Advances in Energy and Built Environment

Dr. Guoqiang Zhang is a professor at Hunan University, China, where he is currently the dean of Institute for Sustainable Urbanization and Construction Innovation. He is also the director of the National Center for International Research Collaboration in Building Safety and Environment of Ministry of Science and Technology of China, and the deputy director of Key Lab of Building Safety and Energy Efficiency of Ministry of Education of China. He is also a member of the academic committee of Hunan University, and an editorial member of the Journal of Hunan University. Due to his contribution to Sustainable Built Environment Education, Research and Practice, Dr. Zhang received special government allowance from the State Council in China. He has made valuable contributions towards sustainable education and science communication, research, social service and commercialization of scientific and technological achievements. Dr. N. D. Kaushika, formerly professor, Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, and subsequently director of reputed engineering institutions in Delhi and National Capital Region, is a specialist in renewable energy and environment. He is a recipient of the Hariom Prerit S. S. Bhatnagar Research Endowment Award for research in energy conservation in 1987. Currently, he is a visiting research professor at the Institute of Technological Engineering and Research of SOA University, Bhubaneswar, India. He is an author of five books and has contributed articles in several reputed journals and books chapters in several books by international publishers.  Dr. S. C. Kaushik received his Ph.D. in Plasma Science from IIT Delhi after his distinguished First Position in Master's degree in science (electronics) from Meerut University. His fields of research include plasma science, thermal science and engineering, energy conservation and heat recovery, solar refrigeration and air conditioning, solar architecture, and thermal storage and power generation. He has made  significant contributions in these fields as evident by his about 500 research articles in journals of repute at the national and international level. He is a pioneer in exergy analysis and finite time thermodynamics of energy systems, and a leading expert on alternative refrigeration and air conditioning technologies. Dr. Kaushik has co-authored ten books and also edited two volumes. His specific contributions to energy systems have been recognized by several awards to his credit viz. Young Scientist UNESCO Award, Hariom Prerit S. S. Bhatnagar Award, Divyajyoti Science and Technology Award, Top Academic Research Performer in Energy, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam GOLD Medal Research  Award and outstanding Research Faculty Award in India. He is Member of ISES (Australia) and IIR (France), and a Life Member of various other professional societies like SESI, PSSI, ISTE, ISHRAE and ISME. He has been former Head, Centre for Energy Studies 2007-2010 and at present Emeritus Professor at CES, IIT DELHI. Dr. R.K. Tomar received his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and is currently, Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, Amity School of Engineering and Technology, Amity University, India. His research interests include artificial intelligence applications in buildings and sustainable built environment. He has a combined experience of 27 years in industry and academia in various capacities. He has published several research articles in international peer-reviewed journals.