About the project
Tackling climate change starts with transforming our buildings. This project will develop a new toolkit that integrates technologies such as heat pumps, photovoltaics, smart controls, and energy storage, to enable cost-optimal, low-carbon retrofits at scale. Driven by hybrid physics–AI models and real-world validation, it will challenge how buildings save energy and reduce emissions.
The urgent need to mitigate climate change underscores the importance of reducing energy demand in the building sector, a major contributor to global energy use and carbon emissions. Existing retrofit approaches often target single technologies, missing opportunities for integrated, cost-effective solutions. This project tackles this challenge by developing a multifunctional toolkit that enables large-scale, cost-optimal retrofits, balancing investment costs, carbon reduction, and primary energy savings.
The toolkit will integrate a range of complementary energy efficiency measures, including advanced building envelope improvements, heat pump installations, photovoltaic systems, smart energy management and control technologies, and both thermal and electrical storage solutions. Through this integrated approach, the toolkit aims to deliver a holistic retrofit strategy capable of maximizing energy performance and minimizing emissions across diverse building types.
The research relies on hybrid modelling that combines physics-based simulations, machine learning, and statistical analysis to handle the complexities of multi-technology integration. Extensive datasets on building performance, occupant behaviour, and energy consumption will be analysed to train and validate the models. Insights from this analysis will guide the toolkit’s optimization process, enabling tailored retrofit recommendations suited to specific building characteristics and usage patterns.
To ensure practical relevance, the toolkit will be developed and validated using large-scale datasets from industry partners. Real-world testing and monitoring will provide essential feedback, refining the system and demonstrating its ability to achieve measurable energy and carbon savings. Ultimately, the project supports a scalable pathway toward more sustainable and energy-efficient buildings.
This project is part of the UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Sustainability (SustAI), a 4-year integrated programme (iPhD). You'll be part of a dynamic and diverse cohort, benefiting from expert mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration. The programme includes comprehensive training in sustainability, AI and machine learning, and digital design, preparing you for a career at the forefront of research in this area. You'll have access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources, fostering an environment of innovation and excellence.
The School of Electronics and Computer Science is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
