Community Energy Fortnight 2024: empowering our community

As we embrace the peak of summertime (although the weather may not be reflecting this) we have also entered the second week of Community Energy Fortnight, a nationwide campaign involving hundreds of organisations to showcase all things good about community energy.

This year's theme is #EmpowerCommunityEnergy, so we thought we'd shine a light on some of the ways our community energy group is empowering our community to take control of their energy usage, reduce costs and carbon!

Running from 1-14 July, this year’s Community Energy Fortnight theme of empowerment provides a valuable opportunity for participating organisations like CREW Energy to reinforce our commitment to serving local communities in South West London, and to support the development of a low-cost carbon energy future that is good for the people and the environment. 

About community energy​

​Community energy is a way for local communities to generate and use their own energy, often through renewable sources like solar, wind, or hydropower. It involves people working together to create energy projects that benefit their local area, reduce carbon emissions, and promote sustainability. These projects can help save money on energy bills, support local economies, and provide cleaner air and a healthier environment. Essentially, it's about taking control of energy production at a local level to create a more sustainable and self-sufficient community. 
Here at CREW, we support building up our community energy and reducing emissions mainly through:

• Free energy advice
• Home and business energy audits
• Winter warm packs
• Installing low-carbon tech

How CREW Energy is empowering our community​

1. Reaching the harder-to-reach
   Our free, impartial energy advice is here to help the community, including vulnerable and harder-to-reach groups. We want to make energy efficiency accessible to everyone, especially those who may not have the resources or knowledge to make changes on their own.
   
   
2. Cleaner air and green changes
   Fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, e.g. those emitted through our traditional gas boilers, still make up the majority of the world’s energy source and are the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. By introducing renewable energy sources in third-sector and community buildings, such as heat pumps and solar panels, or using our energy more efficiently through building management systems and energy-efficient retrofits, we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and improve air quality in our local area. 
   
   
3. Supporting both homes and businesses
   CREW Energy helps residents make their homes more energy efficient by offering energy audits, advice on insulation, and recommending energy-efficient appliances. Our South West London Energy Advice Partnership (SWLEAP) offers free home visits for eligible households, where our trained Energy Advisors can provide you with a personalised energy-saving report with tips to maximise energy bill reductions. For Kingston residents, we have just announced a new, half-price home energy audit for just £150.

We also help local businesses in reducing their carbon footprint through energy audits, recommending low-cost technologies that can help reduce consumption, and introducing the types of support that your business is entitled to.
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Community energy projects can lead to lower energy bills and keep financial benefits within the local area, supporting local economies. These projects also bring people together, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. 

Join us in saving energy, reducing costs and creating a sustainable future! Get in touch to learn more about our services, our friendly team will be happy to help you make greener and more economical choices for your home or business.