MT26 Energy Seminar – Week 5: Beyond best practice: technological innovation and future standards for real-world net-zero carbon buildings
Dr Amr Suliman, University of Oxford
- Start Tuesday 10 Nov 2026 5:00pm
- Finish Tuesday 10 Nov 2026 6:00pm
- Venue School of Geography & the Environment
- Postcode OX1 3QY
- Register for event
THIS IS AN IN PERSON AND ONLINE EVENT
Summary: Can today’s best buildings meet tomorrow’s net-zero targets? Drawing on evidence from 37 award-winning and recognised UK buildings, this seminar explores the gap between current best practice and the energy and carbon performance needed by 2050. Informed by expert insights from the ZERO Buildings working group, we examine the technological innovations, design choices and operational improvements needed to close this gap, alongside how building standards must evolve to support better outcomes. Covering whole-life carbon, long-term performance, renewable energy and grid flexibility, the session highlights practical opportunities for designers, engineers, policymakers and building owners to deliver buildings that consistently meet performance expectations in everyday use. The seminar will be followed by a dedicated panel discussion featuring experts and members of the ZERO Buildings working group, including Professor Jesús Lizana, Professor Barbara Rossi and Dr Marina Topouzi.
Speaker: Dr Amr Suliman is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Engineering Science and ZERO Institute at the University of Oxford, contributing to the ZERO Buildings workstream under Prof Jesus Lizana. His research focuses on real-world building energy performance, building energy simulation, occupant/building behaviour, retrofit strategies and sustainable heating systems. His PhD explored the optimisation of closed-loop heating systems and the use of infrared thermography for non-invasive diagnostics. Alongside his research, he teaches and supervises projects focused on building decarbonisation, energy performance, and energy efficient heating systems.