Professor Joanne Patterson
PhD

: Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Joanne Patterson

Professorial Research Fellow, Director of Research
Welsh School of Architecture

Jo is Director of Research at the WSA and is part of the Management Board of the recently established Cardiff University (CU) Net Zero Innovation Institute.

As Strategic Lead of the EPSRC Harmonised Impact Accelerator Account at CU Jo works with a team of experts from across CU to fund projects that bridge the gap between research and the world’s understanding of its outputs to generate genuine impact.

Jo has recently been selected as part of the UKRI Interdisciplinary Assessment College as part of the Chair Pool that will run until autumn 2025, working across the UKRI disciplines. She is CU representative and Deputy Chair of the Wales Innovation Network Net Zero Strategic Board.

Jo is currently Co-Director of the Arts and Humanities Research Council funded Green Transitions Ecosystems project 'Transforming Housing and Homes for Future Generations' (2023 - 25), she led the Low Carbon Built Environment Project that helped provide evidence to support the implementation of low of low carbon technologies in the built environment. She also played a key role in the delivery of EnergyREV, a highly interdisciplinary team of 70+ researchers from 22 Universities from across the UK providing solutions for scaling up smart local energy systems.

Date
Type

2026

Patterson, J. et al. 2026. Transforming homes illustrated storybook. University of Exeter.
Bleil De Souza, C. et al., 2026. The smart retrofit transition: integrating digital solutions in social housing. [Online].Build Up. Available at: https://build-up.ec.europa.eu/en/resources-and-tools/articles/smart-retrofit-transition-integrating-digital-solutions-social-housing?from=03.
Arslan, D. et al., 2026. Transforming 1920-1940s housing to minimise energy use and optimise comfort. Presented at: CIBSE Technical Symposium 2026 Loughborough, UK 26-27 March 2026. CIBSE Technical Symposium 2026, March 2026. CIBSE.
Morewood, J. , Patterson, J. and Perisoglou, E. 2026. Planning whole house energy retrofits in social housing – investigating stakeholder needs to ensure effective and efficient decision making. Presented at: CIBSE Technical Symposium 2026 Loughborough, UK 26-27 March 2026.
Patterson, J. , Perisoglou, E. and Ionas, M. 2026. From design to reality: Long term performance of new build, low-carbon affordable homes. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff University. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18695688.
Bleil de Souza, C. et al. 2026. Smart social housing: Ideal smart solutions vs. real-world compromises. Zenodo(10.5281/zenodo.18661384)
Tadrak, W. , Chatzivasileiadi, A. and Patterson, J. 2026. Evaluating retrofit simulation accuracy: A case study of six Welsh homes [Abstract]. Presented at: Eighteenth IAMC Annual Meeting 2025 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 11-13 Nov 2025.

2025

Patterson, J. 2025. Interdisciplinary research: more than just a good idea. Environmental Scientist 35 (3), pp.10-19.
Shaddick, G. et al. 2025. Data science and AI for sustainable futures: Opportunities and challenges. Sustainability 17 (5) 2019. (10.3390/su17052019)
Perisoglou, E. , Patterson, J. and Ionas, M. 2025. Evaluating the performance of six 1970s off-gas deep retrofit bungalows. Building Services Engineering Research & Technology 46 (1), pp.9-25. (10.1177/01436244241287111)
Fernández Goycoolea, J. , Perisoglou, E. and Patterson, J. 2025. Operational carbon dioxide emissions from a retrofitted social home: assessing the impact of grid carbon intensity factors. Presented at: CIBSE IBPSA-England Technical Symposium 2025 London, UK 24-25 April 2025.
Perisoglou, E. et al. 2025. Deep retrofitting: carbon vs cost payback. Presented at: CIBSE IBPSA-England Technical Symposium 2025 London, UK 24-25 April 2025. CIBSE

