Green Gown Awards 2017 - University of Salford - Winner

The objective was to provide a world-class stream of evidence to support technological change in domestic energy use, which accounted for 30% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, and to contribute to a raft of initiatives to save on energy bills, particularly for Britain’s 5 million ‘fuel-poor’ households. 

The result has developed a new approach for industry and the research community: the creation of a real home inside a laboratory - Europe’s first full-scale house in an environmental chamber. 3,000 homes have been retrofitted, methods to slash bills by 15% proven, technologies prototyped, £3.5M of grants attracted and more than 500 companies awoken to the possibilities of energy-saving.

Using an archetype of the North – the Victorian two-up, two-down – we have brought people together in a common mission to solve problems and find practical solutions to problems, both every-day and global.  We have used our heritage to look forward and create a better future.

Top 3 learnings:

1 Learn to work with industry, but value your independence.

2 Innovation is a group activity.

3 Communication of research is an essential element of the research process.

Videos

• The Energy House (click to hide)