The Customer Energy Village is a unique development being constructed at Northern Gas Networks’ InTEGReL (Integrated Transport Electricity & Gas Research Laboratory) testing and research facility in Low Thornley, Gateshead.
Napper Architects have worked in close collaboration with Arup and Northern Gas Networks to develop proposals for the project. It involves building nine homes to mimic different building eras: three 1910 terraced homes, two semi-detached 1930s houses, a 1950s bungalow, two flats from the 1970s and a detached home from the 1990s. The building types were selected to represent some of the most common residential types built in the UK in the last 120 years. They will be used to test and demonstrate different technologies which will provide an understanding of which energy solutions are best suited to decarbonise the existing housing stock and how energy use can be reduced.
Northern Gas Networks is supported by its partners including Newcastle University, National Energy Action and North East Energy Catalyst. The project secured £1.96 million from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP) through the Local Growth Fund and Getting Building Fund.
