Marzieh’s PhD project addresses the urgent issue of urban overheating and air quality exacerbated by climate change and urban densification. As global temperatures rise, traditional passive cooling and ventilation measures become less effective, leading to increased reliance on air conditioning, which in turn elevates electricity consumption and societal inequalities. Marzieh aims to develop reliable models of summertime window opening and closing behaviour to predict and mitigate overheating and poor air quality risks in flats, particularly in bedrooms. By monitoring window status and collecting socio-technical data from occupied flats, the research will identify key parameters influencing occupant behaviour. The resulting models will enhance natural ventilation and inform guidelines like CIBSE TM59, ultimately optimizing indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and energy efficiency. This project seeks to contribute to sustainable living solutions amid urbanization and climate challenges, while also highlighting necessary regulations and technical challenges.
Profile
Marzieh is a doctoral researcher at the School of Architecture, Building, and Civil Engineering at Loughborough University. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Architectural Engineering and an MSc in Architecture and Energy from the University of Tehran. Before starting her PhD, Marzieh accumulated eight years of professional experience as an architect and energy consultant, specializing in building energy performance analysis, building physics, and energy optimization. She has also collaborated with prominent international academic teams on research topics including urban neighbourhood thermal comfort, airborne and species transmission in indoor spaces, and natural ventilation for improving indoor air quality.
She is currently a member of the ERBE CDT and the Building Energy Research Group (BERG), where she continues to advance her research in sustainable architecture and energy efficiency.
Modelling summertime window opening behaviour in bedrooms of city apartments