The university now has the go ahead to build Energy House 2.0, the world’s first home energy research centre in Salford
The £16 million Energy House 2.0, situated at Salford University, will house testing for many UK companies within the construction, energy, smart homes and digital sectors.
The research centre has been welcomed by business leaders and politicians alike who believe the investment will allow Greater Manchester to excel in terms of providing world-class research facilities.
It has been reported that the centre will cut test times for products down from years to a matter of weeks.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said Energy House 2.0 would pave the way for net zero carbon homes and workplaces.
The new facility – Energy House 2.0 – is timely given the UK’s Industrial Strategy on ‘clean growth’ and also supports Greater Manchester’s plans to position itself as a world-leading green business and clean tech hub.
The Mayor said: “We’re determined to push boundaries to make Greater Manchester one of the greenest city regions in Europe. Energy House 2.0 at the University of Salford will be a significant driver towards truly net zero carbon homes and workplaces, not just here in Greater Manchester, but across the UK.”
The existing facility – a Victorian terraced house inside an environmental chamber – has regularly featured on TV and in the media and has provided the science behind technological change and a raft of initiatives to save on energy bills.
Following in the successful footsteps of the University’s original Energy House — which opened in 2011 — Energy House 2.0 will create wind, snow, rain, solar simulation, and temperatures between -20C and +40C for a plethora of testing methods.
Mike Ormesher, Research and Product Development Director at the standards agency the British Board of Agrement, said: “It is fantastic news for industry. This is a much needed support mechanism for the UK’s new and existing building stock and will provide the research quality we need in the industry.”
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford, Professor Helen Marshall said: “Energy House 2.0 is an excellent example of a university, industry and government working together to tackle some of the major environmental and social issues of our times while supporting innovation and business growth.”
The facility is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the Office for Students and the University of Salford.
The development is due to be completed in 2020.
