Dr John Richard Littlewood

BSc (hons) PhD FHEA ACIAT
e: jlittlewood@cardiffmet.ac.uk
t: 02920 416676
w: www.wirad.ac.uk/research-themes/ecological-built-environment/
skype: john_littlewood_at_uwic

Specialist Subject Areas

Ecological Built Environment

The assessment of the environmental performance of new and existing dwellings including the design, construction and post occupancy, with a particular focus on thermal performance, energy usage and carbon minimisation.

Research Methods

Quantitative & Qualitative including thermal, energy and carbon dioxide monitoring in-construction and post occupancy (thermography level I certified (Flir)), post-occupancy interviews and analysis.

Biodiversity & the Built Environment

Urban food production strategies, including honey harvest;
Green roofs and green walls;

Architectural Technology
Dynamic Thermal Modelling and Building Information modelling;
Architectural Science;
Sustainable dwelling design.

Qualifications

March 2001 PHD A study of the design and thermal performance of two storey earth sheltered houses. UNIVERSITY OF GLAMORGAN

June 1996 BSc (Hons) First & Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors prize. Building Surveying

Since formation Fellow Higher Education Academy

2004-present Associate Member Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists

1996-present Probationer Member Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

2011-present Certified Flir Systems Ltd: Level I Thermography – ISO18436 PCN. Level I Thermography – ISO18436 PCN.

Biography

Dr John R Littlewood joined UWIC in 2007 as a Senior Lecturer in Architectural Design & Technology. He very soon created and is Director of the Ecological Built Environment Research & Enterprise (EBERE) group, as a mechanism to develop and promote research, enterprise & learning and teaching in the sustainable built environment field. EBERE is a recognised research theme in the Welsh Institute for Research in Art & Design. One of the catalysts for founding EBERE came from John establishing the pathway ‘Ecological Building Practices’ (D.EBP) on UWIC’s professional doctorate programme, which have been delivered in collaboration with the Graduate School for the Environment, Centre of Alternative Technology, since 2009; and in September 2011 will be starting its fifth cohort. September 2011 also sees the launch of a new collaborative MSc programme Environmental Change & Practice: Buildings, as a foundation to the DEBP programme.

John has worked and studied in the built environment field since 1986 in both craft and professional roles, with a particular focus on sustainable housing, architectural science, architectural technology, community regeneration and biodiversity. He started out as painter and decorator and in his spare time used to help his uncle paint scenery for the annual ‘Gilbert & Sullivan’ week in his local village. In the latter part of the 2000s, he began to realise that his beliefs and work were better reflected by the term ‘ecological’ (holistic in its meaning of protection and enhancement of the planet’s resources) than the term ‘sustainable’, since he believes this term is often misused.

John follows where possible an ecological pathway through life and has been a keen mountaineer, cyclist and gardener for many years, starting his first urban allotment in 2008, following organic principles. This ‘ecological’ interest has even led John to supervise a PhD on the development and testing of a new horizontal beehive, which led to several publications and his first EPSRC funding grant in collaboration with a charity.

John has been active with the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) since the early 2000s and is very proud to be part of the new Welsh branch. He has been a member of a number of national CIAT committees, and he is currently a member of the Research Committee and as part of this is actively involved in moving CIAT towards accrediting its first professional doctorate programme; hopefully at Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) and under John’s direction.

Current research

As founder and director of the EBERE group John is responsible for the strategic and operational direction, which focuses on four key themes:

All of his research projects to date; including his own PhD, entitled ‘A study of the design and thermal performance of two-storey earth sheltered houses for the UK climate’, which he completed in 2001 one decade ago, have been undertaken in collaboration and with support of industry. Since 2005, John has been working in close collaboration with Integrate Wales, a consortium of nine housing associations developing and regenerating communities across west, south and east Wales. Between 2006 and 2008, John undertook the role of Sustainability Coordinator for Integrate Wales and when he joined Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) in 2007, he was able to retain an advisory role, which has resulted in numerous enterprise and research projects for him and his colleagues pursuing an ecological built environment.

To this extent, as grant holder at Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC), John is currently leading four EU (ESF)/CMU/Industry funded knowledge economy skills scholarship doctorate projects in collaboration with Coastal Housing Group (two), Pembrokeshire (one) and United Welsh housing associations (one). These projects include developing and testing the environmental performance of low carbon and existing dwellings through monitoring methodologies for and developing and implementing rural and urban models for ecological dwellings and communities.

