PhD Project Title: Balancing Supply and Demand: Developing a Net Zero Energy Framework for Difficult-to-Retrofit Buildings in Nottinghamshire

Deadline: 11:59pm 8 December 2024 

Host University: The University of Nottingham 

Start date: 01 April 2025 

Funding offer: Tuition fees covered in full (worth approx. £15k across full PhD programme). Monthly stipend based on £19,237 per annum, pro rata, tax free.

Working hours: Full-time (minimum 37.5 hrs per week). 

Working style: Primarily in-person at host university. Flexible working supported. Working pattern to be agreed between successful candidate and lead supervisor.  

Project Supervisors

• Lead Academic Supervisor: Dr Orla Williams (UoN)
• Academic Co-Supervisor: Dr Kate Simpson (NTU)
• Academic Co-Supervisor: Prof Richard Bull (NTU)
• Community Supervisor(s): Phil Berrill (Nottinghamshire County Council), Chris Beattie (Inspire)

About The Project

Nottinghamshire County Council (NottsCC) recently launched its 2024 Net Zero Framework, which sets out how the council will become net zero by 2030. One of the key priorities is to reduce its direct emissions by improving the energy efficiency of its buildings. Whilst NottsCC has reduced emissions from its buildings by 59% since 2014-15, energy use still accounts for 31% of its total baseline emissions. Budget cuts and inflation mean that reducing energy use to a minimum is essential not only for reaching net zero but to ensure the future financial sustainability of the council.

A key area of concern for NottsCC is how to improve the energy efficiency and heating controls of some of its poorest-performing building stock. Between the 1950s and 1980s, a consortium of East Midlands local authorities used a construction method called CLASP to build low-cost, lightweight buildings. Whilst revolutionary at the time, they contain Asbestos, which is a serious public health issue. Nottinghamshire has the highest number of CLASP buildings in the UK. They are poorly insulated and expensive to heat, but difficult to modify due to the asbestos. There are too many buildings in use with CLASP Construction for them to be replaced in one go, thus a strategy is needed to identify those which can benefit from energy efficiency performance improvements.

This PhD project aims to develop a framework to improve the energy efficiency of difficult-to-retrofit buildings within Nottinghamshire and raise awareness of NottsCC’s Net Zero activities. Different classes of CLASP buildings within the NottsCC portfolio will be reviewed to identify opportunities for energy efficiency interventions. Furthermore, an evidence-based guide on heating control systems for different building types will be developed to inform future heating system upgrades and new builds. The project will work with Inspire to raise awareness about NottsCC’s Net Zero work and to identify how local communities can contribute to the Net Zero journey.

This project has been co-created and is supported by researchers from Nottingham Trent University (NTU), the University of Nottingham (UoN) and partners at NottsCC and Inspire. The successful candidate for this project will be enrolled at UoN. 

Project Aims 

• Identify the net zero energy potential of different categories of CLASP buildings in Nottinghamshire County Council’s building portfolio.  
• Develop heating system audit guides and thermal comfort assessment surveys for a range of difficult-to-upgrade buildings.
• Raise awareness of NottsCC Net Zero journey with local communities and find ways the public can contribute to this process.

For further information, please contact Dr Orla Williams at orla.williams@nottingham.ac.uk

Apply via the 'Apply' button above.

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