Community Energy Birmingham’s Home Energy Advice Service
(Enquiry form for a free Home Energy Advice Survey from Community Energy Birmingham)
A brief introduction
I’m a director of Community Energy Birmingham. Community Energy Birmingham had previously raised money for solar panels for community buildings, through community share offers. We have moved away from that model and we received funding as part of the Brum Energy Consortium to deliver Home Energy Advice as part of a demonstrator project. As part of the consortium Community Energy Birmingham have been designated delivering free energy advice for the able to pay market. In this case defined as home owners.
Working in the Energy Efficiency Sector
In my full time role, I work in the energy efficiency sector. For ten years I conducted Home Energy Surveys in various forms, including Energy Performance Certificates, Insulation Technical Surveys, and Retrofit Assessments. I currently conduct technical audits of insulation and renewable energy installs in the funded scheme space. I have been working in the retrofit industry for nearly 15 years, which has given me an expert view of the industry.
Delivering Home Energy Advice
As part of this demonstrator project, I have been delivering Energy Advice, both through home surveys, online and at public events. The Community Energy Birmingham funding covers two surveys; an initial half an hour call/ video call to talk about what the person has planned for their home. If they want a full home energy advice survey after that, I have completed that as well. Both parts of the advice is free to the homeowner.
Whilst there has been a variety of views from what homeowners want from the surveys I have conducted, there has been some clear themes coming through. In general, the homeowners have wanted to have help plotting a road map to making their home more energy efficient with insulation and with the installation of an air source heat pump to provide heating for their home. Most of the people I surveyed had similar ideas for what they wanted to do for their home long term, but unsure as to how to get there. I’ve been able to talk through with them and discuss the fabric first approach. By reducing the energy demand as much as possible first, with insulation, it makes renewable technologies work more effectively. I have written reports for homeowners listing recommendations starting with insulation measures, such as loft, cavity, floor and wall insulation. The report would also recommend a heat pump and solar panels where appropriate, and of course recommend ventilation upgrades where insulation has been improved in the property.
Other advice activities
I have also conducted unusual surveys including, creating a project plan with an architect for their plan to build an extension onto their house whilst also improving the energy efficiency of the property. The architect already knew the technical side of the plan, but found it useful to have somebody who works in the industry to help create timelines and workout a suitable order for the measures.
I’ve had several householders have problems with damp. Damp is not an easy problem to deal with and can have different causes. I was able to talk through possible causes of the damp in the householders. I was able to discuss possible next steps to try to remedy the problem, including making sure that the property is consistently heated, as well as checking that the insulation is working as intended.
Outside of the Home Energy Advice Surveys, I have represented Community Energy Birmingham at events like UK Construction week at the National Exhibition Centre. I spoke with many people interested in retrofit about what Community Energy Birmingham does and I offered some general advice about energy efficiency. I also delivered a presentation at the Hazelwell Hub in Stirchley, where I talked about how to treat upgrading the energy efficiency of a property like a project that can be delivered in phases.
Information for free surveys until the end of March
I’ve enjoyed delivering energy advice on behalf of Community Energy Birmingham. The funding for the project in the current form continues until the end of March. Community Energy Birmingham are offering free video/ phone calls and a free home energy advice survey to homeowners. If you would like a free survey please fill out this form and somebody from Community Energy Birmingham, will contact you.
