Award-winning SKV Communications has been hired by the University of Salford to launch its new Energy Hub - a multi-disciplinary research centre drawing on the expertise of over 25 academics from 13 departments, and a centre of excellence for energy research in the UK.
The agency will generate and manage media interest in the Hub’s Energy House, a traditional-style terraced house being built inside a three-storey, sealed testing chamber at the University.
In addition to its original brickwork and roof, the world’s first ‘Energy House’, will also be fully furnished and fitted as a typical working home with fully functioning water, gas and electricity supplies.
Once completed next spring, the Coronation Street-style house - built in the same style as 4.5m pre-1920 UK homes - will be subject to some of the most advanced energy experiments ever conducted on a residential property.
University experts will conduct a huge range of tests inside the house to gauge how its energy consumption varies depending on variable factors and conditions. The testing chamber will feature a unique climate system which will generate a range of rain, wind and solar conditions.
The country’s least efficient properties were predominantly constructed prior to 1920. These currently make up 15% of UK homes but actually account for 23% of total notional C02 emissions*. Of these dwellings, more than 2m, are the two-up, two-down terraced-style that the University will
The agency has brought in environmental campaigner Tony Juniper to support the launch and will be working with government’s Energy Saving Trust organisation.
The Energy House is due to be completed by February 2011. Its unveiling will also mark the opening of the UK’s first ever conference, organised by University of Salford, that will focus on the national challenge to how to sustainably retrofit existing housing stock and commercial property.
The Energy House is due to be completed by February 2011. Its unveiling will also mark the opening of the UK’s first ever conference, organised by University of Salford, that will focus on the national challenge to how to sustainably retrofit existing housing stock and commercial property.
Press and PR Manager Jamie Brown said: “SKV has strong experience and expertise in working with both higher education clients and sustainability campaigns. Their intelligent and thorough approach has got the campaign off to a great start.”
SKV Associate Director Richard Bond said: “It’s a unique project which has already gained great interest from both mainstream and specialist media. We aim to keep that interest high throughout the construction and operational phases of both the Energy House and Energy Hub initiative.”
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For more information, contact Richard Bond, Pete Wrathmell or Max Howard at SKV Communications at firstname.lastname@skvcommunications.co.uk or 0161 838 7770
* Statistics from the Communities and Local Government English House Condition Survey 2007 Annual Report.
