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.