SouthmeadEnergyandRetrofitSpecial
HEALTHYHOMES, HOPEFULPLANET
By:EllaTainton ClimateandNatureAc�onCoordinator SouthmeadDevTrust
Wehavefinallyhitthe Autumna�eroneofthe UK’sho�estanddriestsummers.The eveningsarestar�ngearlier,and wearehavingtoconsider raincoats,jumpers,and centralhea�ng.Likeme, youmightbesomeone whoresistsfiringupthe boilerun�lthedepths ofWinter,butisthatthe bestthing todo?
InSouthmead’s CommunityClimateAc�onPlan residentshighlightedimportant priori�esaroundenergyand buildings.Theseincludedwan�ngto feelsupportedtoimproveenergy
efficiencyandreducebills,make upgradesathome,seemore renewableenergybeingmadelocally, andforcommunitybuildingstobe environmentallyfriendly.Allofthis cansupportustohavewarmer homesinwinterandcooler homesinSummer.
HereattheTrustwe feltthatthesethingswere importantandinteres�ng toexploreinmoredepth. Howwefeelathomeand inourcommunityspaces hasabigimpactonour healthandwellbeing. Achangingclimatealsomeans wearemorelikelytoseeheatwaves, storms,and“wind-driven”rain.These canalltakeatollonourhomesand
INSIDE
P.2Whatis“retrofit”?
P.3Whatdidwedo,whatdid wefind?
P.4TomandAmy’sWrapUp P.6CentreforSustainable Energy
P.7Whattolookoutforat home
P.8Tipsandtricksfor caringforyourhome
P.10HearfromaSouthmead EnergyChampion
P.11TheGreenRegister’s RetrofitTrailercomesto Greenway
P.12RetrofitWest
<con�nuedfromfront
healththroughdamp,flooding,and overhea�ng.Wewantthecommunity tofeelliketheyhavethetoolstodeal withthechangesweareexperiencing.
Wereceivedfundingfrom InnovateUKtobepartofthe TransformingEnergy Togetherproject.Our aimwastoexplorewhat theresidentsof Southmeadwantand needinrela�onto energy.Whatcould supportresidentsto makechangesathome? Whatarethechallengesto takingac�on?Whatcoolthings haveresidentsdonealready?Are thereideaswhichcouldimproveour homesandstreets?
everythingwehavedonein Southmeadonthenextpage).
Attheendwewillhavealong listofprojectideassowecanstart lookingforinvestmentandget startedonmakingourhomes andcommunityfeeling morecomfortableand resilient.In Southmeadwe wouldliketofocus onretrofi�ng homes,greenskills foryoungpeople, andmakingGreenway Centrefitforthefuture. Morewidelyinthe communitytherewerelotsof goodideaslikecarparksolarcanopies, raingardens,andplan�ngmoretrees forshade.
themonpages4and5 andreadmoreabout theirexperienceonthe project.
Ithasbeenareal privilegetolistento everyone’sstoriesand experiences,bothposi�veand nega�ve,aboutourhomesandthe ac�onresidentshavetaken.Collec�ng thisisvitalwhenwemakeproject plans.Ihavealsolovedworkingwith ouryoungpeopletointroducegreen skills,makeafilmtocelebrateThe Ranch,andexplorewhatsortoffuture wewantforourselvesandthe community.Theyarecrea�ve,driven, andcaring–justwhatweneedforthe futureworld!
