Welcome to PolyU!
Prof. Asif Usmani, Head of BEEE
The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) extends a warm welcome to all our students. Established in December 1981, we have been dedicated to serving Hong Kong's building services engineering industry by promoting sustainable, efficient, and healthy indoor and urban living environments. As part of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, we offer a comprehensive range of study programs, from Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) to Masters (MSc and MEng) right up to Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), providing world-class teaching and conducting internationally leading research.
In today's world, providing high-quality living environments to rapidly urbanizing and aging populations while facing the challenges of climate change and environmental pollution is of utmost importance. With the projected global population reaching 9.7 billion by 2050, and 70% of people expected to live in urban areas, there is a critical need to address these challenges. Future building engineers must be data-savvy and work in interdisciplinary teams to deliver optimal solutions for smart urban environments. Our programs are designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to design high-performance buildings and building systems, leveraging the latest technologies such as sensor networks, AI, IoT, data science, and BIM. This is consistent with our mission, stated as, to imagine, engineer and promote sustainable, salutogenic and safe environments for human habitation.
At BEEE, our full-time academic and teaching staff members are actively engaged in research activities focused on three core themes:
Building Energy: Energy issues in buildings are addressed in the context of both demand and supply to improve the sustainability of the built environment.
Building Environment: Optimisation of buildings and built environments for thermal comfort, indoor air quality, visual/spatial and vibration/acoustic aspects to improve occupant health and productivity.
Building Safety and Resilience: Protection of building occupants from hazards such as fire and lightning to improve safety and resilience of communities, buildings and built environments.
I sincerely appreciate your interest in our department and programs. By joining us, you embark on a journey to learn and contribute to the promotion of smarter urban environments for a better and more sustainable future for humanity and our planet.
Once again, I extend a warm welcome and look forward to your successful and fulfilling journey with us.
Prof. Asif Usmani
Head of Unit
Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering
