He is an expert on climate responsive building design. The aim of this work is to optimize energy performance and environmental quality while taking into consideration local specifics such as the macro- and micro-climate and the influence of building form and material.

His research focuses primarily on energy efficiency and how it influences the built environment, with reference to building scale (form, material and technology) and district/urban scale (urban form, infrastructure, etc.). Simulation tools are used to assist in analyzing and optimizing the interdependence between buildings and their technical services.

Thomas Auer studied process engineering at the University of Stuttgart. He deals with issues relating to the energy efficiency and user comfort of buildings within the framework of his role at Transsolar Energietechnik. He has held teaching assignments at Yale University (2001-08), and was visiting professor at the University of Kassel, the École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris, the University of Sassari (Università degli Studi di Sassari) in Italy and Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada.