Salford’s Energy House Labs: Advancing New Heat Pump Technology with £1 Million Boost
At Energy House Labs, we are pleased to announce our collaboration on a major project aimed at enhancing heat pump technology to make it more efficient for heating homes. Partnering with Nusku, a Bristol-based start-up, we are excited to see them secure nearly £1 million in funding, including a government grant of £727,000 through the Heat Pump Ready Programme, which highlights the significant potential of this technology.
Formed in 2022, Nusku is tackling the low adoption rate of heat pumps despite their clear environmental benefits and are aiming to create a more attractive, affordable, and quicker-to-install heating solution, appealing to homeowners seeking an environmentally friendly replacement for gas boilers.
Nusku will test its innovative product later this year at our Energy House 1 facility – a Victorian terraced house within a climate-controlled chamber. Dave Farmer, who is leading our research, explains: “Our unique facility can measure the performance of heating systems under controlled conditions, simulating various UK weather conditions and occupancy behaviours. This enables us to test Nusku’s system quickly and accurately, potentially speeding up its time to market.”
Founder and CEO of Nusku, Russell Murchie, commented “We have designed a truly innovative heating system which we feel confident will have mass appeal once it’s on the market. The fact the Government and leading figures from within the industry are backing us is a real vote of confidence.”
Step Inside Innovation: New Tours of Energy House 2.0
Following the hugely successful opening of Energy House 2.0 in January 2023, we have been diligently conducting groundbreaking research to advance the building industry’s adoption of low carbon technologies. Due to significant interest in our work, we are excited to announce that we are pausing our research to open our facility to the public for a series of tours.
These tours will take place over three days from Wednesday 03 July to Friday 05 July 2024, offering multiple time slots for visitors to explore our state-of-the-art chambers. During these 30-minute tours, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about Energy House 2.0’s capabilities and our efforts towards achieving net zero in the building industry.
To book your tour, please visit the link here.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing our journey towards a sustainable future.
Professor Richard Fitton Joins Panel at THE Global Sustainable Development Congress 2024
In June, Professor Richard Fitton was part of a panel session on catalysing sustainable business transformation through research and innovation, at the Times Higher Education Global Sustainable Development Congress 2024, which took place in Bangkok, Thailand. The conference welcomed over 3000 sustainability experts and educators from all around the globe to address sustainability and its links to development, research, and innovation and was a great opportunity to highlight the unique facilities and net zero research programmes at Salford.
Exciting News in Building Performance Measurement
We are excited to share groundbreaking news of two new European Standards for in-situ testing of building thermal performance:
- EN 17887 1:2024: Thermal performance of buildings – In situ testing of completed buildings – Part 1: Data collection for aggregate heat loss test.
- EN 17887 2:2024: Thermal performance of buildings – In situ testing of completed buildings – Part 2: Steady-state data analysis for aggregate heat loss test.
These standards, designed for both new and existing domestic buildings, offer robust methods for measuring whole building heat loss, effectively functioning as a whole building U-value.
These new standards were developed through a collaborative effort led by Professor David Johnston at Leeds Beckett University and Professor Richard Fitton from Energy House Labs, with valuable contributions from experts across Europe. They will be implemented by national standardization bodies in 34 countries, including major European nations and the UK.
We are proud to see our team leading the way in establishing these important benchmarks for building performance measurement. Professor Fitton highlighted that these standards provide a significant advancement for those currently using the Co-heating method to assess building performance. Based on pioneering work by Leeds Beckett University, the standards now include detailed guidance on uncertainty and data collection, ensuring a harmonized approach across the European Union and UK.
CIRIA and Buildoffsite Visit to Energy House Labs, Acoustics, and NERIC
On Thursday 13 June 2024, Energy House Labs hosted a visit from CIRIA and Buildoffsite, a community dedicated to promoting net zero carbon initiatives in the built environment. The event included a tour of the University of Salford’s Energy House 2.0, the Acoustics Laboratories, and the North of England Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC).
The day began with an introduction to Energy House 2.0, the largest facility of its type, completed in February 2022. Mike Brown, Director of Strategic Partnerships, provided an overview of the facility’s capabilities, including its two environmental chambers that simulate various climatic conditions to test the energy efficiency of residential buildings.
Attendees then heard from other representatives from the School of Science, Engineering and Environment, including Dr Juan Ferriz-Papi, Professor Jason Underwood, Dr Theo Theodoridis, and Dr Eda Majtan, who discussed ongoing research in building surveying, construction ICT, robotics, and civil engineering.
In the afternoon, participants toured the Acoustics Laboratories, led by Daniel Wong-McSweeney and Claire Lomax. The tour featured the Anechoic Chamber, used for advanced acoustic research and testing.
The visit concluded at NERIC, where Operations Manager, Simon Fong, discussed the centre’s work in robotics and digital automation for sustainable infrastructure. Organized in collaboration with CIRIA’s Driving Net Zero Carbon Community of Practice and Buildoffsite, the event provided insights into the University of Salford’s efforts to advance low carbon technologies and sustainable practices in the built environment.
Reflecting on Joe Flanagan’s Impact: A Farewell Message
As July approaches, we prepare to bid farewell to our esteemed Project Manager, Joe Flanagan. Joe has been the driving force behind our Energy House 2.0 project, embodying dedication and expertise at every turn. His leadership has been instrumental, and his presence will be greatly missed.
Joe, your contributions have shaped our success and growth, both professionally and personally. Your guidance and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on our team.
As you embark on your well-deserved retirement, we extend our heartfelt thanks and best wishes for the future. Your legacy will continue to inspire us. Farewell, Joe, and may your next chapter be as fulfilling as your time with us.
Some final words from Joe: “I am extremely proud to have played a part in realising Energy House 2.0. When I joined the team in 2019, the site was a car park and now there is something quite unique that is going to play a leading role in achieving net zero homes. It has been a great pleasure to work with such a fantastic team and I wish you all the best; I’m sure you will achieve great things. For me, I am looking forward to putting in some serious time in my woodworking workshop, doing some travelling, and I might even get around to taming my garden!”
Welcome Our Newest Member!
We are pleased to share the wonderful news that our Research Fellow, Heidi Diaz Hernandez, has welcomed a new addition to her family. Sofía was born on Saturday 27 April 2024, weighing 3.865kg and measuring 54cm. Both mother and baby are doing well.
Energy House Labs New Starters
Lorna Brooke
Lorna has recently joined the team as Operations Manager and has worked for the University of Salford for over 8 years as the Travel Manager establishing a centralised travel function. Previous to joining the University she worked in the Luxury holiday sector involved in the contracting and operations of tours in Australia and the USA. In recent years, Lorna has managed several process improvement projects and is looking forward to bringing her skills to the role whilst learning more about this fascinating area and everything that is being undertaken.
Diane Lingard
Diane has recently joined the team as Operations Administrator and has worked at the university for 20 years in various departments across the campus. Her most recent role was within the SEE School Office, where she primarily worked with students ensuring their journey ran as smoothly as possible. Diane has had an interest in sustainability and the environment for some years and tries, where possible, to be sustainable in her home life.