A blueprint to cut energy bills

Build trust by taking the leap first! Upgrading community buildings first creates a powerful cascade of benefits:

• Reducing costs so groups can focus on their mission
• Building credibility by proving the technology works in practice
• Creating visible proof that upgrades work

Make the savings tangible. Talk about money saved rather than kilowatt hours.

Recognise and value what each partner brings to the table.

Corporate partners can contribute far more than just funding – explore if expertise or products are equally valuable. Community organisations often have a physical hub, inbuilt links to the community and deep local knowledge.

Be clear on what each organisation can provide, have these conservations early and often, with check ins as the project evolves.

The right coordinator is the single most important factor in project success. Ideally, this should be someone already embedded within the community organisation.

A trusted insider can:

• Recruit local participants and maintain project momentum
• Organise engagement events and follow up on camera loans
• Drive action through trusted face-to-face communications, that often outperform digital marketing

Every community is different. Avoid assumptions and design the project around the specific demographics of the local area, keeping in mind:

• Home tenure patterns
• Language and accessibility needs
• Income challenges
• Core motivations
• Existing community rhythms and local events

Remember to listen to the communities' specific needs and challenges to design a project fit for purpose.

Energy efficiency is rarely the first reason people come along to a community centre. There needs to be an engaging, high-energy draw with a clear link back to trying out the cameras.

Successful activities in Bradford included:

• ‘Can you beat the heat?’ Curry challenge – as the spice kicked in participants watched their face temperatures rise in real time on the thermal imaging cameras.
• A half term draught excluder making workshop paired with a free hot chocolate station  naturally brought local families through the door.

Drop the confusing jargon and write like a human.

Instead of: "Building envelope heat loss"

Try: “Cold air sneaking in around your windows."

Share small specific actions people can take such as using draught excluder tape on their windows rather than catch-all terms or only highlighting the big changes.