Research and teaching
We engage in research with numerous partners, both academic, public sector, and industrial. We also contribute to a number of postgraduate and undergraduate teaching programmes and run continuing professional development courses for industry.
We have two new CPD courses starting in March 2011:
- Module 1 - Designing and delivering low-carbon buildings: Minimising the risks
- Module 2 - Modelling for low-carbon buildings: What Clients, Architects and Engineers need to know
Our Very Early Stage Design Tool (VEST), which supports the course, is available for free and can be accessed from our downloads page.
Research
We are currently involved in a number of high-profile, publicly funded research programmes.
| Research Programme | About |
|---|---|
| PROMETHEUS | PROMETHEUS is a cross-disciplinary EPSRC funded project. The main aims to create predicted future weather files to identify problems buildings will face as a result of climate change. |
| FOREST | We are taking a central role in coordinating the €1.3 million FOREST project. Along with 9 other European project partners, the project will focus on developing the whole of the biomass supply chain fr Flyerom the forest to the firebox. |
| Montgomery Primary School | We are working with local architectural design firm NPS South West and Devon County Council on the design of the replacement building for Montgomery Primary School in Exeter which aims to be the first primary school in the UK to achieve zero carbon in use |
We also work closely with a range of other research groups within the University, including: The Renewable Energy Group, Energy Policy Group, Climate Change and Sustainability, Centre for Rural Policy Research, and the Exeter Business School.
We are also closely involved in the University's Climate Change and Sustainable Futures strategy and have links with many industrial clients including: QinetiQ, Corus, British Gypsum, BAA, May Gurney, Regen South West, Energy Savings Trust, Department for Education, Axminster Carpets, Riverford Organics, Norfolk Property Services (NPS).
You can find out more about Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) at the Research & Knowledge Transfer website.
Teaching
Our staff contribute to the following teaching programmes.
| Course | About |
|---|---|
| Renewable Energy BSc/MEng |
Based at the Camborne School of Mines, the BSc / MEng undergraduate programme is the first of its kind in the UK. It is accredited by the Energy Institute (EI) and provides the necessary basis for achieving Chartered Engineer status after graduation. |
| Energy Policy MSc | This course is based in the School of Geography at the University's Cornwall Campus and is the only Masters programme that focusses specifically on energy policy. The programme's applied approach aims to develop employment prospects in this rapidly developing sector. |
| BSc / MPhys Physics | The Centre provide a teaching of Energy and the Environment for the undergraduate Physics programmes at the University. Based on the latest scientific research, the courses cover global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain, energy and wind, biomass, wave, tidal and hydro power, solar energy, nuclear energy and transport. |
| MSc in Sustainable Development | This programme offers a unique opportunity to study first world sustainable development in a holistic context. It provides a rigorous theoretical training in core issues surrounding sustainability. |
Continuing professional development
The Centre offers a number of seminars and training sessions for local authorities, architects and developers on a variety of subject areas including:
- Energy Policy
- Acoustics
- Low Energy Building Design
- Renewable Energy
- Adapting Buildings to Climate Change
The following courses are running in March 2011 and bookings are currently being taken:
