PhD Study : Affordable Climate Resilient Zero Emission Prototypes for government and slum housing in developing countries and disaster prone regions for Global GHG Reductions: The case for Bhubaneswar, India and Abaco, The Bahamas

Summary

The potential consequences of the climate crisis and the effects it has already triggered are prompting an intensive examination of the necessity of and possibilities for reducing anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (IEA 2020) The key to effective adaptation is an integrated resilient pathway through assessment, design, and implementation that links across scales and sectors to achieve local results that can be tested, measured, and, when successful, applied worldwide.

Research questions

1. How can the Norwegian ZEB concepts be adapted to reduce GHG emissions from ‘business as usual’ government housing typologies and slum housing in disaster prone (extreme weather) and developing countries?
2. How could the mitigation of the carbon footprint be taken into practice in climate resilient and zero emission construction solutions for the selected environmental and climatic contexts. How to calculate embodied emissions from materials in the absence of a local database?
3. In the absence of policy or standards, how can environmental accountability be embedded into the development of core sustainable and resilient standards and guidelines?

Research objectives

The PhD research will pursue the following objectives:

• Identification of existing concepts for NZEB in disaster prone regions experiencing extreme weather conditions and slum housing in India (comprehensive literature review of methods, tools, technologies, strategies for energy efficiency, passive design, and renewables integration).
• Define the current profile of: oSlums dwelling in Bhubaneswar, India o‘Business as usual’ government housing typologies in The Bahamas
• What are possible technology and design options to improve on existing construction practices
• Adaptation of the Norwegian nZEB model and method for locations prone to flooding (flash flood/tidal surge) and hurricanes. Development of representative designs and benchmarks for NZEBs in the selected locations;
• Combined passive and active solutions for optimal environmental quality.
• The attributes for affordable post-disaster and slum housing include high levels of energy efficiency, energy self-sufficiency, appropriate structural strength, construction flexibility (e.g. de-constructability and reassembly), and community resilience and adaptation as climate and communities change.
• Modelling, design and optimisation of the renewable energy technologies. The student is expected to explore other site specific building integrated renewable technologies.
• Data sources, data analytics and visualisation modelling and development in collaboration with ongoing research focused on ZEBs in warm climates.
• Practical demonstration of easily replicable “innovation hubs” in The Bahamas and India, showcasing exemplary prototypes for affordable, climate resilient and zero emission citizen-oriented solutions in disaster prone regions experiencing extreme weather conditions and developing countries.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Clearly defined research proposal detailing background, research questions, aims and methodology

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Masters at 65%

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living