New research will use space telescopes to monitor energy efficiency of buildings

The University of Cambridge is one of 21 organisations awarded a share of over £7 million in funding meant to put the UK at the forefront of the latest advances in space innovation.

  Gulf of Mexico from space  Credit: NASA

The funding will support companies and universities with radical ideas for how we tackle climate change through earth observation or address satellite communications challenges, from providing greater connectivity to remote places to increasing the efficiency of our homes.

Dr Ian Parry from Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy has been awarded funding for high-resolution thermal infrared space telescopes for monitoring the energy efficiency of buildings.

Thermal infrared (TIR) earth observation telescopes in low earth orbit can monitor the energy output of buildings. Parry and his collaborators will build and develop a prototype for the continuous alignment required for a space telescope, as well as developing end-user climate change cases for TIR telescope.

“This technology can give us a global health check to let us know if the world is on target to meet its carbon emissions targets. It also makes it clear who needs to act and what they have to do if the targets aren’t being met,” said Parry. “It’s a bit like trying to get someone to give up smoking. The person knows it's bad for them and they have good intentions and make promises, but they still fall short of what they need to do until they get a worrying wake-up call from a medical examination.”

Governments sign up to agreements but it’s the behaviour of organisations and individuals that will deliver – or not – the required actions. This technology will allow governments across the world, including our own, to deliver what was promised.

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Image: Gulf of Mexico from space

Credit: NASA

Reproduced courtesy of the University of Cambridge



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