Just like Coronation Street put Manchester on the map, Salford University is using the soap to gain itself world recognition in the energy field.

The university is creating the world’s first ‘Energy House’ which will enable academics to come up with ways to make housing, old and new, as environmentally friendly as possible.

The traditional-style terraced house built inside a three-storey, sealed testing chamber will be ready in Spring 2012 and will be the only facility of its kind in the world.

The facility at Salford will monitor domestic energy consumption within aged housing stock and act as a test-bed for new materials, to come up with ways to sustainably retrofit existing and new housing stock.

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.

You’ll be able to step in the house and visit yourself on Thursday 16 June as part of Universities Week - the details of which are in our events section. But for a preview of what the house looks like, watch the below video.