A unique test facility for low-carbon homes

Livia Williams, Head of Planned Investment and Relets and David Partridge, Head of Pelham were recently invited by Salford University and Saint-Gobain to visit their world leading energy performance test facility in Manchester.

Salford’s Energy House facility is a unique research and testing laboratory which provides accurate and rapid assessment of energy efficient retro fit technologies on a traditionally built early 20th century two-bedroom terraced house.

Salford’s newer Energy House 2.0 facility is the largest research facility of its type. It has two environmental chambers, which can each accommodate two detached houses. Under controlled conditions, the chamber recreates a wide variety of weather conditions with temperatures ranging between -20˚C to +40˚C and simulated wind, rain, snow and solar radiation.

David Partridge, Head of Pelham comments: “We visited a project that will provide an understanding of how to deliver zero carbon housing at scale using off-site lightweight construction solutions. It will also help us understand how these homes will meet the Future Homes Standard.”

Livia Williams, Head of Planned Investments and Relets at NCHA said: “Our visit was really informative and will support the works we do to bring 95% of our homes up to a band C or above by 2027.“

Read our Corporate Plan and accompanying strategies for more about our building ambitions and environmental sustainability plans.