In addition, he is project lead at CMU’s for its contribution to an ERDF/industry/University funded pan Wales wide project entitled Low Carbon Built Environment. CMU’s focus is on work package six, which is investigating monitoring of low and zero carbon buildings and technologies.

He has also led since 2008, UWIC’s contribution to the SURegen project, which is investigating tacit knowledge decision making for sustainable urban regeneration.

The above projects concentrate mainly on energy security through energy use and carbon minisation. John’s other research interests is to develop a pan Wales & UK wide study in the field of Biodiversity and the Built Environment, with a particular focus on urban food production to reduce the impact of food security issues in the UK, which are seen to be far more problematic than energy security.

To this end he has chaired the Biodiversity & Built Environment theme at the RICS COBRA conference since 2009.

John strongly believes that an all round academic in terms of delivering inspiring lectures, managing and delivering effective applied research programmes; is one that practices their own discipline in industry on a regular basis. Therefore, since 2005, John has held a variety of secondment (one day per week and sometimes more) roles to industry commencing in 2005 to Building Design Partnership, as Sustainability Consultant until 2010 and since 2009 at United Welsh Housing Association, as a Sustainable Development Consultant.

His current research projects are valued at approximately £750,0000 and since joining between 1996 and 2005 at the University of Glamorgan he generated £145,000 research funding. Since 2008, he has also generated approximately £20,000 enterprise income at UWIC through his secondments to industry.

In addition, to collaborating with industry he is also working in collaboration with the Universities of Salford, Glamorgan, Dundee, Napier, Manchester, Cardiff, Swansea, Derby, Loughborough, Provence, Montreal, Sheffield, Brighton, Robert Gordon and may soon include British Columbia.

John sits on the scientific committees of several international conferences including the RICS COBRA Conference (2008 – date), the Detailed Design in Architecture International Conference (2008-date), Sustainability & Energy in Buildings International Conference (2010-date). He was also a member of the Scientific Committee of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers Technical Symposium 2005 to 2007.

As part of his work for international conferences, John is also founder and Chair of number conference themes, including Biodiversity & the Built Environment (RICS COBRA 2010 to date) and Assessment and Monitoring the Environmental Performance of Buildings (SEB 2011 to date).

Finally, John also gives plenary presentations at international conferences, which commenced in June 2009 at the Green Building Seminar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; funded and organized by the British High Commission in Malaysia. He gave a presentation on the potential adoption of passivhaus principles for dwellings in Malaysia.

John has been a member of the Research Committee for the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists since 2003.

His second plenary presentation at an international conference is in June 2011 at the SEB11 conference, Marseille, France; funded and organised by KES international in collaboration with Universitaire de Provence.

John Chaired and organised his first International conference at UWIC in 2008, Detailed Design in Architecture 8 – Translating Sustainable Design into Sustainable Architecture. In 2013; he has been invited to Chair and organise SEB13 at Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) in Cardiff in 2013.

Principal Publications and/or Exhibitions

Click here to view Dr Littlewood’s papers and publications on Cardiff Metropolitan University’s DSpace repository.

HOPPER, J. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. GEENS, A, J. FOX, C. THOMAS, A. A potential path to assessing low carbon and ecological existing dwellings in Wales: a thermal imaging review of dwellings in Swansea, UK. Abstract accepted for and paper in development for the Structural Survey Journal, to be submitted August 2011, for a special edition on the assessment of existing dwellings.

CARFRAE, J. PIETER de WILDE, P. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. GOODHEW, S. WALKER, P. Development of a Cost Effective Probe for the Long Term Monitoring of Straw Bale Buildings. Building and Environment, Volume 46, Issue 1, January 2011, pp. 156-164.

FOX, C. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. The public attitudes towards the implementation of renewable energy technologies in dwellings. Built & Natural Environment Research Papers, December 2010, pp. 17-30.

HOLMES, D. COUNSELL, J. A. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. GEENS, A, J. DAVIES, G. AN EXPLORATION OF LOW CARBON AND ECOLOGICAL DWELLINGS, for the social housing sector in Wales, UK.

