The Center for Sustainability of the Built Environment (CSBE) brings together a group of motivated and dedicated researchers and technicians, with a wide experience in research, knowledge transfer, teaching and training, in the theme of sustainability of the built environment, specifically: architectural engineering, energy systems (HVAC and renewable energy), environmental quality (indoor and outdoor) and innovative materials in construction, thus being aligned with several of the objectives defined in the United Nations Agenda 2030. Considering the multidisciplinarity of the center, there are several and transdisciplinary research topics, namely:
  • Preventive conservation of heritage;
  • Building physics: building renovation, indoor air quality, thermal performance, visual comfort, acoustic analysis, energy efficiency, environmental impact, and hygrothermal;
  • Sustainability: building, university campuses, city or neighborhoods, and impact of climate change;
  • Energy poverty: renewable energy as alternative sources to domestic fossil fuels, and indoor air quality and its impact on health and quality of life;
  • Energy Systems for buildings: study, development and evaluation of efficient systems for production and use of renewable energy for buildings;
  • HVAC Systems: study, development and evaluation of HVAC systems for buildings to promote energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality;
  • Innovative building technologies and materials: development of technologies and application of innovative materials in building construction;
  • Computer sciences: development of generative methods and optimization of building design, data science and machine learning applied to the built environment, and modeling and simulation of built environments;
  • Promotion and education for sustainability
The activities of this research group can be organized in four main areas: energy efficiency and indoor air quality, industrial ecology, sustainable mobility, and wind engineering and industrial aerodynamics..