Stephen Allen

Dr. Stephen Allen is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) with research interests in the fields of energy analysis, carbon footprinting and life cycle assessment.  He works in interdisciplinary teams to improve the way we use energy in our buildings, and to develop sustainable construction materials.  The purpose is to minimise both the operational and embodied carbon emissions of the built environment.  Current projects include the £36m Active Buildings Centre, which is designing and constructing buildings that produce more energy than they use. 

Dr. Allen previously worked as the Energy Adviser at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, and as an energy and environmental consultant in industry.  This provided experience of how practical improvements and policy changes occur in practice, which he draws on in his research and teaching.  Stephen’s publications have been used by MPs, select committees and the Committee on Climate Change, supporting the development and scrutiny of public policy.  His work has also featured in professional magazines to inform debate and practice in industry.  Over six years as a senior consultant and then director at companies in Bristol, Stephen helped both the public and private sectors to reduce the environmental impacts of buildings, rail transport and consumer products. 

Stephen has a First-Class M.Eng. (Hons, 2005) and Ph.D. (2009) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bath.  His doctoral and post-doctoral research focused on sustainable energy technologies for buildings.  He won the prestigious George Stephenson Prize from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 2008, and a place on the USA’s International Visitor Leadership Programme on climate change and renewable energy in 2012.  He is conversationally fluent in Spanish.

I am currently advertising for two PhD positions, both with a deadline of end April:

• "Is building-integrated energy storage a good idea?". See here for details.
• "Energy Positive Cities: meeting future urban energy needs with Active Buildings". See here for details.

I am generally interested in supervising students studying:

• Low energy and low carbon design of buildings
• Sustainable building materials
• Sustainable energy technologies
• Thermodynamics and heat transfer
• Carbon footprinting
• Life cycle assessment