Abstract accepted, paper submitted 15th April 2011 for the 2011 World Sustainable Buildings conference, 18-21st October 2011, Finnish Association of Civil Engineers, Helsinki, Finland, pp. TBC.

LITTLEWOOD, J, R. TAYLOR, T. DAVIES, G. LEAVY. B. How to minimise space heating to dwellings in Wales, UK through the use of exhaust air source heat pumps: results of a post-occupancy monitoring study in Bargoed, UK. Abstract accepted, paper submitted 15th April 2011 for the 2011 World Sustainable Buildings conference, 18-21st October 2011, Finnish Association of Civil Engineers, Helsinki, Finland, pp. TBC.

HOPPER, J. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. GEENS, A, J. FOX, C. COUNSELL, J. A. THOMAS, A. Developing monitoring protocols for dwellings undergoing low carbon retrofit solutions, Wales, UK. Abstract accepted, paper submitted 15th April 2011 for the 2011 World Sustainable Buildings conference, 18-21st October 2011, Finnish Association of Civil Engineers, Helsinki, Finland, pp. TBC.

HATHERLEY, S. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. COUNSELL, J. A. GEENS, A, J. SINNETT, N. An exploration rural ecological and low to zero carbon dwellings for Wales, UK. Abstract accepted, paper submitted 15th April 2011 for the 2011 World Sustainable Buildings conference, 18-21st October 2011, Finnish Association of Civil Engineers, Helsinki, Finland, pp. TBC.

FOX, C. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. An analysis of the visioning process of the Inner City Sustainable Community project , Swansea. Abstract accepted, paper submitted 15th April 2011 for the 2011 World Sustainable Buildings conference, 18-21st October 2011, Finnish Association of Civil Engineers, Helsinki, Finland, pp. TBC.

TAYLOR, T. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. GEENS, A, J. COUNSELL, J. A. BLANCH, T. Low carbon apartment buildings for residents of over 55 years of age: the results of a post –occupancy evaluation study in Swansea, UK. Abstract accepted, paper submitted 15th April 2011 for the 2011 World Sustainable Buildings conference, 18-21st October 2011, Finnish Association of Civil Engineers, Helsinki, Finland, pp. TBC.

TAYLOR, T. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. GOODHEW, S. HOPPER. J. GEENS, A, J. COUNSELL, J. A. BLANCH, T. SHARP, D. In-construction testing of the thermal performance of dwellings using thermography. Paper accepted for the Assessment and Monitoring of the Environmental Performance of Buildings invited session at the 2011 Sustainability & Energy in Buildings International Conference, 1st to 3rd June, Universitaire de Provence, Marseille, France.

TAYLOR, T. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. GEENS, A, J. COUNSELL, J. A. PETTIFOR, G. Developing post occupancy evaluation techniques for assessing the environmental performance of apartment buildings in Wales: an ecological perspective. Revised paper submit ted to referees following correct ions, 6th September 2010. Paper presented and published in the proceedings for the Detailed Design in Architecture 9 conference – Innovative Detailing: Materials & Construction Methods for a Low Carbon Future, 4th & 5th November 2010, University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), Preston, UK, pp: 43-54.

TAYLOR, T. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. GEENS, A, J. COUNSELL, J. A. PETTIFOR, G. Development of a strategy for monitoring the environmental performance of apartment buildings in Swansea: measuring progress towards zero carbon homes in Wales. Presented and published in the conference proceedings for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Annual COBRA Conference, Dauphine Universitaire, Paris, France, 2-3 September, 2010. ISBN: 9781842196199. Cited at: http://www.rics.org/site/download_feed.aspx?fileID=7858&fileExtension=PDF.

HICKERTON, G. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. 2010. Procurement for Holistic Sustainable Construction in the UK. Presented and published in the conference proceedings for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Annual COBRA Conference, Dauphine Universitaire, Paris, France, 2-3 September, 2010. ISBN: 9781842196199. Cited at: http://www.rics.org/site/download_feed.aspx?fileID=8082&fileExtension=PDF.

LINSEY-HOOD, D. BUTLER, A. JOLLINS, M. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. TUCKER, S. The viability of small scale Biomass Combined Heat and Power (bCHP) for the UK – Initial findings from case study research. Paper presented and published at the Energy in the City, The Solar Energy Society Conference, London South Bank University, 23-24th June 2010.