2024

Tweed, A. and Patterson, J. 2024. Retrofitting in context: Pushing the boundaries of building performance evaluation in UK housing. In: Bobic, N. and Haghighi, F. eds. The Routledge Handbook of Architecture, Urban Space and Politics, Volume II. Vol. 2, Routledge(10.4324/9781003112471-25)
Al Qaed, A. A. and Patterson, J. 2024. Investigating the impact of passive cooling strategies on energy consumption and thermal performance: A case study of courtyard housing in a hot arid climate. Presented at: PLEA 2024: 37th PLEA Conference (Re)thinking resilience Wrocław, Poland 25-28 June 2024. Published in: Widera, B. et al., PLEA 2024: (Re)thinking Resilience. The book of proceedings. Wroclaw, Poland: Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wrocławskiej. , pp.711-716. (10.37190/PLEA_2024)
Perisoglou, E. et al. 2024. Solid wall end-terrace retrofit. Presented at: CIBSE Technical Symposium Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University 11-12 April 2024. Fit for 2050 Delivering buildings and defining performance for a net zero built environment. Cardiff, UK: CIBSE Symposium
Al Qaed, A. and Patterson, J. 2024. The impact of greenery on improving thermal performance of historic housing in hot-arid climate. Presented at: 1st International Conference of Net Zero Carbon Built Environment University of Nottingham, UK 3 - 5 July 2024. Published in: Al Qaed, A. and Patterson, J. eds. Proceedings 1st International Conference of Net Zero Carbon Built Environment. University of Nottingham, UK: University of Nottingham. , pp.1-8.
Hou, S. et al. 2024. A case study of modelling informing whole house energy systems-based retrofit in the UK. Presented at: Zero Carbon Built Environment Conference Nottingham, UK 03-05 July 2024.
Patterson, J. and Perisoglou, E. 2024. Challenges building service engineers can help overcome to assist the large-scale delivery of whole house energy retrofitting to achieve Net Zero. Presented at: CIBSE Technical Symposium, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University Cardiff, UK 11-12 April 2024.
Patterson, J. et al. 2024. Three solid wall owner-occupied domestic retrofits. Presented at: CIBSE Technical Symposium Cardiff, UK 11-12 April 2024.
Patterson, J. et al. 2024. Six 1970s off-gas bungalow retrofits. Presented at: CIBSE Technical Symposium Cardiff, UK 11-12 April 2024.
Patterson, J. et al. 2024. Five domestic retrofits in South Wales. Presented at: CIBSE Technical Symposium, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University Cardiff, UK 11-12 April 2024.
Patterson, J. et al. 2024. Six 1990s domestic low carbon retrofits. Presented at: CIBSE Technical Symposium Cardiff, UK 11-12 April 2024.

2019

Li, X. , Jones, P. and Patterson, J. 2019. Modelling and developing a renewable energy system for the cold stores of a food park in the UK. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1343 (1) 012102. (10.1088/1742-6596/1343/1/012102)
Green, E. et al. 2019. Understanding the decarbonisation of housing: Wales as a case study. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 329 012001. (10.1088/1755-1315/329/1/012001)
Li, X. et al. 2019. A feasibility study to evaluate the potential replication of an energy positive house in the UK. Presented at: Sustainable Built Environment Conference Cardiff 24-25 Sept 2019. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. Vol. 329.Vol. C1. IOP Publishing(10.1088/1755-1315/329/1/012049)
Perisoglou, E. et al. 2019. Building monitoring protocol development for deep energy retrofit. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 329 012038. (10.1088/1755-1315/329/1/012038)
Ionas, M. and Patterson, J. 2019. Monitoring the built environment: Developing a dynamic tool to optimise renewable energy use and energy efficiency at a community scale using GIS. Presented at: International Conference for Sustainable Design of the Built Environment (SDBE 2018) London, UK 12-13 Sep 2018. International Conference for Sustainable Design of the Built Environment (SDBE 2018): Proceedings.
Hou, S. S. et al. 2019. Investigating the energy and thermal implications of installation of an air curtain and an automatic door in convenience stores in Wales. Presented at: 16th IBPSA International Conference Rome 2-4 September 2019. Proceedings of Building Simulation 2019: 16th Conference of IBPSA. Vol. 7.International Building Performance Simulation Association. , pp.5053-5059. (10.26868/25222708.2019.210822)
Li, X. et al. 2019. Modelling and developing a neighbourhood low carbon system for five dwellings in the U.K.. Presented at: The 16th IBPSA International Conference Rome 2-4 September 2019. Published in: Corrado, V. et al., Proceedings of Building Simulation 2019: 16th Conference of IBPSA. Vol. 5.International Building Performance Simulation Association. , pp.3318-3325. (10.26868/25222708.2019.210434)
Perisoglou, E. et al. 2019. Evaluation of building and systems performance for a deep domestic retrofit. Presented at: Climate Resilient Cities - Energy Efficiency & Renewables in the Digital Era (CISBAT 2019) Lausanne, Switzerland 4-6 September 2019. Vol. 1343.Vol. 012176. IOP Publishing. , pp.012176. (10.1088/1742-6596/1343/1/012176)

2018

Perisoglou, E. et al. 2018. Steady state and dynamic modelling of residential transpired solar collectors performance. Presented at: 4th Building Simulation and Optimization Conference Cambridge, UK 11-12 September 2018. , pp.-.
Green, E. et al. 2018. Homes of today for tomorrow: Decarbonising Welsh Housing between 2020 and 2050. Project Report.Welsh Government.

