Meet the team

EcRoFit Team

Monica Mateo-Garcia

Monica Mateo-Garcia

Lecturer in Built Environment

School of Engineering and the Built Environment

Email:monica.mateogarcia@bcu.ac.uk

Dr. Monica Mateo-Garcia is a Lecturer in Built Environment at the School of Engineering and the Built Environment. She teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses across the School.

Monica is an Architect with over 10 years’ professional and academic experience. She holds an MPhil and a PhD in Architecture and Sustainable Urban Planning from the University of Alicante, Spain. After finishing her M.Arch she worked as an Associate Partner at MACAA Arquitectura, carrying out the brief, design and on-site building supervision of housing projects.

In 2008, she moved from professional practice to academia, joining the University of Alicante as an Assistant Lecturer teaching modules in Construction and Energy Efficiency in Architecture. While working at the University of Alicante, she combined research and teaching with consultancy activities on Building Pathology and Energy Performance of Buildings. Monica joined BCU in 2018. Prior to this, she worked as a Research Associate in Low Carbon Refurbishment at Coventry University, where she developed research on low carbon technologies in refurbishment of public buildings related to an EU FP7 project.

Her field of expertise relates to lightweight façades, non-destructive techniques for energy diagnosis of building envelope, low carbon technologies and healthy indoor environments (thermal comfort, indoor air quality, end-user perception, health and well-being of occupants). She has taken part in various public funded projects as well as Industry-University projects, in which she has been principal investigator. Her research outputs have been published in leading scientific and construction sector journals and disseminated in relevant international conferences. She is also an associate editor of Energy Research Journal and reviewer of various journals in the fields of construction and building technology, sustainability and public health.

Her philosophy is that the cheapest energy is the one that is not consumed. Therefore reducing our demand for energy is the best way of cutting CO2 emissions and reducing energy bills in buildings. This philosophy has driven her research career in the last five years, trying to improve the energy performance of existing buildings using non-destructive testing and providing healthy indoor environments for occupants.

Monica currently teaches on the following courses:
  • BSc (Hons) Construction Management
  • BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology
  • MSc Building Surveying with Facilities Management
  • MSc Construction Project Management
  • MSc Quantity Surveying.
  • Low carbon building design.
  • Non-destructive testing for assessing building defects and energy performance of buildings.
  • Indoor environment assessment in buildings (indoor air quality and thermal comfort)
  • Health, comfort and wellbeing of building users.
  • User satisfaction of built environments.
  • History of contemporary construction. Lightweight façades.
  • MArch, University of Alicante, Spain.
  • MPhil in Architecture, city, Civil Engineering and construction, University of Alicante, Spain.
  • Ph.D., Thesis entitled ‘Influence of new materials and constructive systems in the industrial development of light facades in Alicante. (1970-2000)’. University of Alicante, Spain.
  • Member of UKIEG (UK Indoor Environments Group).
  • Member of SRUK (Society of Spanish Researchers in United Kingdom).
  • Chartered Architect – Professional Association of Architects of Spain (CSCAE / COACV).
Monica currently teaches on the following courses:
  • BSc (Hons) Construction Management
  • BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology
  • MSc Building Surveying with Facilities Management
  • MSc Construction Project Management
  • MSc Quantity Surveying.

Publications:

