Jan Akander

Jan Akander is a Lecturer at Gävle University, specializing in construction engineering with a focus on building physics, energy efficiency, and sustainable development. His research emphasizes the energy performance of buildings, particularly historical and older structures, aiming to balance preservation with modern sustainability goals. He explores strategies for reducing energy consumption, mitigating climate impacts, and maintaining thermal comfort through innovative materials and systems.

Current research projects include analyzing environmental certification systems like Miljöbyggnad and investigating cooling demands in future city districts under climate change scenarios. Key areas of study include resilient cooling systems, HVAC system comparisons, and the application of AI to optimize building thermal performance.

His work bridges technical innovation with cultural heritage preservation, addressing challenges such as retrofitting historic buildings without altering their characteristics. Collaborative projects with the Swedish Energy Agency and international energy agencies highlight his contributions to policy-informing research in building energy systems.

Publications span topics like ventilation system impacts on electrical demand, dehumidification solutions for heritage structures, and lifecycle analyses of district heating networks. His interdisciplinary approach integrates material science, climate modeling, and policy analysis to advance sustainable building practices in Nordic climates.