Helen Stopps

Helen Stopps

PhD

Personal Website

Helen received her BASc and PhD from the University of Toronto. Her research investigated the impact of smart thermostat use on high-rise residential building performance. She is now an Assistant Professor at the Toronto Metropolitan University.


Projects

Impacts of Smart Thermostat Use in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings on Occupant Behaviour, Thermal Comfort, and Energy Performance

Impacts of Smart Thermostat Use in Multi-Unit Residential Buildings on Occupant Behaviour, Thermal Comfort, and Energy Performance

This project explored how replacing conventional programmable thermostat with smart thermostat could impact energy performance, thermal comfort and occupant behaviour in high-rise residential buildings.

Energy and GHG emissions Health and comfort

Publications

Journal Publications

  • Lozinsky, C.H., Stopps, H., Touchie, M.F., “In-situ performance of a pressurized corridor ventilation system: a long-term study in a high-rise multi-unit residential building” submitted to Journal of Building Engineering, 70(1), (2023) 106320. doi:10.1016/j.jobe.2023.106320

  • Stopps, H., Touchie, M.F. “Load shifting and energy conservation using smart thermostats in contemporary high-rise residential buildings: Estimation of runtime changes using field data,” Energy and Buildings, 255, (2022) 111644. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111644

  • Stopps, H., Touchie, M.F. “Residential smart thermostat use: An exploration of thermostat programming, environmental attitudes, and the influence of smart controls on energy,” Energy and Buildings, 238, (2021) 110834. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.110834

  • Stopps, H., Touchie, M.F. “Smart Choice or Flawed Approach? An Exploration of Connected Thermostat Data Fidelity and use in Data-Driven Modelling in High-Rise Residential Buildings” Journal of Building Performance Simulation, (2021), doi: 10.1080/19401493.2021.1927189

  • Stopps, H., Touchie, M.F. “Perceptions of thermal conditions in contemporary high-rise residential buildings under different temperature control strategies” Science Technology and the Built Environment. (2021). doi: 10.1080/23744731.2021.1929465

  • Stopps, H., Thorneycroft, C., Touchie, M.F., Zimmerman, N., Hamilton, I., Kesik, T. “High-Rise Residential Building Makeovers: Improving renovation quality in the United Kingdom and Canada through systemic analysis” Energy Research & Social Science, 77 (2021) 102085. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102085

  • Zimmermann, N., Pluchinotta, I., Salvia, G., Touchie, M.F., Stopps, H., Hamilton, I., Kesik, T, Dianati, K., Chen, T.  “Moving online: Reflections from conducting system dynamics workshops in virtual settings” System Dynamics Review, (2020) doi: 10.1002/sdr.1667

  • Stopps, H., Huchuk, B., Touchie, M.F., O’Brien, W. “Is anyone home? A critical review of occupant-centric smart HVAC controls implementations in residential buildings” Building and Environment, 187 (2020) pp.107369. doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.107369

  • Stopps, H., Touchie, M.F. “Managing thermal comfort in contemporary high-rise residential buildings: Using smart thermostats and surveys to identify energy efficiency and comfort opportunities,” Building and Environment, 173 (2020) pp.106748. doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.106748

Conference Publications

  • Stopps, H., Touchie, M.F. “Cooling in high-rise residential buildings: Chiller plant performance and forecasted energy use in a changing climate” in the 2022 Canadian Conference on Building Science and Technology, Toronto, ON, October 27-28, 2022

  • Stopps, H., Touchie, M.F. “Space Heating Boiler System Performance in Post-War High-Rise Multi-Family Buildings,” in ASHRAE 2020 Winter Conference Proceedings, Orlando FL, 1-5 February 2020

  • Stopps, H., Touchie, M.F., “Reduction of HVAC System runtime due to occupancy-controlled smart thermostats in contemporary multi-unit residential buildings suites,” in IAQVEC 2019 Conference Proceedings, Bari, Italy, 5-7 September 2019

  • Stopps, H., Touchie, M.F., “Occupant Perceptions of Thermal Comfort in Contemporary Condominium Buildings,” in Buildings XIV International Conference Proceedings, Clearwater FL,  9-12 December 2019

  • Stopps, H., Touchie, M.F., “Characterization of Space Heating Boiler Operation in Post-War Multi-Unit Residential Buildings,” in 15th Canadian Conference on Building Science and Technology, CCBST, Vancouver, British Columbia, 6-8 November 2017