Danielle Monfet

She conducts research on the energy performance of buildings and controlled-environment agriculture (CEA), such as greenhouses and vertical farms, with a particular focus on HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems. Her work focuses on dynamic thermal simulation of buildings and AEC spaces to improve their energy consumption, environmental performance, and the comfort of occupants or crops.

She develops, refines, and calibrates advanced numerical models to analyze the energy performance of buildings and AEC spaces, using tools such as EnergyPlus, TRNSYS, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Her research also focuses on the development of specialized submodels (lighting and horticulture), as well as the optimization of HVAC systems, including the integration of various technologies (e.g., energy storage) and control strategies.

Her projects help reduce the energy footprint of built infrastructure and AEC spaces, while promoting sustainable and resilient solutions to climate challenges. She is also interested in innovative technologies for greenhouses and urban farms, including energy recovery, dehumidification systems, and the analysis of the relationships between growing conditions, crop yields, and energy consumption.