Setty Family Foundation Net Zero Energy Design

For the Setty Family Foundation Net Zero Energy Design, architects and engineers work together from the very beginning to design a net-zero building. Teams should determine building orientation, layout, materials, mechanical systems, and electrical systems that meet the client’s needs and work with the surrounding environment to minimize energy consumption. Additionally, special attention should be given to sustainability, for example the needs of the future shall be as (or more) important as the needs of the present when designing the building layout and integral systems.

FIRST PLACE: MEGA TEAM

Project:

By using a combination of renewable energy sources, energy efficient technologies and sustainable design principles, the team's design constitutes a paradigm of economically viable sustainable buildings. More specifically, the main features of its design include, high-performance fabric, Solar PV, free cooling and heating, heat recovery from high performance chillers, the electrification of energy, thermal mass, and energy efficient lighting and features. By combining parametric, sensitivity, and optimisation analyses, the team identified the most viable solutions for the climate and building.

Students:

  • Vu Trong Tin Ta - Net Zero Building Services Engineering
  • Jessica Payne-Fraser - Net Zero Building Services Engineering
  • Patrick Sumadi - Net Zero Building Services Engineering
  • Kam Wai Wong (Minus) - Net Zero Building Services Engineering
  • John-Luke Hutchinson - Net Zero Building Services Engineering
  • Thabiso Malupiya - Net Zero Building Services Engineering
  • Chia-Wei (Kevin) Liu - Net Zero Building Services Engineering
  • Samuel Oyesola - Net Zero Building Services Engineering

Awarded: £3,000

POSITIVE FEEDBACK

“The EIBF funding motivated the students from Loughborough University to participate in ASHRAE's international student competition with the goal to design a Net-zero Building. It was a great pleasure to witness the enthusiasm, engagement, and the knowledge gain of my students while working on one of the most challenging projects in the field of building services and architectural engineering, which is decarbonization of buildings. The students had the opportunity to present their work during the ASHRAE UK Chapter Building Services Exhibition and Technology Awards 2025 in front of a 100+ crowd, including professionals, academics, and students and their work was assessed by an industrial panel. It was a great opportunity for the students to get exposed and gain experience in presenting to large crowd and experts in the field. They presented an excellent project, which demonstrates a high level of expertise and commitment to sustainable design, made possible through the valuable support of EIBF."

Mahroo Eftekhari
Professor of Building Services Engineering
Loughborough University