FRANCIS, T. GEENS, A, J. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. An analysis of the performance in use of heritage buildings to identify potential opportunities for the design and construction of sustainable new buildings. Paper presented and published in the conference proceedings for the Association of Researchers in Construct ion Management Conference, 6-8th September, Leeds, UK.

LITTLEWOOD, J, R. COUNSELL, J, A, H. GILLARD, A. Modelling, simulating, and monitoring the thermal performance and climatic data for the Atlantic College student accommodation. Presented and Published in the Proceedings for the Detailed Design in Architecture 8: Translating Sustainable Design to Sustainable Construction Conference, 4th September 2009, Department of Architectural Studies, Cardiff School of Art & Design, University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Cardiff, UK; pp 239-253. ISBN: 978-1905617-93-7.

FRANCIS, T. GEENS, A, J. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. Lessons from the Past, an analysis of the performance characteristics of heritage buildings. Presented and published in the Proceedings for the Detailed Design in Architecture 8: Translating Sustainable Design to Sustainable Construct ion Conference, 4th September 2009, Department of Architectural Studies, Cardiff School of Art & Design, University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Cardiff, UK; pp 223-238. ISBN: 978-1905617-93-7.

CARFRAE, J. PIETER de WILDE, P. WALKER, P. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. GOODHEW, S. Detailing the effective use of rain-screens to protect walls made from straw bales in combination with hygroscopic, breathable finishes. Presented and Published in the Proceedings For the Detailed Design in Architecture 8: Translating Sustainable Design to Sustainable Construction Conference, 4th September 2009, Department of Architectural Studies, Cardiff School of Art & Design, University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Cardiff, UK; 99-108. ISBN: 978-1905617-93-7.

COUNSELL, J, A, H. GILLARD, A. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. The Atlantic College Case Study – Measuring Performance to Evaluate building simulation and enhance student learning. Presented and Published in the Proceedings for the 13th International Conference, Information Visualisation 14 – 17 July 2009, PompeuFabra university (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.

CARFRAE, J. PIETER de WILDE, P. LITTLEWOOD, J, R. WALKER, P. GOODHEW, S. Long term evaluation of the performance of a straw bale house built in a temperate climate. Presented and Published in the Proceedings for the 11th International Conference on Non-conventional Materials and Technologies (NOCMAT2009) 6-9 September 2009, Bath, UK.

CARFRAE, J., DE WIELDER, P., GOODHEW, S., WALKER, S., and LITTLEWOOD, J. R., 2008. Totnes Eco House, Interaction Between Design and in-situ Monitoring. Paper presented and published within the proceedings of the Passive Low Energy Architecture Conference: Towards Zero Energy Building. Dublin, Ireland. 22nd to 24th October 2008.

COUNSELL, J., M, A. GILLARD, A., and LITTLEWOOD, J. R., 2008. The Atlantic College case study: exploring the use of BIM for the sustainable design and maintenance of educational property. Paper presented and published within proceedings at the RICS COBRA Conference, Dublin, Ireland, 13th to 15th September 2008.

COUNSELL, J., LITTLEWOOD, J. R., ARAYACI, Y., HAMILTON, A., SONG, Y., NASH, G., DIXEY, A., RICHMOND, A. and FOX, S., 2008. Future, proofing, recording and tagging historical buildings: a pilot study in Wales. Paper presented and published within proceedings at the RICS COBRA Conference, Dublin, Ireland, 13th to 15th September 2008.

PAPERS NOT ILLUSTRATED ABOVE INCLUDE:

FIVE ADDITIONAL JOURNAL PAPERS BETWEEN 2001 AND 2007FOURTEEN ADDITIONAL INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL PEER REVIEWED CONFERENCE PAPERS BETWEEN 1998 AND 2007

Awards

• Reverse Strategic Insight Programme: capturing Geoff Pettifor’s tacit knowledge on urban regeneration and housing association innovation. January 2011. £3000.

• Coastal Housing Group Donation for John Littlewood & EBERE. Development funding to promote the research and enterprise of John Littlewood with support from Tim Taylor and Joanne Hopper. £28,000. November 2010.

• ESF through KESS: Coastal Housing Group. A study to monitor the relationship between fabric building quality and thermal performance, to determine whether low carbon design translates into low carbon construction. February 2010. £64,470.

