Dr Haniyeh Mohammadpourkarbasi and team win inaugural Sarah Sayce Award for Sustainability Research
.jpg)
Dr Mohammadpourkarbasi and the co-authors of the paper “Decarbonising the UK’s Hard-to-Treat Homes: A Comparative Life Cycle Carbon Analysis of Retrofit Strategies” have won the Property Research Trust's inaugural Sarah Sayce Award for Sustainability Research.
The award, named in memory of Sarah Sayce, honours her immense contributions to sustainability in the property sector. Sarah, who sadly passed away in November 2021, had a distinguished career as a chartered surveyor and academic. She served on the Governing Council of RICS for a decade, led the Property Research Trust, and held positions as Professor at the University of Reading, Emeritus Professor at Kingston University, and Chair of the Aubrey Barker Fund. Her passion for the sustainable use of property remains her lasting legacy.
Established by the Property Research Trust in collaboration with the Aubrey Barker Fund, RICS, and the Council of Heads of the Built Environment (CHOBE), the award recognises research that advances sustainable solutions in the property industry.
The award was presented by Sarah’s husband, David Sayce, at RICS Accredited Providers Conference on 14th November 2024.
Alan Dalgleish, Executive Director of the Property Research Trust, commended the winning paper, stating:
“This report is an excellent piece of work exemplifying the spirit of the award. It addresses a critical issue: evaluating the carbon footprint of various retrofit strategies for older UK homes that are challenging to upgrade for energy efficiency. The insights it provides on life cycle carbon impacts of retrofitting versus rebuilding will guide policies and practices aligned with the UK's 2050 net-zero emissions target.”
Dr Haniyeh Mohammadpourkarbasi commented:
“This research, a collaboration between the University of Liverpool and Ecospheric, showcases the groundbreaking impact of academic-industry partnerships in tackling critical design and policy challenges to achieve net-zero targets in the housing sector.
Receiving an award named after Sarah Sayce is a profound honor. Sarah was an exceptional leader whose contributions have driven meaningful change in academia and industry
I am deeply grateful to Ecospheric Ltd. for their invaluable project data and to Ben Riddle, Technical Director at Ecospheric, for his continued support in completing this research. I also extend my thanks to co-authors Professor Steve Sharples and our alumni, Dr. Chenfei Liu, whose expertise and dedication were integral to this work.”
The report will soon be available for download on the Property Research Trust’s website: Decarbonising UK’s hard-to-treat homes