What attracted me to the Architectural Engineering: Environmental Design MSc was the professional direction and content of the course. It teaches you about all the elements of design, from the building envelope to lighting and acoustics, as well as how to design buildings with low-carbon footprints.
Everything I learned during my master’s has been useful for my current role as an energy efficiency consultant for the Beijing Uni-Construction Group. My role involves working with developers and design companies to identify energy-saving solutions for buildings. This is relatively new in China, which means there aren’t many companies working in this field. I’ve worked on many projects, including the News Centre of the 2022 Beijing Yanqing Winter Olympics.
I’m now a leader of a small team. On a typical day, I review drawings for building projects, use simulation software to model how much energy a building will use, and provide advice on how to reduce consumption. Sometimes I also go to the building site to report on the construction quality and recommend changes.
Reducing carbon emissions is important for our future and I think energy-efficient buildings will become more and more popular in China. My advice to anyone interested in this field is to try your best to advance your knowledge about environmental design and take time to do research on what you don’t understand in class. Don’t forget to get help from your lecturers too, who have so much experience.
As part of the master’s, I would also recommend taking the Passivhaus design course that trains you to become a qualified Passivhaus designer or consultant. This certification is a stepping-stone when looking for jobs.
I had an amazing experience studying and living in Bath. As a foreigner, my studies gave me more opportunities to express my opinions in English. Bath has given me very good memories.