Extreme Low Energy has just relocated from Merseyside to West Lancs and has created a replica modular home in the reception area of its new headquarters equipped and powered by its own technology. Tony McDonough reports

A low-energy, eco-friendly ‘home of the future’ has been unveiled by West Lancs firm Extreme Low Energy (ELe).

The business, which recently relocated from Formby to Skelmersdale, has installed a replica modular home in the reception area of its new headquarters fully equipped and powered by ELe systems, and built by sustainable building company Simply Modular.

Mark Buchanan, founder and technical director of ELe, says the model could be ideal for housing associations and the affordable housing market as the technology allows close monitoring of energy usage, helping to tack fuel poverty.

He added: “Our ELe system is designed to be mass produced and easily installed. The tenant benefits from reductions in their electricity bills whilst the housing association benefits in reduced maintenance costs.

“We believe that this is a template for the future and are currently discussing the implementation of this technology in planned projects for modular home development across the UK.”

The modular home, which opens onto a combined kitchen and lounge, with a rear double bedroom and en-suite shower room, is powered by solar panels which discharge the electricity to a battery storage system.

The company’s award-winning technologies use Ethernet cables to power a whole range of domestic and commercial appliances, providing huge potential energy reductions which can save the user of the ELe system up to 70% in terms of their electricity usage.

The facility was officially unveiled by West Lancs Labour MP Rosie Cooper, who said: “There’s a real housing problem across the UK and it’s important that ideas, like those being put forward by ELe, are considered as a possible solution to the housing crisis we face.”