2017

Jones, P. et al. 2017. Five energy retrofit houses in South Wales. Energy and Buildings 154 , pp.335-342. (10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.08.032)
Jones, P. et al. 2017. The SOLCER energy positive house: whole system simulation. Presented at: Building Simulation 2017: 15th Conference of International Building Performance Simulation Association San Francisco, CA, USA 7-9 August 2017. Published in: Barnaby, C. S. and Wetter, M. eds. Proceedings of Building Simulation 2017: 15th Conference of International Building Performance Simulation Association, San Francisco, USA, August 7-9, 2017. (10.26868/25222708.2017.341)
Li, X. , Jones, P. J. and Patterson, J. 2017. Building and community energy retrofit housing in Wales. Presented at: World Sustainable Built Environment Conference 2017 Hong Kong Transforming Our Built Environment through Innovation and Integration: Putting Ideas into Action Hong Kong, China 5-7 June 2017.
Perisoglou, E. et al. 2017. Investigating the application of small scale transpired solar collectors as air preheaters for residential buildings. Presented at: International Conference on Sustainability in Energy and Buildings Chania, Greece 5-7 July 2017.

2016

Patterson, J. L. 2016. Evaluation of a regional retrofit programme to upgrade existing housing stock to reduce carbon emissions, fuel poverty and support the local supply chain. Sustainability 8 (12) 1261. (10.3390/su8121261)
Patterson, J. L. 2016. Traffic modelling in cities – validation of space syntax at an urban scale. Indoor and Built Environment 25 (7), pp.1163-1178. (10.1177/1420326X16657675)
Patterson, J. 2016. Evaluation of a regional scale retrofit programme to upgrade existing housing stock to reduce fuel poverty, reduce carbon emissions and support the supply chain. Presented at: Smart Energy Regions Conference 2016 Cardiff, Wales, UK 11-12 February 2016. Published in: Patterson, J. and Varriale, F. eds. Proceedings of the International Conference 'Smart Energy Regions'. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture. , pp.132-142.
Calzada, J. R. et al., 2016. Smart Energy Regions – skills, knowledge and supply chains. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture.
Condurat, M. and Patterson, J. 2016. Welsh and Romanian policies for transition towards low carbon mobility. Presented at: Smart Energy Regions Conference 2016 Cardiff, Wales, UK 11-12 February 2016. Proceedings of the International Conference 'Smart Energy Regions'. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture. , pp.59-69.
Jones, P. J. et al. 2016. Preparation for an energy positive community in the UK: modelling-led innovative housing practice in Wales. Presented at: PLEA 2016 - 32nd International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture. Cities, Buildings, People: Towards Regenerative Environments Los Angeles, USA 11-13 July. Published in: La Roche, P. and Schiller, M. eds. PLEA 2016 - 32nd International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture. Cities, Buildings, People: Towards Regenerative Environments. Vol. 2.PLEA. , pp.1095-1101.
Patterson, J. L. , Coma Bassas, E. and Varriale, F. 2016. Systems based approach to replicable low cost housing: renewable energy supply, storage and demand reduction.. In: Roset Calzada, J. et al., Smart Energy Regions - Skills, knowledge, training and supply chains. [Smart Energy Regions - Skills, knowledge, training and supply chains]. Cardiff: Weslh School of Architecture. , pp.239-245.

2014

Patterson, J. L. 2014. Urban scale modelling of traffic and cycling flow using spatial analysis and an assessment of factors that influence cyclist behaviour. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
Jones, P. et al. 2014. Smart energy regions. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University.
Jones, P. J. 2014. Introduction. In: Jones, P. J. et al., Smart Energy Regions. Cardiff: The Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University. , pp.v-xii.
Jones, P. J. , Patterson, J. and Varriale, F. 2014. United Kingdom. In: Jones, P. et al., Smart Energy Regions. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University. , pp.267-280.