Ourpartnersontheprojectwere theCentreforSustainableEnergyand BristolCityCouncil,alongwithtwo othercommunityorganisa�onsEastsideCommunityTrustandKnowle WestMediaCentre.Togetherwehave beencollec�ngstoriesand informa�onandsharingresourcesto understandourresidents’experiences (youcanseeabreakdownof
Weweresuperluckytofindtwo residentswhowerekeentostrikeup theseconversa�onssowecouldreach evenmorepeople.WehiredAmyand TomjustbeforeChristmasandthey havedoneafantas�cjobofpopping upandknockingdoorstolistentoour viewsaswellasgivingout500 thermometersandhygrometersfor residentstounderstandmoreabout theirhomes.Youcanfindmorefrom
Thisspecialedi�onofTheMeadis toshareafewupdatesaboutthe project.Youwillfindsome�psfor monitoringandmanagingyourhome onpages7,8and9.Youcanalsofind moreinforma�onfromkeypartners onpages6,11and12whocanprovide energyandretrofitadviceinBristol. FormoreinfoonourClimateand Natureworkdogetintouchwithme, tel:01179503335oremail: ellatainton@southmead.org
CelebratingTenMonthsofTom
By:AmyPrice Climate&CommunityEngagement Worker,SouthmeadDevTrust
Mybriefyetmemorable�me attheTrusthastaughtmea lotabouttheSouthmeadcommunity andtheongoingenergycrisisthatwe arecollec�velytacklingwithinour homes.
Ge�ngoutandabout, communica�ngandlisteningtothe voicesofSouthmead,withmy colleagueTom,hasenabledmeto connectandempathisewithresidents. Acorepartofourengagementhas beentryingtounderstandthewants andneedsofthisareaandarguably, mostimportantly,makesurethat Southmeadresidentsfeelheard.
Wehavebeencollec�ngyour thoughtsandexperiencesabout energyathome.Wewantedtohear fromasmanypeopleaspossible.The resultshavebeenveryvaried,andat �messurprisingandhumbling.They showsomeofthetruestoriesof Southmeadandthatitreallyisbuilton communityandconnec�on.
Weallneedhelpathome, whetherthatbefinancially,theneed formoreinforma�on,ortomake changessohomeismorehomely.Our a�empttotacklesuchissuesthrough
Tes�ngthewaterfromthe riverTrymandpond dippingwithEmilyfrom StudentsOrganisingFor Sustainability’sBlue Influencers. Emilyalsoorganisedabeach tripwherelotsofouryoung peopleenjoyedadayin Brean!
acombina�onofgroups,pop-ups,and door-knockingengagement hashopefullyhelped residentsthrough signpos�ngand connec�ngpeers. Ithasalso generatedlotsof ideaswhichthe Trustcanexplore asfuture projects.
Wehave linkedupwith organisa�onslikethe CentreforSustainable EnergyandBristolEnergy Networkforadviceonenergy support,runningworkshopsand helpingusknockdoors.WhileBristol TreeCra�,RisingArtsAgency,and StudentsOrganisingFor Sustainability’sBlueInfluencershave runinterac�vesessionsatThe Ranch,tointroduceanddevelop youngpeople’sgreenskills,and considerwhathomeand environmentmeanstous.
conversa�onsinTomandmine’s absenceandwehopewe havegottheball rolling.TheTrustisa community-driven organisa�onso weencourage everyoneto keepcoming tothecentres, sharingtheir experiences, andworking togethertotake ac�oninthe community. Some�mesallittakesisa passingsmile,awave,or friendlyhellointhecafétostartthat process,sodonotbeshy!
Itisimportantwe con�nuehavingthese
Makingabigjellyfishart installa�onoutofrecycled materialswithEmilyfromBristol TreeCra�.Thesearenow hanginginthetreesatThe Ranch!
andAmyatGreenwayCentre
By:TomSollars Climate&CommunityEngagement Worker,SouthmeadDevTrust
WorkingattheTrusthas givenmethe opportunitytoexplorea wholenewsectorin climateand community engagement.Before, Iworkedasashop assistant,hospitality workerandteaching assistant.Thisrolehas helpedmetocombineall theskillsIhavelearnedintoa ‘greenjob’.
Alongaspira�onofminehasbeen tosecureajobinthegreensector,but Ifoundthischallengingduetomy financialandeduca�onalhistory. Barrierssuchas�meandmoneymade ithardformetorealisemyselfasa greenadvocate,buttheTrustsaw thepassionIhadforthecause andofferedmearole.
