Energy advice
2025 saw the completion of the two-year Local Energy Advice Demonstrator programme.
This nationally funded scheme saw the Hub oversee delivery of six projects testing new approaches to giving in-person energy advice to hard-to-reach communities and residents in hard-to-treat properties.
The UK has the oldest building stock in Europe, and in-person visits can better capture the complexities of older homes compared to digital and telephone advice. Some communities have also traditionally missed out on energy advice – including the elderly, people with limited internet access and residents with limited English-language skills.
As one Northumberland resident put it: ‘“We were so grateful to receive free, independent and helpful advice about our home. It can be difficult to know where to start, but our advisor was so helpful. This is an amazing service.”
The programme saw over 5000 people get advice on lowering their energy bills which keeping their homes warmer and healthier, and over 1000 of them went on to improve their homes as a result. The learning from the project will inform future national and local advice schemes.