Written by Liz Lainé, Service Designer, Ecofurb & Business Development Manager, CoreLogic | Parity Projects
I’ve talked to thousands of homeowners over the years about energy efficiency. Often when running numerous stalls at community events over the past 20 years – campaigning for the Climate Change Act with Friends of the Earth, educating students and engaging homeowners at Hockerton Housing Project and Sustainable Hockerton, and more recently in churches, halls and parks with a new local environmental charity.
But it is one thing to communicate what needs to be done, and another to make that happen. I may have renovated and retrofitted two homes in that time, but I know, if asked for a recommendation, how hard it is to recommend an insulation or heat pump installer. Our research of community energy groups last summer showed I wasn’t alone, but as trusted members of the community this leaves us unable to help homeowners with one of their most significant environmental impacts.
So, with talented colleagues and partners, we got to work. And are now delighted to introduce the new national retrofit one stop shop for energy efficiency: Ecofurb.
In the first instance, Ecofurb is designed to address the uncertainty among homeowners when it comes to investing in the decarbonisation of their home. But we also want it to work for partners, whether they want to signpost customers to a service they can trust or to develop related services and offers.
How does the one stop retrofit shop help community energy group members?
- Free online advice – when ‘ten top tips’ or over simplistic carbon calculators fail to meet your curiosity, our online advice identifies a package of measures tailored to your home from our library of 2000+ options, and gives users an idea of likely cost, bill savings and carbon emission reductions.
- Expert advice – our expert advice service is for homeowners who want to install multiple or more complex measures (such as solid wall insulation) and want to ensure they are investing in the right measures, with advice independent of installers and manufacturers. Our Whole House Plans are based on survey data and customer feedback – considering their budget, priorities and other renovation plans. Download an example here.
- Independent financial advice – we are collaborating with Knight Frank Finance who track the emergent green finance market, and other options that can help fund retrofit projects.
- Quality assured installation – advice customers may choose to take their Whole House Plan to their own preferred suppliers, or we can seek quotes for them and oversee the quality of installation by our trusted suppliers.
What is the potential role of community energy groups in housing decarbonisation?
With the core service in place, at Ecofurb we are now in a position to test options that meet community energy group objectives.
Examples from my own experience with Ecofurb and with other community energy ventures include:
- Signposting to free advice to avoid leaving people unable to act
- Delivering case studies that illustrate typical costs and savings for building types common in the local area
- Offering advice as a prize at local fundraisers, to raise awareness of the value of energy efficiency advice
- Using the service to support collective action, with potential for saving on surveys when booked in bulk (for example)
- Subsidising advice or even measures
- Assessing the need and potential for retrofit in the area, to support funding bids or fund works through revenue from renewable generation – a service available via partnering local authorities
What is clear is we need to keep costs down while increasing trust, so if you have ideas on how our efficient service can align with your local engagement, we ‘re keen to hear them.
How do you get involved?
If you are a homeowner, simply head to ecofurb.com to find out more.
If your community energy group is interested in trialling and informing partnerships, please get in touch.