Introduction: A Winter of Warmth and Energy Efficiency

This winter, our Carbon Reduction champion, Jessica, has been raising awareness about energy efficiency. She explains how this vital project, developed by our partner organisation, Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy (WWCE), is making a real difference.

The Energy Crisis: Supporting Wiltshire Residents

With continuing high energy prices, it’s been a tough few years for many people. Across Wiltshire, individuals struggle to keep warm in energy-inefficient homes. Citizens Advice data suggests energy debt levels are double what they were going into last winter, at an average of £1,500 per household.

Keeping Warm This Winter: Pop-up Cafes and Community Outreach

The ‘Keeping Warm This Winter’ project uses pop-up energy advice cafes, hosted by community organisations. These cafes raise awareness about energy efficiency, give practical tips, answer questions about making homes more comfortable, and signpost to further support. Last year, the scheme worked with the network of Foodbanks across Wiltshire to provide this crucial advice.

This year the project has partnered with Carer Support Wiltshire to visit their volunteer-led Carer Cafes throughout the county and I’m hoping our new ‘energy bingo’ game will inspire people to take action. It’s been brilliant too, linking in with the Adult Wellbeing groups at the Trust to share tips and advice and make sure participants are aware of the help out there from schemes such as Warm and Safe Wiltshire.  Jessica’s also returned to a number of Foodbanks including Calne, Chippenham and Melksham. 

Following the success of the previous two years taking simple, effective energy advice out to community-groups, it’s great to be out again engaging more people with this winter.  The cafes are an opportunity to provide a friendly, face-to-face advice to groups of people who may find it challenging to access this information and to answer their questions. 

Energy efficiency is a big subject and people are interested in a whole range of issues, from checking loft and cavity wall insulation to the importance of using extractor fans to get rid of damp air and reduce the chance of mould and using Eco-mode cycles on washing machines and dishwashers to save energy.

Making homes more comfortable while reducing energy use is such an important way to lower greenhouse gas emissions, it’s great to help WWCE play a part.