Fellow Transforming Energy Together recipient Bristol Energy Network’s (BEN) share details of the project they are developing with partners, Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership, the Centre for Sustainable Energy and Bristol City Council. 

Transforming Energy Together is part of an exciting and ambitious project called Mission Net Zero which is aiming to make Bristol a more sustainable and inclusive city. Mission Net Zero is funded by Innovate UK, in partnership with Bristol City Council. 

 

BECOME AN ENERGY CHAMPION – TAKE ACTION IN YOUR HOME AND IN YOUR COMMUNITY
by Faith Terry-Doyle, Project Support Officer, BEN

Join BEN’s Energy Champion programme to learn how you can take action on energy issues in your home and in your community. 

Reduce your draughts, reduce your energy bills and help tackle the climate crisis. By joining, there’ll be an opportunity for a free Energy Trace of your home and you’ll be invited to workshops. These workshops will provide you with support to carry out home energy improvements, combat dampness and mould, and learn some basic DIY draught-proofing skills (and we’ll also be giving out free DIY equipment!). 

For those who want to, you’ll be supported to help others in your community and you can get involved with Bristol Energy Network as a volunteer. However, if you don’t have the capacity for this, then that’s fine. This opportunity is for both homeowners and renters, and is open to anyone living in Bristol. It’s for anyone, irrespective of your experience. Some of our Energy Champions have never thought about these issues before, others have been working in energy or retrofit for years and want to take action and use their skills to help others. Sign up here if you’re interested!

The opportunity of a free Energy Trace (worth £350!)

Mouldy and draughty homes are a problem for a lot of people. An Energy Trace (based on thermal imaging) is the first step in locating draughts and heat loss in your home and knowing how to improve these issues. A trained Energy Tracer will come to your home to carry out the Trace, and they will give you a list of key priorities to address. Often, many of the improvements you can make are low-cost. Once you’ve signed up as an Energy Champion if there are still free Energy Traces available, we’ll email you with next steps to book.

Energy Trace testimonial

“I had an energy trace via the Energy Champion programme, it involved an expert identifying areas of heat loss around the house. The trace was extremely comprehensive. Robert and I went room to room, as he – with the aid of thermal detection – explained the various areas where heat was being lost, including areas which I had no idea could cause an effect (such as small cracks in walls). Robert patiently answered my questions, and had various, mostly affordable recommendations for ways to resolve certain issues, which I would have had no idea about without having the trace. The trace was recorded, as well as written up, so that I can refer to it at a later stage. I would definitely recommend having an energy trace, in order to understand affordable and tailored ways to make your home more comfortable, save on energy costs, and reduce carbon emissions.” Rosie Wilson.

Free workshops

As an Energy Champion, you’ll also be invited to our free workshops where you can learn more about simple, DIY draught-proofing, combating damp and mould, and low carbon heating. You can find out more information about the workshops here. These sessions are aimed at helping you feel more empowered to take action on the issues that may have been identified in your Trace. They are a space to ask questions, learn new things, meet other people and we will help you know where to start to improve the comfort of your home. We will also be providing a free vegan hot meal at each workshop.

For more information

If you have any questions, then please reach out to the project lead, Faith, at faith@bristolenergynetwork.org or 07578710056.

The programme is part of the wider Transforming Energy Together initiative (which comes under Mission Net Zero), it’s funded by Innovate UK, coordinated by Bristol City Council and is a collaboration with many other organisations across Bristol.