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There are 29 million homes in the UK, accounting for 14% of the UK's energy consumption. This is given that UK has one of the highest water and energy demands in Europe which needs to be addressed according to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). Smart homes technology holds a current perception that it is principally used by “tech-savvy” users with larger budgets. However, smart home technology can be used to control water, heat and energy in the entire house. This paper investigates how smart home technology could be effectively utilised to aid the UK government in meeting climate change targets and to mitigate the environmental impact of a home in use towards reducing carbon emissions.

Both primary and secondary data were sought to gain insight into the research problem. An epistemological approach to this research is to use interpretivism to analyse data gathered via a semi-structured survey. Two groups of participants were approached: (1) professionals who are deemed knowledgeable about smart home development and implementation and (2) users of smart home technology. A variety of open-ended questions were formulated, allowing participants to elaborate by exploring issues and providing detailed qualitative responses based on their experience in this area which were interpreted quantitatively for clearer analysis.

With fossil fuel reserves depleting, there is an urgency for renewable, low carbon energy sources to reduce the 5 tonnes annual carbon emissions from a UK household. This requires a multi-faceted and a multimethod approach, relying on the involvement of both the general public and the government in order to be effective. By advancing energy grids to make them more efficient and reliable, concomitant necessitates a drastic change in the way of life and philosophy of homeowners when contemplating a reduction of carbon emissions. If both parties are able to do so, the UK is more likely to reach its 2050 net-zero carbon goal. The presence of a smart meter within the household is equally pivotal. It has a positive effect of reducing the amount of carbon emissions and hence more need to be installed.

Further research is needed using a larger study sample to achieve more accurate and acceptable generalisations about any future course of action. Further investigation on the specifics of smart technology within the UK household is also needed to reduce the energy consumption in order to meet net-zero carbon 2050 targets due to failures of legislation.

For smart homes manufacturers and suppliers, more emphasis should be placed to enhance compatibility and interoperability of appliances and devices using different platform and creating more user's friendly manuals supported by step-by-step visual to support homeowners in the light of the wealth of knowledge base generated over the past few years. For homeowners, more emphasis should be placed on creating online knowledge management platform easily accessible which provide virtual support and technical advice to home owners to deal with any operational and technical issues or IT glitches. Developing technical design online platform for built environment professionals on incorporating smart sensors and environmentally beneficial technology during early design and construction stages towards achieving low to zero carbon homes.

This paper bridges a significant gap in the body of knowledge in term of its scope, theoretical validity and practical applicability, highlighting the impact of using smart home technology on the environment. It provides an insight into how the UK government could utilise smart home technology in order to reduce its carbon emission by identifying the potential link between using smart home technology and environmental sustainability in tackling and mitigating climate change. The findings can be applied to other building types and has the potential to employ aspects of smart home technology in order to manage energy and water usage including but not limited to healthcare, commercial and industrial buildings.

It is apparent that the world of education has changed; the latest developments in the superhighway and the Internet are allowing students to be more flexible as to the time and place of learning in ways that were unimaginable ten years ago. The emergence of newly adopted metaphors such as “virtual university” and “networked campus” has greater impact on the teaching and learning modus operandi. The Dearing Report on higher education in the UK has emphasised that open access to a networked desktop and portable computer by all students will become the sine qua non for the next millennium. One of the main questions this paper is seeking to address is the wider implications of these changes on a university’s planning and design. Will the university be radically transformed into a virtual world? Will the university as we know it be able to exist at all? What are the alternative usages of the existing buildings? An attempt will be made to examine the implications of teleworking on university planning and the use of campus buildings. It is anticipated that this paper will highlight issues for open discussion which might increase the level of understanding and awareness between all those involved in the policy making, planning and management of university estates.

During the 1960s, thousands of high‐ and medium‐rise single sided corridor blocks were designed and constructed using prefabricated concrete cladding systems. Most were characterised by inferior quality material and poor workmanship, poor supervision and inadequate environmental services which subsequently deteriorated to a state of disrepair. The main culprits were condensation, water ingress and cold bridging effects owing to low energy efficiency standards and lack of thermal insulation. It was initially contemplated that at the end of their life span these problems would be remedied by adopting “high‐tech” components involving composite cladding methods and highly automated environmental services to improve the operational efficiency and optimise their long‐term durability and life cost cycle. However, the cost has proved to be beyond client affordability. Meeting the requirements of today’s users and the current building regulations necessitated rethinking of the whole process; and alternative cost‐effective maintenance and energy efficient approaches had to be developed. This paper critically evaluates the approach to low‐cost maintenance and refurbishment of high‐rise buildings in parts of Birmingham, UK.

This article assesses the impact of the social and psychological factors involved in the telework process. It examines factors such as motivation, social interaction, isolation and loneliness, using questionnaire data gathered from various types of small‐ to medium‐sized businesses based in Birmingham, UK between 1996 and 1998. It provides guidelines for managers and teleworkers that might improve efficiency and stimulate greater awareness about what constitutes an effective and human‐centred teleworking strategy. It also highlights and examines the most pertinent operational and logistical problems facing organisations relying on the experiences of both employers and the teleworkers themselves. It concludes that teleworkers need to be more proactive and play more of a key role in user‐initiated change otherwise the “human” factors will be overlooked. Recommends further research to incorporate these findings into practice in larger organisations.

