Test house looks for energy gains

Engineers from the University of Salford are to build a terraced house inside a testing chamber in order to carry out experiments on energy consumption.

The chamber will have its own climate system with the pre-1920-style property exposed to the elements.

It will be one of the most advanced energy experiments ever conducted on a residential property.

Engineers will test new types of insulation, double glazing and low energy appliances, while psychologists will assess whether coloured wall-coverings affect perception of temperatures.

The university said the experiment would show how the UK's ageing housing stock could be made more sustainable. Pre-1920 homes, which are the least energy efficient, make up 15% of UK homes but are believed to account for 23% of carbon dioxide emissions.