My research centres on buildings and energy, taking on the challenge of delivering healthy and sustainable environments. I have over 30 years of research and industrial experience in the built environment, undertaking research and consultancy in construction, complex systems, sustainability, energy efficiency, quality, and performance management.

I am the founding Chair of the International Conference for Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society (SEEDS), Chair of Research Innovation Sustainability and Enterprise industry & academic awards, Past Chair of the Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM), and a Founding Member of the Building Performance Network. I recently served on the 2021–2022 (UKRI) Research Excellence Framework 2021 exercise for Sub-Panel 13, and was Chair of the CIOB Sustainability Panel.

I have a keen interest in smart cities, their environments, and the application of digital technologies to advance asset management creating healthy, energy-efficient, and productive spaces.

I have directed major UK and international research projects, explored the potential of smart digital monitoring and management tools, and evaluated the use of smart meters and their role for the in-use measurement of building performance. I have undertaken energy-related work focused on the control, optimisation, supply, and demand of renewable and zero-carbon technologies including solar, hydrogen, and nuclear.

My work is closely aligned with industry and commerce, undertaking applied research that delivers results. I have successfully commercialised research securing patents and protecting intellectual property.

Current research activity

• NHS Cross-Government Programme of the Research into Reinforced Aerated Autoclaved Concrete Plank Performance. Loughborough University, Lucideon, Sweco, CP-Tec 2020–2023
• Centre for Postdoctoral Development in Infrastructure, Cities and Energy (C-DICE) 2020–2024
• Working with the International Advisory board. Unit for Lean and Sustainability. Department of Built, Environment Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology Central University of Technology, Free State Bloemfontein, South Africa 2020–2024
• Sub-Task Leader for the International Energy Agency, EBC, Annex 71, Building Energy Performance Assessment Based on In-Situ Measurements 2022
• GlobalTalent Award –Improving the reliability of Heat Loss Coefficient estimation – In-use and static methods – Establishing Uncertainty of measurements with HCL Partnership with the University of the Basque Country, funded by the Basque Government. 2022 – 2025
• Development of Methodology for Smeter Validation System – Building Validation System 2022–2024

Recently completed research projects

• EPSRC Fault tolerant control for increased safety and security of nuclear power plants – Advanced nuclear energy systems for resilience and safety EPSRC call UK-India Civil Nuclear Collaboration Phase 5. 2018–2022. https://gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/R022062/1
• BEIS Demonstration of Energy Efficiency Potential project. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) 2019–2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demonstration-of-energy-efficiency-potential-deep
• BIES 2018–2020. Smart Meter Enabled Thermal Efficiency Ratings (SMETER) Technical Assessment Contractor (TAC) Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-meter-enabled-thermal-efficiency-ratings-smeter-technologies-project-technical-evaluation
• BEIS TIWI 2017–2019 Leeds Beckett University, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). Measuring Energy Performance Improvements in Dwellings Using Thin Internal Wall Insulation. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thin-internal-wall-insulation-tiwi
• National Gas Network Hydrogen – work undertaken by the LSI Research team. The research provided a suite of resources enabling Northern Gas Networks to communicate effectively with the public the nature of hydrogen conversion allowing informed choice with post-conversion energy supply.
• BIES Party wall investigation: Measuring U-values in-use and validation through whole building analysis. This project looked at the potential energy savings from insulating cavity party walls. The research included in-situ measurements in 54 homes and the investigation of methods to identify poor-performing cavity party walls Leeds Beckett University, Cambridge Energy (Cambridge Architectural Research) P-I, Bridgewater Surveys and Leeds Beckett University. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cavity-party-walls-measuring-u-values
• Innovate UK – Future Cities  Shanghai-UK Industrial Challenge Programme GIaURBAN Green Urban Infrastructure Assets in Urban Heat Island’. 2018-2021 Leeds Beckett University and the University of Hull. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/650589/Shanghai-UK_Industrial_Challenge_Programme_-_Future_Cities_-_Competition_Results.pdf
• Innovate UK KTP Leeds Beckett University and Citu (One) Limited, 2015–2018. Created a digital enterprise platform that collates data and visualises the building, its performance, and cost data to encourage customer interaction at the point of sale and in use, thus feeding back data to ensure continuous improvement. Was awarded the highest grade of “Outstanding ” by the KTP Grading Panel for its achievement in meeting KTP’s Objectives. Certificate No. KTP010266 EPSRC Smart Energy Research Lab (SERL) to provide vital access to energy data for the UK research community 2017–2022 (UCL), Cardiff University; University of Edinburgh; Leeds Beckett University; University of Southampton; Loughborough University and University of Essex. (https://serl.ac.uk/)
• EPSRC Smart on line monitoring for Nuclear power plants (SMART) – Nuclear Safety. 2015–2018. Collaborative partners include Leeds Beckett University, Liverpool University, Reading University, EDF energy and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) India, in which Leeds Beckett University is the leading organization. https://gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/M018717/1
• International Energy Agency – Energy in Buildings and Communities Programme: Annex 71 Building Energy Performance Assessment Based on In-Situ Measurement. The project focused on prediction, characterization, and quality assurance of actual building energy performance. Quantifying the actual performance of buildings by optimised in-situ measurements combined with dynamic data analysis techniques.
• Public Health England, Whole Systems Obesity 2016–2021. Leeds Beckett University and a range of other partners. Exploring the link between health behaviour and the environment.