  • Abdullahi Ahmed, Monica Mateo-Garcia, Danny McGough, Kassim Caratella and Zafer Ure. (2018). Experimental evaluation of passive cooling using phase change materials (PCM) for reducing overheating in public building. E3S Web Conf., 32 01001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20183201001
  • Monica Mateo-Garcia, Abdullahi Ahmed & Danny McGough (2017). Non-invasive approaches for low-energy retrofit of buildings: implementation, monitoring and simulation in a living lab case study. WIT Transactions on The Built Environment, 171, 183 – 193. Doi: 10.2495/STR170161
  • Abdullahi A., Mateo-Garcia, M., McGough, D., Gaterell, M. (2017). Methodology for Evaluating Innovative Technologies for Low-Energy Retrofitting of Public Buildings. Energy Procedia, 112, 166-175. Doi: 10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.1078 
  • Abdullahi A., McGough, D., Mateo-Garcia, M. (2017). Testing innovative technologies for retrofitting: Coventry University as a living lab. Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, 4(3): 257-270. Doi: 10.9770/jesi.2017.4.3S(2)
  • Mateo, M. (2016) “The Hive”: a multi-sensory experience that integrates art, science and landscape architecture. Original title: “The Hive”: una experiencia multisensorial que integra arte, ciencia y paisajismo. AFL – Arquitectura en Fachadas Ligeras y Ventanas, 27: 42-50.
  • Ahmed, A.; Mateo-Garcia, M.; McGough, D. (2016) Innovative retrofitting activities for the enhancement of Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Heritage and Sustainable Development, Vol. 1. Pp. 3-12. Editors: Rogério Amoêda, Sérgio Lira & Cristina Pinheiro. Publisher: Green Lines Institute for Sustainable Development, Barcelos, Portugal. Book of abstracts, ISBN 978-989-8734-13-6 / Proceedings ISBN 978-989-8734-14-3.
  • Maciá Mateu, A.; Mateo García, M. (2014) Architectural prosthetic based on light structures. Accessibility and Buildings’ Conservation: Methods, Experiences and Projects. Alessandro Greco – KM Studio, 77-96. ISBN-978-88-907505-6-4.
  • Mateo, M., Pérez-Carramiñana, C., and Chinchón, S. (2013) ‘Varieties of asbestos in buildings and risks associated with the work of deconstruction’. Informes de la Construcción 65 (531), 311-324. Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.3989/ic.11.118
  • Ivorra, S., García-Barba, J., Mateo, M., Pérez-Carramiñana, C., and Maciá, A. (2013) ‘Partial collapse of a ventilated stone façade: Diagnosis and analysis of the anchorage system’. Engineering Failure Analysis 31, 290-301. Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2013.01.045
  • Pérez, C., Mateo, M., and Maciá, A. (2013) ‘Application of seismic refraction tomography and microtremor analysis as geophysical prospecting techniques in geotechnical studies in building’. Informes de la Construcción 65 (530), 203-212. Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.3989/ic.11.112
  • Mateo, M. (2013) The influence of the new materials and industrialized constructive systems in the development of the lightweight façade: the case of Alicante (1970-2000). PhD Thesis. Alicante University. Available from http://rua.ua.es/dspace/handle/10045/31679
  • Sirvent, D., Piedecausa, B., Mateo, M., and Pérez, C. (2011) ‘Current problems involving the dismantling of asbestos-cement sheets in buildings. The case of Central Market in Alicante’. In Peixoto, V., Corvacho, H., and Lacasse, M. XII DBMC: 12th International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components. Conference proceedings, ‘XII DBMC’. held 12-15 April 2011 in Porto, Portugal. Porto: FEUP Edições
  • Pérez, C., Mateo, M., Piedecausa, B., Sirvent, D., and Maciá, A. (2011) ‘Ventilated stone veneer: mechanical behaviour, calculation methodologies, major pathologies and existing tests’. In Peixoto, V., Corvacho, H., and Lacasse, M. XII DBMC: 12th International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components, ‘XII DBMC’. held 12-15 April 2011 in Porto, Portugal. Porto: FEUP Edições
  • Mateo, M., Piedecausa, B., and Pérez, C. (2010) ‘Comparative analysis of constructive solutions for thermal insulation by using computer applications in building rehabilitation in mediterranean climate. The Spanish case’. In Amoêda, R., Lira, S., and Pinheiro, C. Heritage 2010. Heritage and sustainable development, ‘Heritage 2010. 2nd International Conference on Heritage and Sustainable Development’. held 22-26 June 2010 in Evora, Portugal. Barcelos: Green Lines Institute, 563-570
  • Pérez, C., Mateo, M., and Piedecausa, B. (2010) ‘Ventilated façades with stone cladding. mechanical behaviour, constructive and formal factors, durability and damages’. Proceedings Global Stone Congress 2010, ‘Global Stone Congress 2010’ held 2-5 March 2010 in Alicante, Spain.

Research projects:

  • 2013-2017, Retrofitting Solutions and Services for the enhancement of Energy Efficiency in Public Edification, European Commission, £10,079,610
  • 2012-2013, Technical assessment of the adaption of CTE and analysis of constructive pathologies and technical solutions for the waterproofing in buildings with REVESTECH, COATER-TEX ECOLÓGICA, S.L., £7,718
  • 2010, Research and Development study of constructive solutions for the system of telescopic swimming pool covers, in order to comply with energy saving requirements, VEGAMETAL, S.A., £24,715
  • 2010-2012, Development and Validation of a World-Class Methodology for Assessment and Inter-comparison of the Level of Sustainability in Buildings, Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain and co-funded by the European Union (FEDER funds), £1,176,288

Scientific Conferences:

  • “Evaluating the role of effective stakeholder engagement in achieving socioeconomic and environmental benefits of low-energy refurbishment of Higher Education Buildings” Sustainable Places 2017.  28-30 June 2017, Middlesbrough, UK.
  • “Non-invasive approaches for low-energy retrofit of buildings: implementation, monitoring and simulation in a living lab case study”. STREMAH 2017.  9-11 May 2017, Alicante, Spain.
  • “Performance Assessment and Post Occupancy Evaluation of Low-Energy Retrofit of Public Buildings: Case Study of Coventry University”. CIBSE ASHRAE Technical Symposium 2017, 5-6 April 2017, Loughborough, UK.
  • “Methodology for Evaluating Innovative Technologies for Low-Energy Retrofitting of Public Buildings”, EENVIRO 2016. Bucharest, 26-28 October 2016.
  • “Innovative retrofitting activities for the enhancement of Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings”. HERITAGE 2016, 5th International Conference on Heritage and Sustainable Development. Lisbon 12-15 July, 2016.
  • Co-chairing the session entitled:  ‘Challenges of public building retrofitting with Innovative Technologies – An exchange of experience’.  Sustainable Places 2016.  June 29-July 1, 2016, Anglet (France).
  • Co-chairing the session entitled: “New technologies for retrofit and energy efficient building: barriers and opportunities for achieving real life integration/performance”.  Industrial Technologies 2016 (INDTECH). 22 – 24 June 2016, Amsterdam.
  • “User satisfaction survey in low-energy refurbishment of higher education buildings: Lessons learnt from EU demonstration project”.  UK Indoor Environments Group Conference – UKIEG 2016. 16 June 2016, Coventry, UK.
  • “Ventilated stone veneer: mechanical behaviour, calculation methodologies, major pathologies and existing tests”. International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components. XII DBMC. 12 April 2011, Porto, Portugal.
  • Comparative analysis of constructive solutions for thermal insulation by using computer applications in building rehabilitation in a Mediterranean climate. The spanish case. 2nd International Conference on Heritage and Sustainable development. HERITAGE 2010. 22 June 2010,  Evora, Portugal.
  • Ventilated façades with stone cladding. Mechanical behaviour, constructive and formal factors, durability and damages. Global Stone Congress 2010. 02 March 10, Alicante, Spain.