Fusion21

KTP Associates Meet Chris Huhne

Fusion21 KTP Associates where invited to meet Chris Huhne, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on a recent visit to Salford University.

Luke Smith and Sharon Chahal were able to share with him the progress of their KTP projects focusing on developing two Retrofit Toolkits.

Both toolkits are being developed as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership taking place between Salford University and Fusion21.  One KTP Associate is looking to help assist registered providers in making informed Retrofit decisions, and the other advising how to effectively liaise with residents to remove barriers that can exist when making energy efficiency improvements to properties.

The Minister toured Joule House- home to Salfordian physicist James Joule who gave his name to the Joule unit of energy - and was shown how the University is continuing this legacy after meeting researchers who are working to make Britain’s homes more energy efficient and to combat the fuel poverty faced by five and a half million households.

Chris Huhne said, “Keeping homes warm in winter and saving money on energy bills are real life issues for people here in Manchester and up and down the country.

“I am pleased to be able to open this new facility at the historic Joule House. This will add to the already impressive efforts here at the University of Salford to improve the energy efficiency of the nation's housing stock.”

Dr Adrian Graves, Deputy Vice-Chancellor said, “The University is establishing a reputation for making a global difference on these crucial issues. Our research and collaborations with major businesses and numerous community groups on energy efficiency reflects the University’s commitment to environmental research of the highest standard.

“The visit of the Minister to open Joule House is an extremely pleasing moment for Salford and we very much enjoyed showing him the work being carried out at a UK university on this global problem.”

Mr Huhne also visited our world-leading Energy House- a reconstructed Coronation Street-style terraced house built inside a lab – and was given a demonstration of how researchers scientifically test the latest windows, doors, insulation and other technologies by subjecting them to extremes of temperature and other weather conditions, including rain.

The University is leading the way with energy research following the successful launch of the Energy House earlier this year at a conference made up of multi-national companies and policy makers, and it is planned for Joule House to complement and enhance this capability.

Sharon Chahal, Fusion21 KTP Associate commented, “It’s great the minster has shown an interest in the work that both Luke and I are involved in with Salford University and Fusion21.  Both projects aim to provide the sector with advice and support on how to realise the best possible outcomes from their retrofit projects – a topic of national interest”.