Adam joined the Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) in early 2014 after completing his PhD studies in Engineering at the University of Cambridge. His doctoral research examined and developed techniques for achieving deep energy retrofits when facing uncertain engineering and economic risks. He was also a lead developer of the Energy Efficient Cities City Model (CiMo), an urban-scale energy demand and supply model of central London. His prior research includes stochastic modelling of building occupant behaviour, and simulation-based design of thermal energy stores using exergy performance metrics. His commercial work includes consulting services in the Canadian and British solar energy and buildings industries.

At the FCL, Adam is the Manager of the 3for2 Beyond Efficiency Project, which will see ETH and FCL researchers implement low-exergy technologies at the practical-scale within a building in Singapore. This project is being undertaken in partnership with Siemens AG and United World College South East Asia. 

Research

The rising costs of energy, and the consistent relationship between building energy services and greenhouse emissions, remain challenges facing the development of cities globally. After all, building energy consumption accounts for roughly 40% of global primary energy use, and similarly for carbon emissions. Whilst solving this challenge requires the engagement of all segments of society, from industry, to government, and to individuals, the research and development sector plays a pivotal role. Efficient, low-carbon cities will be especially brought about through new design techniques and technologies developed for the buildings, transport, and energy sectors. They may also be brought about through the application of new engineering assessment methods, such as the use of 'exergy' to evaluate energy flows and the efficient use of energy resources.To this end the challenge facing researchers may be as much a practical one as a theoretical one: what is the language and teaching required to convert high-level research into real-world applications that add value to suppliers and consumers?

This is at the core of Adam's research interests at the FCL. Through the 3for2 project, he is interested in facilitating and documenting the process of conveying prototype building design concepts to practising engineers and architects and achieve commercial success. The project aims to bridge a knowledge gap between the theoretical design of low-exergy buildings and energy systems, and the experience of actually constructing them.

Affiliation

Institute of Technology in Architecture (ITA), ETH Zurich

Education

PhD (Cantab), MSc, BScE