Spotlight on…
Dr Chenfei Liu, Research Associate, Cardiff University
- What’s your current role at your institution?
I am a Research Associate at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, where I lead the modelling and performance evaluation for the Transforming Homes project. I am responsible for generating the critical evidence that validates the success of our design-led transformation proposals. This involves employing advanced dynamic thermal simulation and real-world monitoring to assess how performance modelling and bio-based materials improve energy performance and occupant comfort while reducing carbon footprint. This work provides the robust evidence base that helps the team understand the effectiveness of our solutions and communicate their potential for wider application.
- Which past experiences have helped you the most in your current role?
My post-doctoral research experience has focused on connecting retrofit theory with real-world practice. I led the technical research on low-carbon heating for over 800 homes in Oxford’s Clean Heat Streets project, which strengthened my skills in large-scale data analysis and resident engagement. Additionally, through collaborative research with Trivallis, one of Wales’s largest social housing providers, I gained insight into practical decarbonisation challenges in social housing. I also contributed to testing an innovative pre-fabricated facade system for the EU Plug-n-Harvest project, designed to support fast, high-performance retrofits, and conducted a lifecycle carbon assessment of the UK’s first Passivhaus EnerPHit Plus retrofit.
- What excites you about the research in the Transforming Homes project?
I am particularly excited by the project’s holistic and forward-thinking approach, which moves beyond purely technological solutions to place human experience at the centre of domestic retrofit. The integration of spatial redesign with rigorous, evidence-based performance analysis ensures that improving daily living is a measurable outcome. This, combined with a pioneering focus on bio-based materials, creates a powerful framework for change. I am motivated by the potential to deliver tangible, scalable solutions that not only reduce carbon emissions but also genuinely enhance people’s quality of life and well-being in their homes.
- How is your expertise contributing to the Transforming Homes project?
My expertise contributes to the Transforming Homes project by helping connect design ambitions with measurable performance outcomes. With a background in building performance modelling, retrofit assessment, and research in real homes, I provide evidence that supports the team in understanding how different design and material choices may influence energy use, comfort, and carbon reduction. My experience working with social housing providers and community-focused retrofit projects also helps me consider how proposed solutions can be practical, scalable, and responsive to everyday living. As the project progresses, I am keen to continue exploring how performance evidence and lived experience can work together to guide more holistic retrofit approaches.