DrKate Simpson

My work is centered around finding quality and feasible solutions for affordable comfort in homes during a time of energy insecurity and climate crisis. I work in collaboration with / engage citizens, practitioners, academics, charities and policy makers.

I am currently a Visiting Researcher here on the Warm and Well project focused on digital energy technology in the home. I collaborate with the Wellhome team. In addition, I hold the role of Associate Professor at the Centre for Sustainable Construction and Retrofit, Nottingham Trent University.

My PhD is in housing energy retrofit, with a focus on householder experiences, comfort and carbon, from the LoLo CDT in Energy Demand, Architecture, Civil and Building Engineering and the Design School, Loughborough University. This followed an an MRes with a focus on indoor air quality in schools and a BSc in Building Surveying from Leeds Beckett University. I have completed short research projects at UCL Energy Institute and the University of Leeds.

I previously worked for the Centre for Sustainable Energy on projects relating to energy efficiency, comfort, equality and smart city development; as a trainee building surveyor at Gascoyne-Cecil Estates in Hatfield and as a CAD technician at Making Plans in Leeds.

I experiment with (award winning!) creative public engagement through short film creation, science festivals, immersive workshops and more. I am on Connected Places Catapult's Home and Housing Advisory Group, advised the UKRI Retrofit Revisit project, sit on People Powered Retrofit's board and am a trustee for Care and Repair, Leeds.