Supervisors - Dr. Gill Menzies, Herio-Watt University and Dr. Andrew Brown, Edinburgh Napier University
PhD Student - Sahar Mirzaie, Heriot-Watt University
Status - Closed
Low energy/low emissions buildings are vital in an economy which is to thrive despite tightening emissions targets, fossil fuel depletion and a more challenging climate. This research project aims to evaluate the whole life energy and carbon performance of buildings procured and delivered with pre-defined Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) targets;
delivered using the Soft Landings (SL) framework; and using Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools. The Riccarton campus at Heriot Watt University is undergoing unprecedented change with the construction of three new large developments. These include: Student Residences 2016; the Centre for Earth and Marine Technology (CEMT); and the National Performance Centre for Sport (NPCS). These developments will be delivered using BIM and SL, and will be designed to meet BREEAM Very Good or Excellent criteria, providing a rich source of data to test the aims and hypothesis of this proposed research. The relationship between energy consumption, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, building design, cost, procurement, occupant satisfaction, building performance and management will be analysed to establish the reliability of BREEAM, SL and BIM in delivering low energy/low emissions, sustainable buildings.