Dr Ke Qu
School of Science, Engineering & Environment
Current positions
Building Physics Researcher
Biography
Dr Ke Qu is a Building Physics Researcher at the University of Salford, focusing on experimental testing, building performance evaluation, and low-carbon retrofit technologies. His research investigates how advanced building envelope systems perform under both standard laboratory conditions and real operational environments, with particular emphasis on glazing systems, heat transfer, thermal comfort, overheating risk, and energy efficiency.
At the University of Salford, Dr Qu is involved in building physics testing and performance analysis using controlled experimental conditions, full-scale test facilities, and building energy simulation methods. His work aims to better understand the gap between standard product performance indicators and real-world operational performance, supporting more accurate assessment of building technologies for net-zero and climate-resilient buildings.
Dr Qu holds a PhD in Sustainable Energy Technology from the University of Nottingham. His wider research experience includes deep energy retrofit, advanced glazing, vacuum glazing, smart windows, building-integrated photovoltaics, and data-driven energy optimisation. Through his research, he contributes to the development and validation of practical solutions that improve building energy performance, occupant comfort, and the reliability of low-carbon building design.
Areas of Research
Dr Ke Qu’s research interests focus on building physics, experimental testing, and real-world building performance evaluation. His work explores the thermal, energy, and comfort performance of advanced building envelope systems under both standard laboratory conditions and operational building environments.
His key research areas include:
Building physics and heat transfer in building envelope systems
Experimental testing of glazing systems and façade technologies
Vacuum glazing, advanced glazing, and low-carbon window systems
Operational building performance and the performance gap between standard tests and real-world conditions
Co-heating tests, heat flux measurement, and in-situ thermal performance evaluation
Thermal comfort, overheating risk, and climate-resilient building design
Low-carbon retrofit technologies for existing buildings
Building energy simulation and model validation using experimental data
Smart and adaptive building envelope systems for net-zero buildings
Integration of advanced materials and renewable technologies into building envelopes
Qualifications
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Sustainable Energy Technology
2017 - 2022