The 2023 Jean Heap Bursary has helped fund an advanced eye-tracking headset, which is allowing lighting designer and researcher Simone Bonavia to assess how lighting affects people’s non-visual functions
Author: mollytooherrudd
Safe and practical applications: natural refrigerants
The higher flammability of low-GWP refrigerants in heat pumps and air conditioning systems has to be carefully considered by designers and installers. Alex Smith reports
The urban emergency: addressing environmental quality
Designers must take a holistic approach to the urban environment, say members of the UK Urban Environmental Quality working group, who explain how elements such as wind, water and the urban form can be addressed to optimise air quality and thermal comfort
The good, bad and illegal: rules and guidelines for IAQ
How can you tell whether the indoor air quality of buildings is safe for occupants? DustScanAQ’s Oliver Puddle gives a summary of current regulations and guidelines for monitoring air pollutants
‘Asking the right questions’: meeting building safety requirements
As chair of the new Industry Competence Steering Group, Hanna Clarke has a crucial role to play in making sure the construction sector comes together to improve competency and meet the requirements of the Building Safety Act. Alex Smith speaks to the artist turned safety expert with a painter’s eye for detail
Building on performance: CIBSE awards analysis
The quality of data in entries to the CIBSE Building Performance Awards is improving, says Julie Godefroy, who reveals new categories for the 2025 accolades, which are now open for submissions
Case study: Manchester’s garden of Eden
Wellbeing is at the core of Manchester’s Eden building, which features the biggest green wall in Europe and has been designed to ensure tenants have the potential to achieve Well Certification. Andy Pearson finds out how wellbeing and sustainability were baked into the design
Predicting heat pump performance: a simplified analysis
A simplified energy analysis model for residential heat pump retrofits aims to show if a system is performing as expected. Tony Day FCIBSE describes the method and how to use it to predict coefficient of performance against daily degree-days
Case study: Passivhaus Plus Hackbridge Primary School
Hackbridge Primary is the first Passivhaus Plus-certified school, setting a new standard for sustainable design and operational efficiency. Andy Pearson talks to members of the project team about the award-winning scheme
Putting people first: lighting for wellbeing
Cutting carbon shouldn’t be at the expense of occupants’ wellbeing, says Whitecroft Lighting’s Tim Bowes