Research Topics
Many things could be researched as part of this project - your imagination (and that of your collegues) is the only limit. To spark off some creativity, and to give a more detailed picture of the kind of research which would be covered under the umbrella of this project, here are a few ideas:
- Metering and behaviour: The effect of metering student rooms on student behaviour, comparing a control group with room meter readings recorded weekly, with a group whose weekly meter readings are reported to students with advice on energy saving. (how much will that increase use of electricity in the library, if students charge mobiles/use laptops there where it's free instead of in their rooms?). Projects could focus on the hardware (how to get automatic meter reading) or on analysis of the behavioural data.
- Real-time information: A study of how the provision of real time information on energy use can be used to influence the behaviour of occupants. For example with a 'dashboard' that could appear constantly or temporarily on the desktop of all computers in a building to act as a nagging reminder about the unused PC at the next desk, or the lights on in the empty room across the corridor, etc. The research could either focus on the 'hard' technical aspects of achieving this, or the 'softer' management side; what the dashboard looks like, trying out of different designs to see what is most effective.
- Computers off standby: Designing a programme to turn automatically turn off all computers in the university when they are not in use, including automatic installation of updates.
- Insulation in listed buildings: What are really the options for insulating listed buildings? How much of a problem would summer overheating be if internal insulation was installed and cut off the thermal mass of old stone buildings? How can insulation programmes be financed? What is or is not allowed by English Heritage?