Ph.D. Building Engineering students Brodie Hobson and Dre Markus win Prestigious ASHRAE Grant-In-Aid Award

Within three feet of each other in a roughly 100 square foot office, Brodie Hobson and Dre Markus not only share an office space, but for people with such different upbringings, they share a lot of similarities. Both starting their post-secondary education at Carleton University in the Architectural Conservation and Sustainability (ACSE) program at different times, Brodie and Dre went on to complete their master’s degree in building engineering soon after and eventually, embarked on their Ph.D. under the supervision of Professor Burak Gunay (Dre is co-supervised with Professor Jayson Bursill). One could call them devoted Ravens. Brodie and Dre are previous recipients of the Senate medal for outstanding academic excellence for their masters’ thesis, winners of the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, and NSERC scholarship winners.

Recently, Brodie and Dre received the prestigious 2023 ASHRAE Grant-In Aid Award in an amount of up to 10,000 USD each for the 2023-2024 academic year.

ASHRAE or the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, is a society that focuses on developing and furthering the arts and sciences of HVAC systems to better serve humanity and to promote a sustainable world. The ASHRAE Grant-In-Aid is awarded annually to encourage exceptional graduate students in their research, to increase participation in ASHRAE, and continued contributions to Society activities. It is generally awarded to 10 to 25 students, each receiving up to $10,000. More about this award can be found here.  

Brodie Hobson

Brodie has been a part of Carleton University both as an undergraduate and graduate student, completing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the process and he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in building engineering. Brodie’s initial interest at Carleton stemmed during his bachelor’s in the ACSE program, which uniquely combines engineering and architecture.

He found the ACSE program appealing due to his upbringing in Oakville, one of the oldest towns in Ontario, which exposed him to historical architecture. Additionally, visiting his father’s workplace in downtown Toronto as a child sparked his passion for buildings and architecture. Brodie expressed interest in both engineering and architecture but leaned towards engineering due to his proficiency in math and not being as skilled in drawing. Consequently, the ACSE program offered him an ideal combination of both fields.

During his undergraduate studies, he took a course in building science with Professor Burak Gunay. It was in this course that Brodie found interest in this subject. Professor Gunay’s engaging lectures, and their real-world problem-solving discussions, inspired Brodie to consider graduate studies. The prospect of making a difference in the industry and implementing practical solutions further motivated Brodie’s decision to pursue graduate studies at Carleton University. Under Professor Gunay’s supervision, Brodie completed his master’s degree and now continues his Ph.D. research with him.

Research journey

During Brodie’s master’s, he explored diverse topics such as data analysis, programming, and HVAC systems in buildings. This exposure further motivated him to continue his academic journey and pursue a Ph.D., as there were still unanswered questions and potential for further research in his research field.

In addition Professor Gunay’s support as well as opportunities of collaboration on international research projects such as the IEA EBC Annex 79, co-led by Professor Andreas Wagner (KIT, Germany) and Carleton’s own Professor Liam O’Brien, influenced Brodie’s decision to continue with his Ph.D. The involvement in the research project provided a community of researchers from around the world working on similar topics. By staying at Carleton for his Ph.D., he can contribute to the ongoing research effort and continue exploring his passion for building performance and occupant-centric controls.

Research

Brodie’s research focuses on improving the energy efficiency of HVAC systems in commercial buildings. He aims to enhance the controls used to operate these systems using data-driven decision making to decrease energy use and discomfort. Traditionally, the control of HVAC systems in buildings wastes energy and causes occupant discomfort due to oversimplified control strategies and programming errors. His research explores occupant-centric controls, allowing targeted delivery of heating, cooling, and ventilation to spaces with actual occupancy, leading to energy savings and improved occupant comfort.

He investigates ways to develop these more energy-efficient occupant-centric controls for HVAC systems and integrate them into building codes and standards for broader implementation across various buildings. Brodie, along with his research colleagues, conducted a study in the Canal building on campus, implementing their research during the COVID-19 pandemic, and observed significant energy savings in heating and cooling compared to another building with conventional controls.

By scaling up their research and introducing layered interventions, they believe there is a vast potential for energy savings in multiple buildings, contributing to a more sustainable built environment in Canada.

Awards & Recognition

Brodie received a Senate Medal for Outstanding Academic Achievement for his M.A.Sc. thesis in 2020. His outstanding academic achievements were further acknowledged into his Ph.D. with the CUASA scholarship and the Carleton University 75th Anniversary Scholarship in 2022. Additionally, he received the NSERC PGS-D (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Postgraduate Scholarships-Doctoral) for the first three years of his Ph.D. studies and OGS (Ontario Graduate Scholarship) in his fourth year.