2013

Jones, P. J. , Lannon, S. C. and Patterson, J. L. 2013. Retrofitting existing housing: how far, how much?. Building Research and Information 41 (5), pp.532-550. (10.1080/09613218.2013.807064)

2012

Patterson, J. L. 2012. Arbed 1 Scheme: Evaluation of the Warm Wales Programme. Project Report.Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University.
Zhang, K. , Patterson, J. and Liang, L. 2012. Sustainable school projects as the education tool for sustainability. Journal of Chongqing University (English Edition) 11 (2), pp.74-83.

2011

Zhang, K. , Patterson, J. L. and Liang, L. 2011. The Flagship effect - sustainable schools projects as the education tool for sustainability. Presented at: International Conference of WREC-Asia & SuDBE 2011 Chongqing, China 28-31 October 2011.

2010

Brandão Alves, F. , Cortesão, J. and Patterson, J. L. 2010. Bioclimatic urban renewal in compact urban fabrics. Presented at: XXXVII IAHS World Congress on Housing Science Santander, Spain 26-29 October 2010.

2009

Jones, P. J. et al. 2009. European carbon atlas. Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University.
Brandão Alves, F. et al., 2009. Investigation of potential bioclimatic interventions for a Portuguese city. ISOCARP Review 05 5 , pp.160-174.
Jones, P. J. et al. 2009. L-CUBE European carbon atlas. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff: ESF and Welsh School of Architecture. Available at: http://www.lcube.eu.com/Euro_Carbon_Atlas/C23%20European%20Carbon%20Atlas.pdf.

2008

Patterson, J. L. 2008. Evaluation of an energy efficiency scheme to upgrade the existing domestic building stock of a local authority region. [Report to Warm Wales]. Project Report.[Online].Cardiff: Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University. Available at: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/archi/images/projects/WW-evaluationreport.pdf.

2007

Jones, P. J. and Patterson, J. L. 2007. The development of a practical evaluation tool for urban sustainability. Indoor and Built Environment 16 (3), pp.255-272. (10.1177/1420326X07079446)
Jones, P. J. , Lannon, S. C. and Patterson, J. L. 2007. Energy and environmental report for Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Technical Report.
Jones, P. J. , Patterson, J. L. and Lannon, S. C. 2007. Modelling the built environment at an urban scale - Energy and health impacts in relation to housing. Landscape and Urban Planning 83 (1), pp.39-49. (10.1016/j.landurbplan.2007.05.015)
Thomas, H. et al. 2007. Mental health and quality of residential environment. British Journal of Psychiatry 191 (6), pp.500-505. (10.1192/bjp.bp.107.039438)

2006

Lyons, R. A. et al. 2006. Injuries in homes with certain built forms. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 30 (6), pp.513-520. (10.1016/j.amepre.2006.02.007)
Lyons, R. A. et al. 2006. Modification of the home environment for the reduction of injuries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 18 (4) CD003600. (10.1002/14651858.CD003600)

2005

Dunstan, F. D. J. et al. 2005. An observation tool to assist with the assessment of urban residential environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology 25 (3), pp.293-305. (10.1016/j.jenvp.2005.07.004)
Jones, P. J. and Patterson, J. L. 2005. Tools for urban sustainability. Presented at: Conference on Sustainable Buildings 2004 - South-East Asia (SB04-SEA) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 11-13th April 2005.
Newcombe, R. G. et al. 2005. Home injuries and built form – methodological issues and developments in database linkage. BMC Health Services Research 5 12. (10.1186/1472-6963-5-12)
Patterson, J. L. 2005. PETUS: practical evaluation tools for urban sustainability. Scala News: construction and architecture news for the public sector , pp.23-24.
Patterson, J. L. 2005. Sustainable urban infrastructures. The Parliament Magazine
Patterson, J. L. 2005. Urban sustainability in practice. MADE at wsa 2 , pp.55.

2004

Jones, P. J. et al. 2004. Modelling the built environment to assist with planning for sustainable development. Presented at: Sustainable Urban Infrastructure: Approaches, Solutions, Methods, COST C8, Best Practice in Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Trento, Italy 6-8 November 2003. Published in: Zanon, B. ed. Sustainable urban infrastructure: Approaches, Ssolutions, methods. Trento: Temi Editrice. , pp.416-426.

2002

Weaver, N. et al. 2002. Taking STOX: developing a cross disciplinary methodology for systematic reviews of research on the built environment and the health of the public. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 56 (1), pp.48 - 55. (10.1136/jech.56.1.48)

2001

Jones, P. J. , Lannon, S. C. and Patterson, J. L. 2001. Modelling building energy use at urban scale. Presented at: Seventh International IBPSA Conference Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 13-15 August 2001. Published in: Lamberts, R. , Ribeiro Negrão, C. O. and Hensen, J. eds. Proceedings of the Seventh International IBPSA Conference: Building Simulation '01. [College Station, Tex.]: Organizing Committee of Building Simulation '01, IBPSA Brazil. , pp.175-180.

