Cities and buildings of the future

We have developed advanced computational numerical models that are used in the design of major buildings and urban developments.

Across the world, the demand for sustainable, low carbon energy buildings has increased. But the problem for architects is knowing how their buildings will perform in different weather conditions and at different levels of use. For urban planners, forecasting how entire cities will perform environmentally is even more complex.

Meeting the needs of industry

The Welsh School of Architecture has developed a suite of internationally recognised modelling programmes to tackle these issues, including:

HTB2 - simulation software that predicts the thermal energy performance of buildings under varying weather conditions.
EEP - the software offers a comprehensive urban modelling tool for planning and designing new urban developments, predicting energy use, CO2 emissions and the potential for collecting solar energy

Our researchers work closely with construction professionals to make sure simulation software meets the needs of the industry. As a result, architects and planners can simulate the performance of buildings, large-scale developments and retrofit projects at an early stage.

CO2 emissions

In the UK alone over a quarter of all CO2 emissions derive from the fuel used in homes. Globally, around 40% of CO2 emissions and energy use is attributable to buildings.

Improved energy efficiency in buildings is considered to be capable of reducing global emissions by at least 1.8 billion tonnes of C02 (United Nations Environment Programme).

Real world benefits

Application of the models has resulted in extensive environmental benefits, through reductions in global CO2 emissions. There has also been a marked impact on practitioners and professional practices, through new guidelines for major international developments.

The School has distributed HTB2 widely and free of charge to many companies worldwide, for use on many hundreds of construction projects. Swiss architects Kopitsis Bauphysik have used HTB2 in dynamic simulations of more than 100 buildings over the past 15 years, including Switzerland's first zero energy office EMPA EAWAG

EEP can be linked to Google SketchUp, a popular design tool, and helps city planners and other professionals make fundamental decisions on energy performance at early concept design stage. The framework was used to produce the energy consumption guidelines for the The Pearl, an artificial island of residences for 40,000 people off Qatar.

The latest version of EEP was used to provide Low Carbon Master Plan guidance for the Ba'nan District project in Chongqing, China. The guidance simulated different construction options and the potential for integrating solar energy.

Meet our experts

Selected publications

Jones, P. J. et al. 2013. Intensive building energy simulation at early design stage. Presented at: Building Simulation 2013 (BS2013): 13th International Conference of the International Building Performance Simulation Association Chambéry, France 25-28 August 2013. Proceedings of BS2013: 3th Conference of the International Building Performance Simulation Association. International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA). , pp.862-869.
Jones, P. J. , Lannon, S. C. and Patterson, J. L. 2013. Retrofitting existing housing: how far, how much?. Building Research and Information 41 (5), pp.532-550. (10.1080/09613218.2013.807064)
Sun, L. , Jones, P. J. and Alexander, D. K. 2008. Energy efficiency of double-skin facade in office buildings of Shanghai. Presented at: COBEE 2008: First International Conference on Building Energy and Environment Dalian, China 13-16 July 2008.
Bleil De Souza, C. et al. 2006. Modelling buildings for energy use: a study of the effects of using multiple simulation tools and varying levels of input detail.. Presented at: International Conference on Electricity Efficiency in Commercial Buildings (IEECB 2006) Frankfurt, Germany 26-27 April 2006. Improving Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings. Vol. 2.Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union
Alexander, D. K. 1997. HTB2: Heat Transfer in Buildings (Version2): User manual 2.0c. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University