Energy Champions are reducing energy, staying warm and sharing skills
Bristol Energy Network is providing a free home energy assessment, an Energy Trace, to 90 residents in Bristol. In this blog, Project Lead Faith Terry-Doyle outlines how their Energy Champions are learning new skills to take action around energy issues in their homes and in their communities, as part of a wider project called Transforming Energy Together.
Energy Champions are offered a free Energy Trace of their homes, worth up to £350. This is centred around a thermal imaging camera observing the cold spots in our Energy Champions’ homes to help them identify heat loss.
“We found the Energy Trace so useful and interesting… We discovered areas of the house with poor insulation such as certain windows with poor draft excluders. We were able to make a plan to make our home more energy efficient.”
They are then invited to a workshop programme, offering simple DIY energy improvements they can make in their homes, as well as the opportunity to learn more about heat pumps and other low carbon technologies. The workshops are aimed at helping Champions understand how they can lower their energy bills, improve the comfort of their homes, and reduce their environmental impact. We are also supporting Champions to share their skills and knowledge with others in their neighbourhoods and get involved with action on energy in their communities.
Transforming Energy Together is part of Mission Net Zero, an Innovate UK funded city-wide initiative helping Bristol to accelerate climate action by addressing the barriers to progress such as a lack of investment and not enough people trained in retrofit skills. We’ve recruited a number of Energy Champions with an interest in taking action to reduce their energy usage and be involved in helping connect, inspire, and encourage others to do the same.
We asked Energy Champions what inspired them to join the programme:
“I’ve been battling with a damp and energy inefficient home for years and would like to learn more about additional steps I can make to improve things. Also I’m keen to help my community.”
“I have worked in the energy and fuel poverty work in the past and wanted to do something tangible to encourage other people to do stuff to their home – and learn more about my own!”
Nicky has already taken action to reduce her energy issues since having an Energy Trace, “I’ve filled the gaps around the pipes in the bathroom, filled some of the cracks, sealed the loft hatch better, made a few of the doors fit better”.
Our sister project, the Energy Help Desk service, has been identifying Champions in areas not typically engaged in community energy. Kathryn is one of these Champions. She had this to say about the free Energy Trace of her home, “Robert explains things thoroughly and that making simple adjustments will really make my home more warm and comfortable for the winter.”
The programme has attracted a wide range of people and interests. Improving the comfort of their homes, reducing their carbon footprint, and getting involved in local action on energy issues are just some of the interests we hear. Yet, up until now, residents across the city haven’t had access to a programme that brings them together in this unique way to support them with challenges around energy.
The Energy Champion programme is becoming a very supportive space for people to learn, share, and inspire each other. We want to support even more people to benefit from this opportunity. If you are in a rented accommodation, on a low income, are from a global majority background, or you are a disabled person, contact Faith at faith@bristolenergynetwork.org as we would love to offer you a free Energy Trace of your home.
If you would like support around signing up for the programme but don’t feel confident using computers or the internet, just call us on 07578 710056.
Find out more about becoming an Energy Champion
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