Research interests

Jo Patterson is a Professorial Research Fellow at the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA), Cardiff University and has more than 25 years of experience in the development and delivery of fundamental and applied research projects in the area of sustainability in the built environment with a particular focus on energy. These projects have involved multidisciplinary groups from Wales, the UK and Europe including both academic industrial and government partners, with projects funded by through the EU, Government, UKRI and industry.

Recent research has focussed on combining renewable energy supply, storage and demand technologies (systems based approach) in housing and communities; investigating the drivers and barriers that encourage the uptake of low carbon system technologies both in the UK and Europe. Previous research includes urban energy modelling for domestic properties and transport networks; evaluation tools for urban sustainability; housing and neighbourhoods and health; and sustainable schools. Jo completed her PhD on 'Urban scale modelling of traffic and cycling flow using space syntax modelling' in 2014. Current research aims to consolidate previous research in the improvement of existing built environments to enhance quality of life and sustainability, providing evidence on how this can be achieved.

Main expertise

Enhancing the phases of planning, designing, procuring, implementing and operationalising/maintaining renewable energy supply, storage and demand reduction solutions at different scales and within different sectors of the built environment.

Supervision experience

1 PhD to completion, currently supervising 5 PhDs.

Additional supervision interests

Interests include implementation of low carbon technologies at different scales, urban scale sustainability, retrofitting the existing built environment.

Teaching profile

Undertakes lectures and dissertation supervision on subjects related to research on the following courses:

MSC in Environmental Design of Buildings MSC in Building Energy and Environmental Performance Modelling MSc Theory & Practice of Sustainable Design, MSc in Sustainable Energy and Environment MArch (Master in Architecture)

Professor Jo Patterson is a Professorial Research Fellow at the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA), Cardiff University and has more than 25 years of experience in the development and delivery of fundamental and applied research projects in the area of sustainability in the built environment with a particular focus on energy. These projects have involved multidisciplinary groups from Wales, the UK and Europe including both academic industrial and government partners, with projects funded by through the EU, Government, UKRI and industry.

Jo is Director of Research at the WSA and is part of the Management Board of the recently established Cardiff University (CU) Net Zero Innovation Institute.

With regards to research, Jo is currently Co-Director for the AHRC funded Green Transitions Ecosystem ‘Transforming Housing and Homes for Future Generations’ which aims to create a new multi-partner, transdisciplinary, design ecosystem to transform housing for future generations using bio-based and non-extractive materials, together with renewable energy supply and storage. This research programme, in partnership with the Universities of Bath, Bristol and Exeter as well as stakeholders from design, the community, supply chains and government will help to make a further step towards ‘Beyond Net Zero’ homes.

This works builds directly onto the SPECIFIC 2 Low Carbon Built Environment (LCBE) project, a £3.5 million initiative at the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) at Cardiff University to provide evidence to support the implementation of low carbon technologies in the built environment. Replicable, affordable and appropriate whole house energy systems have been planned, designed and installed into a range of buildings across South Wales combining renewable energy supply, energy storage and energy demand reduction solutions. Monitoring takes place before (with retrofits) and after installation works which provides valuable evidence of the benefits of work reducing carbon emissions and fuel poverty, whilst improving health and wellbeing and quality of the built environment. Having worked with a broad range of stakeholders include social housing companies, local authorities, industry, technology manufacturers, installers and of course, occupants, to ensure successful delivery of the projects. This work followed Jo playing a key role in the development and delivery of the Low Carbon Research Institute supported by the Welsh Government/WEFO. Associated funding including monitoring and evaluation of the Homes As Power Stations programme that will run until 2028, with funding for £1m.

Between 2018-2023 Jo was a key part of the leadership team and led the Knowledge Management, Engagement and Dissemination activities for the UKRI/Innovate UK funded EnergyREV consortium. 70+ interdisciplinary researchers from 22 Universities across the UK worked together to provide evidence on solutions to scale up smart local energy systems. Throughout this project Jo was able to share her experiences from a range of demonstration projects within LCRI and LCBE with a broad multi-disciplinary group who are working together to tackle the challenges associated with smart local energy systems from an interdisciplinary and whole-systems viewpoint to provide breadth and depth of knowledge to increase scaling up of SLES.