Thesis title: Energy Efficient Achievement of Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort Using Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery and Solar-Energy Pre-Heating
Tell us about your work and time with the ERBE CDT
I joined the ERBE CDT and MaREI Centre at University College Cork (UCC) in January 2021, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. Coming from a background in Architectural Engineering, my motivation was to explore energy-efficient strategies that could improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in buildings. Being part of ERBE was a truly unique experience. The CDT provided an interdisciplinary environment that allowed me to collaborate with students and academics from UCL, Loughborough, and MaREI. Through activities such as the ERBE colloquia, student-led conferences, summer schools, and the Block Week, I developed a solid foundation in sustainable energy systems and formed lasting academic and professional connections. These experiences were crucial to both my technical and personal development.
What was your PhD about?
My research focused on integrating solar air heating—specifically Transpired Solar Collectors (TSCs)—with Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems to pre-heat ventilation air. The goal was to maintain a balance between improving indoor environmental quality and reducing ventilation energy consumption in densely occupied public spaces such as educational buildings. Through experimental studies and validated simulations, I demonstrated that combining TSCs with MVHR systems can reduce building heating energy demand by 30% in a particular institutional case study in Ireland (UCC Aras na Laoi).
What were the highlights of your PhD/ERBE?
Key highlights include presenting my work at REHVA international conferences such as CLIMA 2022 (Netherlands) and RoomVent 2024 (Sweden), publishing peer-reviewed journal papers in Elsevier, and receiving CIBSE-certified training in ventilation design. One of the most rewarding parts was designing and building my experimental setup at UCC, where I worked closely with the university’s Buildings and Estates Office as well as industry partners in solar collector technologies. This hands-on project strengthened my skills in stakeholder engagement, technical communication, and project management. I would like to acknowledge the ERBE CDT and MaREI for their generous support in funding and facilitating the implementation of this experimental work at UCC, Ireland.
What are you doing now/what’s next?
I am currently taking time to explore opportunities in both academia and industry. With a background in sustainable building design and a strong focus on the energy transition in Ireland and the UK, I’m eager to contribute to carbon-neutral and resilient built environments through interdisciplinary and impactful work.