LEAC – Local Energy Advice Centre EEAC – Energy Efficiency Advice Centre SEC - Sustainable Energy Centre

Original brief to LEACs To answer one simple question:- Will householders adopt more energy saving practices if they are given free, impartial and independent advice? Project to start October 1993 for completion September then close

Original brief to LEACs Target audience:- Socio-economic groups A, B, C1 and C2 The fuel poor were not included in the original brief LEACs were not to deal with fuel poverty

Original brief to LEACs Method 1Contact householders by Telephone Visit to drop in centre 2Provide verbal and written advice using expert computer system

LEACs 32 widely disbursed Centres – no logical locations or geographical boundaries Operated by a range of organisations Working in a number of different ways Motivated by different factors Free flowing initiatives, little central control, encouraged to develop ideas Find out what works

LEACs Types of operators:- Local authority – staff are employees of the authority, Standing Orders apply Charity – forms part of the organisation’s overall work, governed by charities law: may have a trading arm Trading company – charitable or non profit making arm or non profit distributing company Charity – set up solely to operate the Centre

LEACs What was the result of the pilot programme? Were householders influenced by the advice they were given? Answer A resounding YES

Years of Crisis 1996/7 September 1996 – planned termination of project Conservative government – expectation that private industry would fund the project – EST funding reduced from 50% to 40% then 30% Project proven to be successful, extensive market research for each LEAC, some shown to achieve savings of £75 per household pa Summer 1997 – new Labour government - Centres were to be central to achievement of government goals However no additional funding available until 1998 DRIVE TO DIVERSIFY – within operational constraints

Formation of EEACs Re-organisation by EST UK wide network; boundaries reflect local authority areas Consistent and standardised quality of advice Monitoring quality of advice Funding based upon performance (emphasis on HECs) Development of advice infrastructure – presentations, training, media EEACs seek other activities to secure other funding streams Managing energy efficiency projects Provide enhanced EEAC data Organise promotional events Provide training Forming partnerships

Enhancement of EEACs Now an essential element in the delivery of EST projects Energy EfficiencyVerbal and written energy efficiency advice Bespoke presentations and training programmes PR and marketing support Information on national and local grants Advice to SMEs Local Authority Support Programme Renewable Energy Advice These activities are part funded by EST

Other EEAC Activities A very wide variety dependent upon The resources available at that EEAC Operational constraints (local authority, charity, business

Other EEAC Activities Purpose designed insulation package including funding Managing projects which involve partners – e.g. energy supplier, housing association, local authority Non EE training programmes Enhanced data bases, data analysis and marketing promotion planning Energy Services provision to local authority and housing association tenants These activities do not receive funding from EST

Promoting Energy Efficiency Energy Efficiency Week the Anglia West Energy Efficiency Advice Centre and friends

Promoting Energy Efficiency Direct mail shot to 55,000 homes 6 roadshows –Cambridge- Peterborough –Ely- Wisbech –Huntingdon- Newmarket

Promoting Energy Efficiency Direct mail drop –The pack contents Weight Size Marketing – message, promotional offer –Distribution Royal Mail – guaranteed high % coverage Other distributors

Promoting Energy Efficiency Mechanism for handling ‘000’s of responses in short period Follow up response message to go with written report Enable further contact

Promoting Energy Efficiency

A team of 20 people 600 responses on one day

EEAC Achievements 2003/4 Written advice to 615,000 households 4000 presentations 1340 training sessions Total of 768,000 households advised Carbon saved 80 ktonnes Since million households advised