PROJECT OVERVIEW

Home Energy Neighbourhoods

We’re helping people join forces with neighbours to improve energy efficiency in their homes, together.

Why does this project matter?

Making your home more energy efficient can feel overwhelming, especially when tackling it alone. That’s why we’re piloting the Home Energy Neighbourhood project, a collaborative approach where you and your neighbours work together to upgrade energy efficiency in similar homes. At BWCE, this sort of approach is at the heart of our mission as a non-profit community organisation.

Our project aims

Our goal is to explore whether working with groups of similar homes can save time, reduce costs, and make the process of energy upgrades more manageable – and even enjoyable – for everyone involved!

  • Each household can access this detailed energy survey for a discounted rate of £45 (RRP £420). Learn more about Home Energy Efficiency Plans.

    • To help us put together your survey report, your home will need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). If your EPC is outdated or missing, we can create one for an additional £85. You can check if you have an EPC on the gov.uk website.

    • If your home is a listed building we offer further options, such as advice on getting listed building consent. Let us know, we’re happy to discuss.

  • After the surveys are complete, you and your neighbours will gather at one of your homes to:

    • Review the survey results

    • Explore opportunities for joint quotes on upgrades like heat pumps, insulation or windows

    • Discuss next steps for planning or listed building applications.

    A BWCE energy assessor will facilitate the session and provide guidance, and you’ll receive a small catering budget for refreshments.

What is a Home Energy Neighbourhood?

By being part of a Home Energy Neighbourhood, participants receive:

Who can join?

We’re supporting six Home Energy Neighbourhood groups between now and October 2025. If you and at least three other households in your area complete the sign-up form below, we’ll assess your eligibility and contact you to book your surveys.

Our funding

We are funded through the Centre for Sustainable Energy’s Open Homes project, through a grant from the Local Energy Advice Demonstrator Fund which is administered by the South West Net Zero Hub. We are also funded by a Retrofit West community grant.