CDC sponsor inaugural TSBE post grad at University of Reading

As part of CDCs research and development we have entered into a sponsorship arrangement with the new Centre for Technologies for Sustainable Built Environments (TSBE) at the University of Reading.

CDC are sponsoring one of the Engineering Doctorate (EngD) students over the next four years and the aim of the course is for this Post Graduate to spend some 75% of his time working with CDC which will help us develop and prepare our products to meet the challenges of energy reduction and carbon emissions.

CDC has, since the early 90s, been involved in gathering data from the technical systems installed in large buildings and estates. Data from technical systems are mined by CDC's Integra software to profile buildings and estates operational energy usage relating to specific equipment use, such as HVAC, BMS, Lighting, and Access Control. Provision of real time and historic trend data to owners, operators, users and stakeholders allows Integra to recommend areas for energy performance improvement. Such application functionality is particularly relevant as increasing pressure is applied by Government and International regulations to effectively drive towards a Low or Zero Carbon economy.

Professor Hazim Awbi, Director of the new Centre for Technologies for Sustainable Built Environments, said: "Our Centre will help mitigate the issues of climate change and move the UK towards the target of zero-carbon buildings by 2019. Buildings are responsible for about 46% of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK. To meet this challenge requires a shift in the way future buildings are designed, constructed and operated. The Centre will take its inspiration from nature to help develop new materials and systems to reduce energy use in buildings and construction."

"We will be training highly skilled research engineers who are prepared to challenge deep-rooted traditions existing in some of the UK construction industries. Such training requires a close collaboration between industry, particularly at a regional level and academic expertise."