to receive this grant, which we are using to adopt a holistic approach to developing advanced façade technologies to achieve building energy reduction goals.

‘Glazed façades play an important role in determining a building’s energy performance and perform a range of, sometimes conflicting, functions.

‘They regulate heat transfer to and from the external environment by radiation, conduction and convection, allows natural daylight into the space and improve the way to buildings look externally.

‘Improving fenestration energy performance can make a significant contribution to reducing building energy loads.’

In related news, New York City will ban the construction of ‘inefficient’ all-glass skyscrapers in a bid to cut emissions by 30% before 2030.

The Mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, made the announcement on Monday (April 22) when he unveiled the city’s Green New Deal, which included a range of measures to reduce emissions, tackle climate change and improve energy efficiency.

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