Energy House 2.0

Research conducted through the Energy House over the last ten years has led to important changes in the way that UK housing becomes more energy efficient. Now imagine if we could replicate the environmental conditions experienced by housing stock and consumers throughout most of the world. This would give us the opportunity to work with international industry partners and help to solve some major global challenges.

The build and commissioning of Energy House 2.0 was completed in February 2022 and is the largest research facility of its type. Within Energy House 2.0 there are two environmental chambers each able to accommodate two detached houses and under controlled conditions, recreate a wide variety of weather conditions with temperatures ranging between -20˚C to +40˚C and simulated wind, rain, snow and solar radiation. This unique facility will play a key role in accelerating the progress towards low carbon and net zero housing design and builds upon the success of the original Energy House Laboratory, which was opened in 2012.    

In June 2022, the next phase of work commenced: In partnership with Barratt Developments, Bellway Homes, and Saint-Gobain, we started building test houses inside the environmental chambers. These were completed in January 2023 and we officially launched on the 12 & 13 January 2023. Tours for the public took place the following week, where we welcomed 400 people through the doors, and we’re now closed to focus on testing and research programmes until summer 2023. 

This project is part funded from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the Office for Students.