Our March Open Meeting
The second BEN meeting of 2024 kicked off with a vibrant atmosphere as members gathered to discuss ongoing projects, new initiatives, and opportunities for collaboration.
The last few months has been an exciting time of expansion for BEN, and we had introductions from five new staff members who are now working with BEN: Lucy, Gary, Rosa, Faith and Theresa (although Theresa has been working with us in a different capacity for a while!).
Update from members:
From launching national retrofit initiatives to collaborating on energy resilience projects, each organisation brought a unique perspective to the table. The diverse range of projects showcased the dedication of BEN’s members to driving positive change in the community and working towards a more sustainable and just future in Bristol and beyond.
The Parity Project:
Sam highlighted the Parity Project's upcoming national launch of a one-stop shop for retrofit, they would love to capture some stories of retrofit, so if anyone is interested in being filmed about this then they would love to hear from you.
Bristol Energy Cooperative:
Jonquil from Bristol Energy Cooperative discussed their expansion and involvement in energy projects across the South West, they have a new CEO and two new Project Developers. Their latest project was the Bristol Beacon roof and next up is Great Western Air Ambulance.
The Resilience Network:
David and Iris from the Resilience Network spoke about the solar project which they have recently got funding for. In each of the constituencies in Bristol, they are planning to implement a rooftop solar pilot and engage local politicians. The aim is for this to benefit the local residents as it will reduce their energy bills as well as profits being directed into communities to increase resilience and help those who need it.
RADE (Residents Against Dirty Energy):
Stuart from RADE gave us an update from RADE, they are working with UoB, UWE and BCC and they have a PhD researcher on the team. They are doing a new project called Barton Heat and it’s assessing the possibility and the residential interest in decarbonising the Barton Hill Estate, due to the type of building they are quite a challenge to decarbonise. The residents here have had a lot of issues with their housing so engagement is key here.
CHEESE:
Mike told us about the 800+ energy assessments of people’s homes, it’s a great way to engage people to commit to retrofit and any low cost DIY interventions. They have 10 surveys funded that they want to get out to people who need it - could be tenants (council or private) and they need to get them done soon. Retrofit West has been giving out vouchers for this which has been a great help so that CHEESE can offer surveys at an affordable price.
Bristol City Council:
David from BCC and City Leap said that they are looking for more energy to buy from small scale energy generators, and they have collaborated with BEC already on this.
BEN projects and developments:
Transforming Energy Together (Energy Academy and Energy Champions):
Faith and Lucy from BEN presented Transforming Energy Together. This programme is part of Mission Net Zero, an ambitious project to show how people can improve their lives whilst addressing climate change, obtain investment in new ways and grow related businesses to benefit the whole community.
The project will have an energy focus: community energy generation, housing and community building retrofit, with a wider scope to include transport, nature, waste and green jobs.
Mission Net Zero has been funded by Innovate UK, in partnership with Bristol City Council.
The Transforming Energy Together aspect is a collaboration between BEN, Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership, CSE and the Bristol City Council. Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership is leading on the community organisation part of this: community organisations will apply for the programme, and three of them will be chosen to receive up to £100,000 each, which will fund the development of Community Climate Investment Plans. You can read more about the programme here.
At BEN, we are going to be leading on an aspect of the work called Energy Champions, you can sign up to be an Energy Champion here. Our offer to Energy Champions:
Free home energy assessment:
Opportunity for a free energy assessment worth up to £350 to understand the energy issues in your home.
Workshops and training:
Opportunity to take part in workshops which will provide you with skills and knowledge to help you make energy efficiency improvements in your home.
Email updates:
The option of regular Energy Academy newsletters to provide you with the latest information and tips about energy.
Community action:
Support to help you engage others in energy action in your community if you would like to share your knowledge and get involved in community climate action.
As part of Transforming Energy Together, BEN will also be doing energy assessments of 9 community buildings.
SIFFFT (Sustainable Financial Foundations For Turbines):
David Tudgey provided insights into SIFFFT, through this initiative, we're collaborating with communities interested in owning and benefitting from onshore wind turbines. The SIFFFT model has been developed by Community Power Solutions Ltd. building on their experience developing the Ambition Lawrence Weston onshore wind turbine installed last year, with funding by the West of England Combined Authority. We are committed to community empowerment through this project, and we’ve been doing community engagement work to see how this project can be best implemented.
LEAD (Local Energy Advice Demonstrator) / aka Green Open Homes:
Rosa from BEN discussed LEAD, which is an initiative aimed at promoting domestic energy efficiency within local communities. Collaborating with community groups and organisations, the project encourages residents to explore retrofit measures by opening their homes to showcase their energy-saving upgrades. These kind of open home events are a great way for people to visit a house that is like theirs, to be inspired by and gain insight into the reality of installing measures such as solar panels, insulation, triple glazing, or new heating options, from someone who has either completed, or started engaging with the process.
To support the communities that want to get involved with this, we are able to offer them:
Grants (up to £5,000)
Free training from a varied list, from a 'Retrofit Basics' course, to how to find funding for improvements, to best practise regarding diversity, equality and inclusion in their activities
Free energy surveys for a number of homes in the community
Resources, materials and briefings for home openers and volunteers
Information about sign-posting to advice, subsidised surveys and retrofit plans
Just Transition Declaration:
Rachel Mofatt shed light on the Just Transition Declaration which has been adopted by organisations in Bristol, such as BCC, emphasising the importance of community engagement and collaboration in achieving environmental goals, and ensuring that no one is left behind.
Lastly, Retrofit West vouchers were also highlighted as a valuable resource for those considering energy-efficient upgrades.
Funding opportunities:
Rachel also spoke about various funding opportunities available to BEN members, including the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund and the National Community Energy Fund, and a fund for energy assessments from Groundwork South. Discussions revolved around accessing grants for solar installations and exploring the latest advancements in battery technology. David from the Resilience Network stressed the importance of leveraging these grants to support community projects and advance renewable energy initiatives. He would like the Resilience Network to help people access grants that are available to them but that they might not know about or have capacity to apply for.
Networking and actions for 2024:
For the last section of the meeting, we asked members to reflect on what their headline actions are for 2024 and identify what they think BEN's key focus areas should be for the year ahead. From advocating for renewable energy policies to promoting energy efficiency in schools, there was a shared commitment to driving meaningful change and fostering collaboration within the network.
Headline actions of members for 2024 included:
Look at energy as an ecosystem not as silos
Refuse to compete and collaborate instead
Energy Champions!
Normalise retrofit and share stories
Find innovative solutions to grid constraints and energy pricing
Get the wider Sea Mills community engaged around our potential to share our energy system
Ideas for what should BEN should focus on in 2024 included:
Lots of Retrofit
Maybe bulk-buy high quality draught proofing
Delay Local Plan so that it is an election issue
Help make energy storage accessible
Jargon Bustah’ (make energy language accessible)
Development of local area energy planning platform
Fund local energy efficiency groups
Get practical help / funding into communities which need it most
Prioritise reductions in energy use
Retrofit social housing
Introducing youth into community energy - schools / youth clubs
Try to find ways to engage renters and landlords
Be a place to get in touch with other organisations and schemes
Wrapping up and thank you:
All of our members provided valuable insights and ideas, and at the end of the meeting we felt like there was a renewed sense of connection, purpose and shared goals. We left the meeting energised and inspired to continue our efforts towards community engagement and a just energy transition.
A big, heartfelt thank you to everyone who came along, connected with others and shared ideas!
