A new facility in the north of England allows scientists to literally make the weather in order to test the energy efficiency of homes built inside the huge lab. Rain, wind, sunshine and snow can be recreated in temperatures ranging from minus 20 to plus 40 celsius. The hope is that Energy House 2.0, which recently opened at Salford University, can help builders and scientists find the best way to save energy in a time of high prices and climate consciousness. "When you try and understand how a house is energy efficient you normally have to wait for the weather" explains Professor Will Swan, the director of Energy House Labs at the University of Salford, "so here we bring the weather to the research problem." A VOICED AFPTV REPORT