The Royal Presentation: A Momentous Occasion at St James's Palace

On February 24, 2026, Their Majesties The King and Queen presented the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education to representatives from the University of Salford at St James's Palace in London. This prestigious ceremony marked the formal recognition of the university's groundbreaking work through its Energy House Labs. Attendees included Chair of Council Lord Keith Bradley, Vice-Chancellor Professor Nic Beech, Energy House Labs Director Professor Will Swan, and Professor Richard Fitton, along with other team members. The event was followed by a prize-winners' reception and dinner at Guildhall, underscoring the national significance of the achievement.

Professor Nic Beech described the honour as "an incredible privilege," highlighting how it aligns with the university's 'Innovating to Enrich Lives' strategy. This focus on sustainability and equity positions Salford as a leader in addressing the climate crisis through practical, impactful research.

Understanding the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education

The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Education, formerly known as the Queen's Anniversary Prizes, represent the highest national honour in UK further and higher education. Established in 1990 by the Royal Anniversary Trust to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Ruby Jubilee, these biennial awards recognize excellence, innovation, and tangible benefits to society. Awarded by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister following an independent review, they cover diverse fields including science, engineering, environment, and medicine.

Announced on November 25, 2025, as part of the 16th round, the University of Salford's prize salutes its Energy House Labs for pioneering sustainable building design and combating fuel poverty. This engineering-focused initiative stands out among 19 winners, echoing Salford's prior 2000 award for information technology in construction.

Energy House Labs: Revolutionizing Building Performance Research

Energy House Labs at the University of Salford is a suite of world-class facilities dedicated to advancing building energy performance. Comprising Energy House 1, Energy House 2.0, the Smart Meters Smart Homes Lab, Salford Smart Home, and a UKAS-accredited Thermal Measurement Laboratory, these labs bridge academic research with industry needs. Over 40 years of expertise from a 22-strong team in building physics, performance, systems, digital tech, and modelling drives discoveries in low-carbon solutions.

The labs accelerate product testing by simulating real-world conditions, compressing months of data collection into weeks. This industry-centric approach supports standards development, fieldwork, policymaking, and consumer advice, fostering economic growth and carbon reduction.

Energy House 2.0: Simulating Global Climates

Energy House 2.0, the flagship facility, recreates 95% of global weather extremes—from -23°C to 51°C, including wind, rain, snow, and solar gain—in two massive environmental chambers each housing two full-scale homes. This capability tests new builds and retrofits under controlled, repeatable conditions, informing designs for net zero compliance.

Combating Fuel Poverty: Measurable Societal Impacts

Fuel poverty affects over 11% of English households, with estimates of 6-12 million UK households struggling to heat homes adequately. In England alone, around 2.5-3 million households face this crisis, exacerbated by rising energy costs and ageing housing stock where 65% of homes predate 1990.

Energy House Labs' boiler settings research last year optimized usage for 5.2 million households, saving over £127 million in bills and cutting 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Their Future Homes study—the largest on electrical heating—demonstrated air source heat pumps delivering warmth for under £2 per day, guiding the 2035 gas boiler phase-out.

• Direct retrofits influencing 2,000 homes in Greater Manchester and Leeds.
• Contributions to RICS standards, National Energy Efficiency Taskforce, and GMCA Retrofit Taskforce.
• £3 million DEEP project for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) on best retrofit practices.

Through the Friends of Energy House initiative, over £500,000 raised in three years funds community projects and builds a diverse talent pipeline in construction.

Photo by Fotos on Unsplash

Industry Partnerships: Shaping a Quarter of UK New Homes

Collaborations with giants like Bellway Homes and Barratt Redrow (Barratt Redrow post-merger) influence 25% of UK new builds. Hundreds of businesses, from startups to multinationals, have partnered via the £3 million UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Innovation Accelerator, benefiting over 50 firms.

Real-World Case Studies

• Worcester Bosch Hybrid Heat Pump Trial: Assessed performance across UK winter temperatures, optimizing hybrid systems for efficiency.
• Blind Screen's Innovation: Testing enhanced heat reduction to 58% in products.
• Step Places Modular Homes: Validated offsite construction methods akin to Sweden's 45% adoption rate.

These partnerships exemplify how university research translates to market-ready solutions, supporting the UK's net zero ambitions where 80% of 2050's homes already exist.

Policy Influence and Net Zero Progress

With the UK targeting net zero by 2050, domestic emissions (20% of total) demand urgent action. Energy House Labs' evidence shapes Future Homes Standards, retrofit policies, and Totally Affordable Net Zero Homes Group efforts. Their work addresses retrofit challenges for pre-1990 stock, critical as new builds alone won't suffice.

Contributions to regional (GMCA), national (DESNZ), and international policies highlight higher education's role in evidence-based governance.

The Visionary Team Driving Change

Professor Will Swan, Director, has steered Energy House Labs for years, emphasizing real-life impact: "No point in research if we aren't sharing it." Professor Richard Fitton, expert in building physics and chartered surveyor, leads RICS task groups on sustainability. Vice-Chancellor Nic Beech champions social responsibility.

This multidisciplinary team inspires students and researchers, offering placements that blend academia with industry. For aspiring professionals, explore research jobs or lecturer jobs in sustainable engineering across UK universities.

Future Horizons: The Centre for Retrofit and Beyond

Launching in 2026, the Centre for Retrofit—funded by Garfield Weston Foundation and United Infrastructure—will scale solutions for existing homes. Ambitious goals target further net zero acceleration and fuel poverty eradication, with expanded community engagement.

This positions Salford at the forefront of UK higher education's response to climate challenges.

Photo by Fotos on Unsplash

Implications for UK Higher Education and Careers

The prize elevates Salford's profile, demonstrating how universities drive societal progress. In a sector facing funding pressures, such recognitions affirm research's value. For students and academics, it opens doors in green engineering.

Discover opportunities via UK university jobs, faculty positions, and career advice on AcademicJobs.com. Programs like Salford's build skills for the net zero economy.

Conclusion: A Blueprint for Sustainable Futures

The University of Salford's Queen Elizabeth Prize triumph via Energy House Labs exemplifies higher education's power to innovate for equity and environment. As UK tackles fuel poverty and net zero, such leadership inspires. Engage with professors via Rate My Professor, pursue higher ed jobs, or advance your career at higher-ed-career-advice and university-jobs. Post your vacancy at post-a-job.