Energy House 2.0

A world-first £16 million research facility in Manchester testing homes against extreme climates so future designs can cut carbon emissions, improve resilience and lower energy costs.

Energy House 2.0 is a pioneering £16 million research facility, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, developed in collaboration with the University of Salford, Saint-Gobain and Bellway Homes.

It’s designed to test how future homes can withstand extreme climate conditions while reducing carbon emissions and energy costs.

The facility allows researchers to rapidly test and refine sustainable building technologies under tightly controlled conditions and includes:

Two massive climate chambers, each large enough to hold 24 double-decker buses.
The ability to simulate temperatures from -20°C to +40°C, along with wind, rain, snow, and solar radiation.

Inside, Barratt Redrow and Saint-Gobain have constructed eHome2, an innovative house packed with low-carbon materials and systems, where data is collected via sensors and wiring.

The goals:

To evaluate how these technologies perform in real-world scenarios and help meet the UK’s Future Homes Standard.
To accelerate the development of homes that are energy-efficient, climate-resilient and cost-effective.
To inform the wider industry on best practices for sustainable construction.

The project sets a precedent for openness and knowledge-sharing across the housing sector, helping to shape a greener future.

Energy House 2.0

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