A look into the future

Brodie has a strong passion for teaching and recently had the opportunity to teach a section of a building science course (CIVE/ACSE 3209) this past winter, the same one that played a significant role in inspiring his pursuit of graduate studies! He looks forward to teaching building science again this coming winter semester as a contract instructor. This teaching experience and the mentorship he received from Professor Gunay in the process, felt like full-circle journey for Brodie. He genuinely enjoys teaching and plans on pursuing teaching opportunities regardless of whether his future career lies in industry, government, or academia.

Looking ahead, he sees immense potential in the building engineering industry due to the advancements in data analytics. The integration of emerging technologies poses exciting opportunities for research in buildings. However, he also recognizes the challenges of implementing changes in an industry known for its conservative and risk-averse nature. He believes that organizations like ASHRAE play a pivotal role in transitioning research into practical applications. Being recognized by ASHRAE and receiving funding from them provides him with opportunities to attend conferences, participate in committees, and contribute to shaping industry codes and standards. This involvement is seen as a privilege and a path to making a tangible impact in the field of building research.

When he is not busy with research and work, Brodie frequently engages in summer cycling, but he considers himself a fair-weather cyclist as he avoids cycling in harsh winter conditions.

Dre Markus

Dre is a first-generation immigrant originally from Indonesia but has spent most of his life in Mississauga, Canada. He began his academic journey at Carleton University in 2015, completing his undergraduate degree in the ACSE program in 2020, receiving a Senate medal for academic excellence.

When asked about his inspirations for joining the building engineering program, Dre explains that “Carleton’s community of building engineering researchers encourages me to enhance my researching capabilities. For me, building engineering allows me to combine my interest in building operations and research.”

Research journey

In 2020, due to the country’s shutdown, Dre’s job opportunity became affected, leading him to consider further studies, which had been a long-standing aspiration. He felt a calling to pursue this path and, though apprehensive at first, started his master’s program under the guidance of Professor Burak Gunay. The focus of his master’s research was on the application of data-driven energy-saving methodologies for building operations and systems. This involved analyzing various building data, such as occupancy, heating, ventilation, cooling, and energy systems, to derive insights and optimize energy usage.

During his undergraduate and master’s journey, he came to appreciate the potential of sustainable buildings in mitigating excess energy use and greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing occupant comfort. Dre recognized the gap between academic methodologies and practical implementation by industry professionals. This realization led him to pursue a Ph.D. in building engineering, driven by his growing interest in the field.

Currently in his second year of pursuing a Ph.D., Dre’s research closely aligns with his previous master’s research, with the Ph.D. research further emphasizing the applicability of experimental data-driven methodologies in industry.

Although Dre conducts his individual research, he expressed that he is grateful that he is not alone and that there is a community of fellow master’s and Ph.D. building engineering students who share similar interests and struggles and can rely on each other for support.

The Building Performance Research Centre (BPRC) at Carleton is a community dedicated to the subdivision of building engineering. The support and fellowship within this community have played a significant role in shaping Dre’s path, and credits it as a crucial factor in his achievements.

Research

In the context of buildings, there is a significant gap between the anticipated and actual energy usage. On average, the estimates for energy consumption in buildings are about 30% lower than the reality, indicating that many commercial and institutional buildings are using much more energy than intended. The main factor contributing to this discrepancy is the building’s operations. Despite the efforts of trained professionals, certain issues may go unnoticed, leading to a gradual deterioration in the building’s energy performance over time. This is a critical concern that Dre’s research group is aiming to address.

Dre’s research involves utilizing existing building data to gain insights and improve energy-saving measures. For instance, Dre explains that certain algorithms can be used to leverage bulk HVAC data (i.e., temperature sensors, damper position sensors) and provide an overall operating profile for specific building operation elements. These profiles can be compared to ideal profiles to identify mechanical faults and suboptimal operating practices. He emphasizes the lack of industry efforts in exploring unconventional methods for deriving insights.

Awards & Recognition

Aside from the Senate Medal, Dre has received the NSERC CGS-D (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Canadian Graduate Scholarship-Doctoral) for his Ph.D. studies and OGS (Ontario Graduate Scholarship) for his M.A.Sc.

A look into the future

Dre explains his desire to continue his career in the research field, whether in industry or academia. Dre’s goal is to work on practical solutions that bridge the gap between research and industry. Despite acknowledging the challenges and potential failures along the way, he finds fulfillment in making even small progress towards his objective.

Dre leads a dynamic and diverse lifestyle with various hobbies. Apart from his research work, he finds enjoyment in activities such as going to the gym and playing drums. He has a strong passion for working on cars and is fond of experimenting with different dishes in the kitchen. Additionally, he enjoys spending time outdoors, engaging in activities like biking and walking.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is very proud of their achievements and wishes them continued success in their Ph.D. and future endeavours!