Tech spot: Heat pumps
We about sustainable and renewable technology a lot, so we thought it was high-time we showed you that we know our stuff, while also giving you the insider knowledge to decipher the jargon. This month, in our ‘tech spot’, we’re breaking down heat pumps.
ENERGY CAFE CHRONICLES
Last month we announced our UKPN Power Partners funding for 22 energy cafes across Lambeth, Merton and Wandsworth throughout winter 2019/2020. This funding covers training of our new energy advisors, followed by two successful energy cafes held at Morden Library throughout November.
Community partner feature: sustainable merton
Responding to the climate emergency and reducing fuel poverty will only be solved through communities coming together to share time, experience, knowledge and enthusiasm. CREW Energy is excited to partner with Sustainable Merton on projects within the borough. Below we feature the work of Sustainable Merton and details of how you can get involved.
Reflections on a CREW energy cafe
Last month, we gave a behind-the-scenes intro to our energy cafes. But what does it mean to our volunteers? Here’s a first-hand account from CREW Energy Adviser, Maureen
Sometimes I am truly humbled by the financial resilience I meet during energy cafe exchanges.
When one is unemployed for a period and managing on Universal Credit before recovering from injury and returning to work, one needs the most amazing skills to prioritise which bill to pay, which friend to tap for a loan, which life-enhancing activity to forego in order to survive, just about.
PLUGGING INTO ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Electric vehicles have become an important part of both the fight against air pollution and the move to a low-carbon economy, which is essential for reducing the effects of climate change. EVs aim to replace road vehicles, which use internal combustion engines (ICEs), by instead charging a battery which then delivers power to the motor
Introduction to a CREW energy cafe
Our energy cafes aim to help people get more value for their energy spend. They are run by volunteers trained in giving energy advice and the concept was part of CREW’s very raison d’être.
We meet at venues where there is a significant footfall and talk people through the process of choosing the best-value supplier for their circumstances. We use the Citizens Advice site to do so. This is seldom a simple process because everyone’s situation is different. The poorer you are the trickier it is to get the best deal.
Community Energy Fortnight & London climate action week
July was a big month for the community energy sphere, with Community Energy Fortnight (22 June – 7 July) and London’s very first Climate Action Week (1-7 July).
Throughout the two-week period, CREW members darted from event to event telling Londoners about our ongoing projects and hearing updates from our fellow community energy groups. In particular, we spoke about our LED lighting project at the Community Energy Annual Conference and attended the London Climate Action Week launch.
CREW and devas to work together in 2019
CREW have joined up with Devas Club for our next project. CREW will be helping Devas to become a more sustainable centre, saving money on their energy bills and carbon emissions. We will replace all of their lighting to LEDs, similar to our DRCA project, and also instal a Building Management System (BMS) to help manage the energy performance of the centre.
CREW wins gla funding for devas project
In December 2018 CREW were awarded £12,500 by the GLA’s London Community Energy Fund (Phase 2) to develop our latest LED and BMS project with Devas Club.
CREW were one of 18 community energy projects that have been awarded a total of £182,000 in this second phase of the London Community Energy Fund, covering projects across 13 different London boroughs.
The “CREW” CREW – our re-brand for 2019
We’ve decided to re-brand with a new logo, name and slogan for 2019. “Community Renewable Energy Wandsworth (CREW)” will no longer be the name for the cooperative. As we’ve developed, both in our internal capability and in response to wider trends in the renewable energy industry, we’ve developed a capability beyond just installing renewable energy.