High growth model to accelerate Passivhaus insulation in buildings

Supervisors:Dr Stephen Finnegan(University of LiverpoolSchool of Architecture)

Mike Knowles (3rd Way Commonwealth)

Reference:UoL-LCEI-071

Application Deadline: 30thAugust 2016

Introduction:

The University of Liverpool (UoL) and 3rd Way Commonwealth are seeking to appoint a suitably experienced and qualified individual to undertake a three year doctoral research programme. The PhD will be focused on accelerating delivery of UN Goals by provision of Passivhaus standards of 90% energy savings, comfort and health for all.

Partners want to schedule refurbishment of 30,000 houses and transform the wellbeing of these households over the next 3 years. This will create over 200 jobs with 3rd Way and position the Company to take to scale across the UK and overseas by social franchising and licensing. To achieve this we propose an internet enabled Open Source Guild to enable regions to rapidly develop skills and capacity required to build and refurbish to Passivhaus standards. This will be enabled by the internet and use digital technologies to provide “instant expert systems”

We offer the PhD project as an accelerated career development opportunity that will contribute to gaining vocational qualifications. We also offer personal development and networking opportunities with an international community with 70 years international experience in supporting values based leadership.

Overall aim:

Contribute to strategic efforts to overcome barriers that prevent substantial progress in efforts to accelerate delivery of UN Sustainable Energy for All objectives.

3rd Way Commonwealth has overcome the major technical and commercial barriers that prevent substantial progress to these efforts. These barriers prevent substantial carbon reduction and alleviation of energy poverty. The other barrier is skills and capacity which is the focus of this project.

In the UK 27 million houses need to be refurbished to Passivhaus standards to deliver 2050 targets of 80% carbon reduction. Globally only 75% of the built environment that will exist in 2050 has been built to date. International government see this as a window of opportunity to get it right. This situation requires:

  1. a high growth, responsible business model that rapidly develops and demonstrates competences
  2. employment of labour who are currently inexperienced in working to Passivhaus standards, some from regions of deprivation
  3. cost effective delivery of automotive quality standards in the building sector

The risks are one of the factors that can potentially impede the required investment and progress. The PhD will also contribute to meet the needs of due diligence for investors.

Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory

This PhD is one of 20 industry-led collaborative R&D projects from the Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory. The aim of the project is for you to work toward a PhD at the University of Liverpool through delivering ‘real – life’ solutions to industry. The Centre brings together the expertise, resources and global contacts of University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moore’s University and Lancaster Universityto create innovative low carbon goods, processes and services developed through collaborative R&D partnerships between local companies in the Liverpool City Region and local universities.

All LCEI PhD projects have been developed by SMEs contacting the University for assistance in R&D where the company does not have internal expertise, resource or facilities to carry out the research. This will give you a strong advantage in entering a competitive jobs market in both the academic and commercial sectors.

By joining the centre you will receive a £15,000 tax free stipend per year, with your post-graduate tuition fees paid (at UK/EU rate). The Centre is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund. Please visit for more information on the centre.

Application details:

To apply for this opportunity please email oting UoL-LCEI-071 in the email subject with:

  • 2 page CV
  • 2 page expression of interest
  • A completed Application Criteria – available from

Further information:

3rd Way Commonwealth is a high growth technology social enterprise. We have developed key enabling technologies that enable partners to viably refurbish or build any house to Passivhaus standards and save 90% of carbon and energy costs. It is impossible to deliver one of the 17 UN Sustainability Goals without energy, hence our focus. The main barrier is skills and capacity development.

The Liverpool School of Architecture is an internationally recognised centre for architectural and built environment research. The LSA performed excellently in the last Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014), being the highest ranked department submitted solely as a School of Architecture, a top six place for research intensity and a top ten place for grade point average (as shown in The Times Higher Education magazine). We were ranked third overall in terms of Research Outputs, with 80% of our outputs rated as world leading or internationally excellent. The inclusive nature of research in the School, and its support of early career researchers, meant that 85% of eligible staff were submitted to REF 2014 – one of the highest percentages of eligible staff submitted by any UK School of Architecture. Please visit more information.