The London-Loughborough EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Energy Demand offers a four year programme which combines a one year Master of Research (MRes) in Energy Demand Studies followed by a three year doctorate (PhD).
MRes Dissertation Projects
The first year of the programme is an intensive taught course which differs from a normal Master of Science degree in its emphasis on research. Students will carry out a series of research projects, including a research dissertation which spans the entire academic year.
View MRes Dissertation Projects
PhD Projects
Please note the projects on the site have been developed by our current students. New students will develop a suitable PhD research proposal with help from the Centre Directors and Academic Managers at UCL and Loughborough University during the first MRes year.
View PhD Projects
W1UP4 – Understanding the interactions between occupants, heating systems and building fabric in the context of retrofit of social housing
Read moreUnderstanding the interactions between occupants, heating systems and building fabric in the context of retrofit of social housing Jenny Love, UCL (above animation: visualisation of data collected while monitoring occupant…
W5UP5 How can we encourage consumers to switch to time of use tariffs? Evidence from a randomised control trial on a nationally representative sample of British energy bill payers
Read moreHow can we encourage consumers to switch to time of use tariffs? Evidence from a randomised control trial on a nationally representative sample of British energy bill payers Moira Nicolson,…
W8LP4 – MRes Project “Cooling Culture: The identification of, and barriers to, adaptive responses to domestic overheating”
Read moreCooling Culture: The identification of, and barriers to, adaptive responses to domestic overheating Daniel Wright, Loughborough University Overview The trend towards hotter summers and warmer winters is predicted to increase…
W2LP2 – What impact does a resistance path-way have on zonal air flow in naturally ventilated buildings?
Read moreWhat impact does a resistance path-way have on zonal air flow in naturally ventilated buildings? David Cunningham, Loughborough MRes EDS Introduction Historically all buildings were naturally ventilated, yet with buildings…
W5UP11 What about demand-side response? Using behavioural economics to boost consumer switching rates to time-of-use electricity tariffs – evidence from field experiments
Read moreWhat about demand-side response? Using behavioural economics to boost consumer switching rates to time-of-use electricity tariffs – evidence from field experiments Moira Nicolson, UCL Energy Institute Overview My research involves…
W3LP4 – Temperature Variations in Heated UK Homes
Read moreTemperature Variations in Heated UK Homes Ashley Morton, Loughborough University Introduction The domestic sector accounted for 30.5% of the 2010 final UK energy consumption (DECC, 2011), of which around 66%…
W2LP3 – Delivering energy efficiency in the UK through Domestic Energy Service Companies (DESCOs)
Read moreDelivering energy efficiency in the UK through Domestic Energy Service Companies (DESCOs) Charlie Morris-Marsham, UCL Research Questions: What are the barriers to domestic energy efficiency? Can these barriers be addressed…
W5UP8 – Hygrothermal characterisation of in-situ solid brick walls and the impacts of internal wall insulation
Read moreHygrothermal characterisation of in-situ solid brick walls and the impacts of internal wall insulation Naomi Grint, University College London Background Building fabric upgrades are an essential part of the UK…
W2LP15 – Domestic Thermal Energy Storage: A study of the present and future benefits and impacts
Read moreDomestic Thermal Energy Storage: A study of the present and future benefits and impacts Joynal Abedin, Loughborough Introduction Reducing our dependence on fossil fuel and increasing the uptake of Renewable…
W1LP6 – Monitoring and Modelling UK hospital energy consumption to identify optimal building-specific retrofit measures for a changing climate
Read moreMonitoring and Modelling UK hospital energy consumption to identify optimal building-specific retrofit measures for a changing climate Louis Fifield, Loughborough University Overview The department of health has set stringent energy…
W3UP5 – Taking Charge: Perceived control and acceptability of domestic demand-side response
Read moreTaking Charge: Perceived control and acceptability of domestic demand-side response Mike Fell, UCL Introduction Domestic electricity demand-side response (DSR) programmes aim to influence when electricity is used in people’s homes,…
W5UP12 – Energy efficiency in the UK private rented sector: government policy and landlords’ practices
Read moreEnergy efficiency in the UK private rented sector: government policy and landlords’ practices Zareen Sethna, UCL Energy Institute Overview The context of energy efficiency in the private rented sector There…
W5LP3 – Reducing the Operation Performance Gap – improving building simulation tools through data-driven and real-time approaches
Read moreReducing the Operation Performance Gap – improving building simulation tools through data-driven and real-time approaches George Papachristou, Loughborough University Project Summary The existing building stock continues to have high greenhouse…
W7UP5 – Understanding the causes of performance issues in buildings; a student accommodation post-occupancy evaluation case study
Read moreUnderstanding the causes of performance issues in buildings; a student accommodation post-occupancy evaluation case study Anthony Marsh, UCL Energy Institute Summary The in-use performance of a student accommodation development was evaluated. This was done…
W8UP2 – Pilot study: Investigating the in-situ thermal performance of loft insulation in a cold-pitched roof
Read moreInvestigating the in-situ thermal performance of loft insulation in a cold-pitched roof Suneina Jangra, UCL Energy Institute This project investigates the thermal performance of the insulation in cold-pitched roofs of standard construction…
PhD Research in The political economy of electricity market reforms for the integration of renewables
Read moreThe political economy of electricity market reforms for the integration of renewables in Italy, California and the UK Giulia Ragosa, UCL Energy Institute Overview Integrating a growing share of variable…
W2LP6 – The indoor air quality of a Victorian school with a post-1968 extension
Read moreThe indoor air quality of a Victorian school with a post-1968 extension Kate Simpson, Loughborough Introduction Kate Simpson talks about this project: https://youtu.be/yXfqG-3vmxU Aim: To quantify the indoor air quality…
W3UP8 – Pre-1919 suspended timber ground floors in the UK: estimating in-situ U-values and heat loss reduction potential of interventions
Read morePre-1919 suspended timber ground floors in the UK: estimating in-situ U-values and heat loss reduction potential of interventions Sofie Pelsmakers, UCL SYNOPSIS Pelsmakers investigating in crawl-space floor during pilot study (2012)concrete…
W8UP10 An investigation of feedback and feedforward energy efficiency mechanisms from a UK school crowdsourced building stock model
Read moreDuncan Grassie, UCL Energy Institute Background Novel methods of modelling energy demand in buildings are required to assist with tracking progress towards the UK government’s commitment to Net Zero by…
W7LP7 – PhD project “Predicting overheating risk in UK homes”
Read morePredicting overheating risk in UK homes Matej Gustin, Loughborough University Introduction Overheating in UK homes is a recognised existing problem for UK house builders, homeowners, landlords and tenants. Climate change…