The Energy Systems Research Unit (ESRU) was established in 1987 as a cross-discipline team concerned with new approaches to built environment energy demand reduction and the introduction of sustainable means of energy supply.

The team's belief is that options for energy demand and supply must be considered together if society is to attain significant levels of energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment.

The work of the team is divided between research, consultancy services, education and training and software distribution (please follow the appropriate link). Research activities cover a wide range of topics from global/local energy systems performance to indoor/outdoor health and comfort. Consultancy services include the laboratory testing of new products, the performance appraisal of proposed new designs or retrofits, and the field monitoring of energy systems in use. Education and training offerings include courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels and training in modelling and simulation for practitioners.

Finally, ESRU supports a number of open source programs that may be used to examine the performance of traditional or new energy systems at all scales - from a large wind farm to a building-integrated photovoltaic component.

ESRU is located within the Department of Mechanical Engineering and is a member of the Institute for Energy and Environment both at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.