Moisture, temperature and air quality

Our research addresses the complex interlinkages between moisture, temperature and air quality in the built environment

Buildings are complex, dynamic, socio-technical systems seeking to provide solutions to a multitude of sometimes ill-defined and conflicting design issues. Through our research, we aim to improve the design, operation and environmental quality of buildings. We do this by providing timely, impartial information on design techniques and building technologies as well as developing novel engineering tools to help industry deliver truly sustainable buildings.

Our researchers are pioneering the development of integrated multi-variable built environment data frameworks. Our building and building stock performance modelling and analysis involves developing a digital model that usefully represents a complex system. We use these digital models to predict, assess and analyse the dynamic and complex interactions that influence environmental performance. This informs policy-makers and supports the decision-making process for building design and operation. Finally, temperature, air quality and hygrothermal measuring, monitoring and testing research involves environmental chambers, extensive field environmental monitoring, detailed building and social surveys, and interventions in people’s homes and workplaces.

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Research areas

Building performance analysis

The Urban Heat Island and temperature effects on health

This research area involves the monitoring and modelling of buildings indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Competing IEQ variables are considered and optimal design and retrofit procedures proposed. State of the art monitoring equipment is used to assess various IEQ variables (e.g. temperature, relative humidity and air pollution) at high temporal resolution. Building physics models can be calibrated to monitored data and used to make predictions under future climates.

Overheating in buildings

As a result of climate change, overheating is becoming an issue of increasing concern. Particularly in historically temperate countries such as the UK, where a heatwave in summer 2022 led to temperatures exceeding 40 °C for the first time. Monitoring is used to examine the extent of the overheating issue. Application of passive adaptation measures such as shading can be modelled to assess their impact on overheating in buildings and the consequential reduction in heat related mortality.

Winter cold and fuel poverty

Picture of people walking in snowy streets surrounded by buildings

Given the recent energy crisis and the rise in fuel bills, many households are facing fuel poverty. This can result in a multitude of physical and mental health problems. Our research investigates the impact of mitigation measures such as home energy efficiency retrofit and fuel subsidies on population health outcomes. We aim to inform policy in order to reduce health inequalities caused by fuel poverty and winter cold.

Moisture in buildings

Moisture is a common issue in buildings. Our research seeks to understand the leading causes of moisture in buildings which range from internal leaks and internal sources, ingress from exterior sources and indoor hygrothermal conditions. Moisture can lead to damage to properties and health issues to occupants such as asthma. Researchers at IEDE established the UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings (UKCMB). An independent organisation with the aim of better understanding and managing moisture risk in the UK.

Indoor air quality

Geospatial analysis of urban environmental health risks

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a key determinant of health and health inequalities. Particulate matter, carbon monoxide, radon and volatile organic compounds are just some of the pollutants that contribute to poor IAQ. We use monitoring and modelling to assess risks associated with the pollutants. Compensatory ventilation and occupant behaviour can be studied to help mitigate of poor IAQ in buildings.

Recent projects

Our research projects reflects our research themes of temperature and health, climate change and wellbeing, climate modelling, urban meteorology, geospatial analysis of urban health risk and urban heat mitigation. Some examples of our projects are:

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Moisture, temperature and air quality in teaching

Our teaching in this area focuses on establishing a sound understanding of moisture, temperature and indoor air quality risks in buildings. We aim to introduce future designers and practitioners to the methods, practice and consequences of poor indoor environmental quality and how to alleviate these issues.

Health, Wellbeing and Sustainable Buildings MSc

Moisture, Temperature & Air Quality are key determinants of health and wellbeing in the built environment and students are taught what causes these issues and how to mitigate against them. Climate change and the interaction with health and wellbeing is key in this MSc - students learn how buildings can be designed using a more holistic, human-centred approach with health and wellbeing a key priority. The dissertations completed in the programme span a variety of areas focused on healthy indoor environments often in response to threats such as climate change.

Relevant modules:

Examples of past dissertation titles:

'Impacts of roofs designed to cool on indoor temperature in warm and cold seasons'
'Reducing urban overheating in different global cities'
'Indoor air quality and climate change resilience in UK low carbon schools'

Environmental Design and Engineering MSc

Bloomberg HQ in London - One of the world's highest BREEAM-rated major office buildings designed by Foster + Partners

Moisture, Temperature & Air Quality are key considerations when designing buildings and our teaching helps students understand and mitigate against these issues. Environmental issues and urban sustainability are at the core of this programme and students learn how the built environment can be designed to both mitigate and adapt to the risks posed by climate change.

Relevant modules:

Examples of past dissertation titles:

'Indoor air quality in Central London Offices'
'The accuracy and use of CO2 monitors in buildings'
'Evaluation of Passivhaus design strategy in a changing Climate for different kind of rooms'

Doctoral Research (PhD)

Moisture, Temperature and Air Quality is a key issue address in several PhD research topics and we welcome MPhil/PhD candidates looking to undertake their own original research relating to the Moisture, Temperature and Air Quality MSc under the supervision of our research staff. Below are some examples of the current MPhil/PhD theses’ being pursued in the programme. If you are interested in starting a PhD with us please visit the Environmental Design and Engineering MPhil/PhD page to find out more about the application process.

Doctoral research relating to Moisture, Temperature & Air Quality

Jalal Ahmed: Scalable method to assess ventilation rates in dwellings
Minnie Ashdown: A novel method for the empirical characterisation of air exchange rates in naturally ventilated buildings, based on results from measure theory and a Stochastic Differential Equation interpretation of ambient CO2 time series.
Toby Cambray: Hydrophobic treatments, heritage masonry and IWI: reducing moisture risks?
Cheng Cui: Future Heat Resilience in Dwelling Retrofit: A Probability-based Optimisation Approach
Ruiwen Deng: To what extent temperature affects human sleep in UK residential homes
Alex Fung: Timeless Digital Twins for the Energy Health Nexus
Amr Hamada: Retrofit Strategies for Public Administrative Buildings in Egypt
Giorgos Petrou: Development of a Bayesian calibration framework for archetype-based housing stock models of summer indoor temperature
Athina Petsou: Rethinking retrofit: putting users in the centre in order to reduce energy and unintended consequences
Zeyu Zhao: The Impact of Exposure to Indoor Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) on Human Cognitive Performance
Jiaxu Zhou: Effects of Short-term Exposure to Indoor PM2.5 on Cognitive Performance in Working Age Adults and Implications for Office Buildings