It is apparent that the world of education has changed over the last ten years. The emergence of newly adopted metaphors such as “virtual university”, “networked campus” and “e‐university” may have yet greater impact on a university’s modus operandi in the twenty‐first century. This, in turn, will require more flexibility to cater for varying learning, managerial and organisational requirements. In terms of space management this will shift the emphasis towards a more time‐flexible, space‐flexible and location‐flexible pattern which will become sine qua non for e‐learning. One of the main questions this paper is seeking to address is “what are the wider implications of these changes on the space design and management of existing university buildings?”. An attempt will be made to examine, speculate and extrapolate the design implications on a selected building at the UCE , Perry Barr Campus in the West Midlands.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the embedded smart sensors (ESS) technologies and productivity; it seeks to provide an overview regarding the use and impacts of ESS in particular on users' performance. An attempt will be made to explore some of the current ESS tools and technologies, which might affect user performance.

A literature review and critical analysis of recently published papers (1999‐2005) related to intelligent buildings and smart sensors which aims to assess their impacts on productivity and performance in office buildings.

In today's immense challenges of uncertainty, workforce mobility and ever increasing insecurity and unpredictability characterizing many business organizations ESS and will have a wide‐ranging ramifications to office productivity which is partially dependent on the utility of the space and internal environment within which business operates.

Intelligent networks based on open, interoperable and interchangeable ESS will be of a paramount importance in optimizing the operational efficiency of office buildings as much as it will provide a long‐term multi‐ strategic approach for facility and property management. This will be beneficial to varying property stakeholders including clients, owners, facilities managers and end‐users of office building; this in turn determines the responsiveness of space.

It is anticipated that that the findings will be vital for all those professionals involved into the design process, management and operation of workplace.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the embedded smart sensors (ESS) technologies and users' performance in the workplace. An attempt will be made to assess the impact of incorporating ESS on user performance in the workplace.

A multi‐pronged approach was adopted in compiling relevant factual and perceptual information about users responses in the workplace. Both questionnaires and structured interviews with users and facilities managers (FMs) in a selected study sample are adopted to identify issues of concern and assess the level of users comfort in the workplace.

The incorporation of ESS will have wide‐ranging implications to office productivity which is partially dependent on the utility of the space and qualities of internal environment within which business operates.

The use of ESS is significant in optimizing the operational efficiency of the workplace and its responsiveness of meeting varying users needs. This will be beneficial to varying property stakeholders including owners, clients, occupiers and FMs.

The purpose of this research is to explore the relationship of a few sensory environmental parameters, mainly visual and acoustical stimuli, with childrens' behaviour and performance in special needs schools.

Analysis of teaching layouts and the sequence of activities in ten selected special needs schools have been conducted using questionnaire directed at carers and teachers. The findings were cross‐validated via open‐ended interviews with teachers and carers to glean more in‐depth understanding about sensory influences.

Several sensory parameters were observed in the teaching environment: bright colours and light, pattern glare, echoing, higher and low‐pitch sound and background noise level. The study identified numerous factors having a negative effect on children's behaviour.

This paper provides further understanding of the key factors contributing to the quality of teaching environment consistent with user's need and expectations. It provides suggestions regarding the briefing and design to support childrens' performance. This can assist in developing alternative design guidelines based on users‐centered approach to schools design.

This paper will highlight issues for open discussion amongst all those involved in the process of planning, design and management of school environments which further reduce the undesirable consequences of the aforementioned parameters towards improving their operational efficiency in use.

The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the findings of the empirical studies that were conducted in both the UK and the USA on the impact of a few sensory environmental stimuli, mainly visual and acoustical stimuli, on individual ' s behaviour in school buildings.

An analysis of teaching layouts and the sequence of activities in selected school buildings was conducted. Opinions of focus groups including teachers and carers working with individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD), were initially explored to assess the extent of the sensory problems associated with the existing teaching settings and to highlight any operational design limitations and constraints. A questionnaire was formulated based on the feedback gleaned from the focus groups. Relevant perceptual information about behavioural reactions to varying sensory stimuli was compiled. Key sensory triggers were identified. Visual information of selected schools including photos and visual diagrams of ASD workstations were compiled, annotated and analysed for further examination.

Several sensory parameters were observed in the teaching environment including bright colours and light, pattern, glare, echoing, sudden and impact sound, high and low pitch sound and background noise levels. Some variations between the two studies exist regarding particular sensory triggers and their importance as perceived by respondents. These can be directly attributed to differences in school design layout, internal finishing and workstation configuration. Other extraneous factors including the size of the study sample, location of schools and climatic factors are also implicated; however, significantly consistent adverse effects on individuals’ behaviour have been identified in both studies.

This paper highlights issues for open discussion amongst decision makers and built environment professionals to enhance the quality of life of the affected groups. This is particularly important given the extent of the sensory processing problems of individuals with ASD in both the UK and the USA. The findings will be relevant at strategic, tactical and operational levels including, inter alia, federal government agencies and decision-making bodies. Professionals involved in the process of planning, design and management of school buildings in both the UK and our sister country the US may benefit. The operational efficiency of education facilities may be maximised through control of the design and construction of school buildings. By further reducing the undesirable consequences of sensory triggers in educational facilities, the quality of life of the affected individuals may be improved.