Katarina Rupar Gadd

Teaching

I am responsible for the courses Energy Coordinator, Energy Systems in Society, and Energy Systems – Project. I also teach the following courses: Sustainable Energy Supply, Environmental Engineering with a Focus on Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Energy Systems, Analytical Methods with an Environmental Focus, and the Degree Project in Bioenergy Technology.

Additionally, I oversee the seminar series Gula Tråden 2.0 in Växjö, a continuing education program designed for university educators, focusing on constructive alignment and practical teaching methods. I am also the course manager and instructor for the qualifying pedagogy courses for university teachers, BHU1 and BHU2.

Research

My research focuses on energy systems in the built environment, with particular emphasis on multi-family buildings, energy renovation, energy communities, and circular solutions in the building sector. Technical analyses are combined with practical case studies carried out in close collaboration with property owners, municipalities, and other societal stakeholders.

Multi-family buildings, energy renovation, and power-based tariffs
A central part of my research concerns multi-family buildings and energy renovation, with a focus on how buildings can be adapted to an energy system characterised by a higher share of renewable energy, more volatile energy prices, and new tariff structures. In recent research, I have studied multi-family buildings that combine district heating and heat pumps in hybrid systems with smart control. The results show how such solutions can reduce energy use, costs, and, most importantly, peak power demand, which is crucial in systems with power-based tariffs and subscriptions.

Energy supply and energy communities
A growing research area is local energy supply and the development of energy communities, where buildings, users, and local actors collaborate around the production, storage, and use of energy. Within an international project, I study how municipalities, small and medium-sized enterprises, and citizens can be provided with better conditions for establishing and developing energy communities in the Baltic Sea region.

Single-family houses and the user perspective
In addition to multi-family buildings, my research also includes single-family houses, focusing on climate adaptation, energy efficiency, heating systems, and user behaviour. The studies highlight how technical solutions interact with household choices, and how energy renovation and design decisions in this process can affect energy use, peak power demand, and household economics.

Circularity in the construction sector
Another important part of my research addresses circularity in the construction sector, with a focus on reuse, resource efficiency, and reduced climate impact. The research explores how circular approaches can be implemented in practice—from planning and procurement to implementation and knowledge dissemination. Swedish conditions are compared with those in other European countries in terms of prerequisites, knowledge levels, and needs. The research contributes to increased understanding of how circular solutions can be scaled up, how roles and responsibilities change within the construction process, and how circularity can be integrated into both new construction and renovation.

Commissions

2025–present, and 2013–2019: Board Member, Faculty of Technology, Linnaeus University. One of Linnaeus University’s five faculties, responsible for education and research in engineering and technical disciplines, including energy engineering, computer science, informatics, physics, mathematics, maritime studies, building technology, and mechanical engineering.

2024 – present: Board Member, Indoor Environment Center. An association focused on building knowledge and fostering attitudinal change both within and outside the indoor environment sector (https://www.innemiljocentrum.se/). It also facilitates coordination among researchers, manufacturers, project developers, builders, and users, both regionally and nationally.

2018 – present: Co-opted Board Member, GodaHus. An initiative aimed at promoting energy-efficient buildings in the Southeast region (https://www.godahus.se/). This is achieved through investment in research and development in collaboration with Linnaeus University and both public and private sector partners in the region.

2020 – present: Board Member, Markussen Study Fund Foundation. The foundation provides scholarships to students who are "needy, diligent, and exceptionally talented," as well as research grants to support the final stages of doctoral studies (https://markussens.se/).