Duringmy�meattheTrust, Ihavemadenewfriendsinmy colleagues,discoveredamazing Southmeadeventslikethe Fes�val(didyouseeouramazing modelhouse?)andexploredour
beau�fulwardmorewidelythanever before.Ihavealwayslovedcha�ng topeopleandIamaself-proclaimed cha�erbox!Ahighlightofmy rolehasbeenorganising pop-upsanddoor knockingeventsto understandpeoples livedexperienceof energyusagewithin theirhome.
SinceIlive inSouthmead, thishasbeen verypersonalto meandlotsofwhat residentshavesaidhas resonateddeeply.Ihope thatmy�meontheproject hashelpedpeopleto understandwhattheyareable todotoreduce energyuse,or giventhemthe knowledgeto requestitfrom theirhousing provider.
My�me spentatThe Ranchilluminated
howthestrugglethatIexperiencedin findingagreenjob,oraligningmy skillswithgreencareers,iss�llathing foryoungpeopletoday.Partofour effortshavebeentoensurethatyoung peoplestarttomakethese connec�onsandunderstandthatall jobscanbemadegreener,andalltheir skillsaretransferable.Therehasbeen lotsofinterestingardening,making, andtheyhavebeencocrea�ngafilmwith ar�stsat Wednesdaynight youthsessions. Therehas beensomuch valueinincluding thecommunityin ourdecisionmaking.Witha historiccouncilestate beingourbase,wehavebeensureto beawareofbarriersthatcould preventpeoplefrommovingto renewableenergyorretrofi�ngtheir homes.Ourvisionistoworkwiththe communitytocreatesomethingwe canallbeproudof,projectswhichare peopleandplanetfriendly.
Contact us for energy advice
We can help you:
Access funding and grants to make your home warmer.
Save money on your gas, electricity or water bills.
Make your cold, damp or draughty home warmer and healthier.
Fix or upgrade your heating system.
For a free home energy health check, call 0800 082 2234, email home.energy@cse.org.uk or fill in the form by scanning the QR code:
“ I learnt so much and the knowledge I gained has made me feel so relieved. A warm bungalow at last. ”
Extract from a letter from a caller to the energy advice line.
ResidentsTakeActiononEnergy
Our EnergyChampion programmesupportslocal peopletotakeac�on aroundtheirenergy issuesathome,and enablesthemto engagearound energyissues withintheir communi�es. Throughthe offerofafree thermal imagingsurvey, prac�cal workshops,and volunteering opportuni�es,par�cipants havebeenabletolearnabout howtheycanreduceenergyissuesin theirhome,andshareprac�caladvice withothers.
Ini�ally,shewasofferedan EnergyTrace,athermalsurveywhich iden�fiescoldspotsanddraughtsin ahome,aswellasseekingout theunderlyingcauses aroundthingslike dampandmould.
ForDi,the thermalimaging survey confirmedthat manyofthe stepsshehad alreadytaken, likeupgrading windowsand doors,were workingwell.Italso uncoveredsmallareas forimprovement,likeminor gapsanddraughts,whichDihassince tackled.
andhasa�endedcommunityevents atGreenwayCentreandSPARKSin town,sharingherknowledgeand exper�sewithmembersofthe public.
Ifyouareinspiredbyhearing aboutDi’sexperience,BristolEnergy NetworkisofferingfreeDIYdraughtproofingkitssoyoucangetstarted. Thereisahandyguideincludedto showyouhowtoapplyallthe materialsaroundyourhome.You cangetintouchwithEllatocollect thesefromGreenway,email: ellatainton@southmead,orcall0117 9503335.
DiisoneoftheSouthmeadEnergy ChampionswhoBristolEnergy Networkhasbeensuppor�ng.She spoketousaboutherexperienceof theprogramme.
FollowingonfromtheEnergy Trace,Diwasinvitedtoourfour-part workshopserieswhichtookplaceat GreenwayCentre.
Inspiredbytheclearandhelpful advice,shesigneduptovolunteer,
Location: Southmead Repair Cafe, Greenway Centre, BS10 5PY
Date: Saturday 25 October 12:00 — 15:00 th
