Sustainable Health-Energy Systems for Arctic Resilience: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Energy, Sustainability, and Well-Being

This interdisciplinary PhD project aims to explore the complex relationship between energy consumption, mental health, and sustainability in Arctic settings, with a particular focus on built environments. The project investigates how indoor environmental factors, such as lighting and greenery, influence mental well-being while considering the broader context of energy efficiency and grid stability. The Arctic’s unique challenges, including long winters and extreme conditions, create a need to balance the demand for energy-intensive solutions, with sustainable practices that promote both environmental and human health.

The project will address key questions around the trade-offs between energy efficiency, well-being, and sustainability, and examine how built environments can be designed to enhance mental health outcomes while minimizing energy consumption. The research will incorporate both technical energy modeling and social science perspectives, drawing on systems thinking to understand and optimize the interactions between human behavior, environmental factors, and energy systems.

By collaborating with experts from various disciplines within the Arctic Research School, this project offers an opportunity to contribute to sustainable solutions that improve quality of life in Arctic communities. The successful candidate will work on identifying and testing innovative approaches to creating energy-efficient and healthy indoor spaces, ultimately advancing both sustainability and human well-being in challenging environments.