• ESF through KESS: Coastal Housing Group. A study to develop a best practice guide for optimum solutions to reduce carbon and minimise fuel poverty, for Wales‟ deprived dwellings, following the ARBED protocol. August 2010. £64,470 – three year funding.

• ESF through KESS: United Welsh Housing Association. A study to evaluate and test best practice for urban low to zero carbon affordable dwellings, for social housing providers in Wales. September 2010. £64,470 – three year funding.

• ERDF through Low carbon Built Environment – Work Package 6: Monitoring the Performance of Low Carbon Buildings and Technologies. In collaboration with Coastal Housing Group. £280,000. June 2010 – 39 month funding..

• ESF through KESS: Pembrokeshire Housing Association. A study to develop a best practice model for the development of low-carbon, ecological low rise rural dwellings for a 21st century Wales. February 2010. £64,470 – three year funding.

• EPSRC SUE II – SURegen. £175,000 (FEC) April 2008 – four year funding.

• Double KTP National Botanic Garden of Wales. Lead for one of supervisor for one associate on a two associate project. Develop a Sustainability Model for NBGW, reducing their finite resource use (energy and water) and carbon emissions, adopt renewable energy and increase public awareness. Associate 2: To create a nature reserve and specification for an education/interpretation centre in the Garden and make it commercially viable within the constraints of conservation. £190,000.

FUNDING NOT ILLUSTRATED ABOVE INCLUDES:

£145,000 BETWEEN 1998 AND 2007

Enterprise Projects and/or Industrial links

• BUILDING DESIGN PARTNERSHIP. Sustainability Consultant – Bristol studio, March 2008 to February 2010.

• PROFESSIONAL DOCTORATE ECOLOGICAL BUILDING PRACTICES. Programme Director at part one and two, April 2009 to present.

• UNITED WELSH HOUSING ASSOCIATION. Sustainable Development Consultant, June 2009 to present.

Modules Taught

Undergraduate

CAS…Research Studies. Building Maintenance & Management.

Postgraduate

CAS…Research Methods. MSc Ecological Building Practices.

CAS…Contextualising Professional Change & Development. Professional Doctorate – Ecological Building Practices.

CAS…Advanced Research: Literature Review. Professional Doctorate – Ecological Building Practices.

CAS..Advanced Research: Project Management. Professional Doctorate – Ecological Building Practices.

Supervision of Doctoral Research (titles or broad areas of investigation)

• MPhil External Examiner: David Zhong. Modern Interpretation of Feng Shui Principles in Contemporary sustainable Residential Design in China. University of Derby. 2010.

• PhD External Examiner: Jon Gates. Solar thermal storage using phase change materials for space heating of residential buildings. Brighton University 2009.

• PhD Supervisor: Jim Carfrae. Developing and testing a moistures monitoring probe for straw bale buildings. School of the Environment. University of Plymouth. Submitted PhD Thesis for viva voce May 2011.

• DEBP Supervisor: David Hood. Optimising biomass combined heat & power systems for 1 MW and less. School of the Environment. Cardiff School of Art & Design, UWIC. Commenced September 2009.

• PhD Director of Studies: Tim Taylor. A study to monitor the relationship between fabric building quality and thermal performance, to determine whether low carbon design translates into low carbon construction. Cardiff School of Art & Design, UWIC. Commenced February 2010.

• PhD Director of Studies: Simon Hatherley. A study to evaluate and test best practice for urban low to zero carbon affordable dwellings, for social housing providers in Wales. Cardiff School of Art & Design, UWIC. Commenced February 2010.

• PhD Director of Studies: Joanne Hopper. A study to develop a best practice guide for optimum solutions to reduce carbon and minimise fuel poverty, for Wales‟ deprived dwellings, following the ARBED protocol. Cardiff School of Art & Design, UWIC. Commenced February 2010.

• PhD Supervisor: David Holmes. A study to evaluate and test best practice for urban low to zero carbon affordable dwellings, for social housing providers in Wales. Cardiff School of Art & Design, UWIC. Commenced February 2010.

• PhD Supervisor: Trefor Francis. Developing and testing a building inspection methodology for heritage buildings. Faculty of Technology. University of Glamorgan. Commenced August 2009.

• PhD Supervisor to completion: Robin Cook. Localised food production in Wales. Faculty of Technology. University of Glamorgan. June 2006.