Transcript ASSA Low Carbon Co-operative - Albert Square and St Stephen`s

ASSA Local Energy Network
Working Together to Reduce Energy Costs
and Carbon Emissions
ASSA
• The Albert Square and St Stephens Association (ASSA) is a
residents association representing the interests of the residents
of the conservation area made up of a garden square and four
streets of Victorian terrace housing in South Lambeth, south
west London
• Faced with the challenge of climate change and rising energy
costs, ASSA is implementing a community-based approach to
reduce emissions in our homes by 60%, at zero cost to
residents with the help of a group of commercial and not-forprofit partners.
The Bigger Picture
• We need to reduce CO2 emissions by 60-85% by 2050 to avoid
the significant and irreversible effects of climate change1
• 40% of UK CO2 emissions come from residential and
commercial buildings
• 85% of the current UK housing stock will still be in use in 20502
• 1.5 million of the UK’s 24 million homes are in Conservation
Areas or listed as architecturally important
1. UK Government, International Panel on Climate Change, 2 UK Sustainable Development Commission
Barriers to Home
Improvement
• Why aren’t people improving the efficiency of their old homes?
 Energy efficiency savings (loft insulation, new boiler, lamps etc. ) pay for
themselves over time
 Micro generation (solar pv, heat pumps, solar thermal) can be made to pay
for itself too once grants are included
• We have identified three key barriers:
1. Lack of money
2. Lack of time
3. Lack of knowledge
Addressing the Barriers
1. Monetary: Arrange financing for energy efficiency and
microgeneration (inc. arranging grants) with partner bank and
power & gas provider such that new energy bill including loan
repayment is less than old bill.
2. Time: Work with Green Homes Concierge (GHC) – LDA
funded home energy auditors – to provide a ‘menu of
improvements’ specific to each house, due diligence
contractors and source equipment
3. Knowledge: Back up the above two with suite of training,
communications and support from GHC, power company,
dedicated charities and community networks
Goals
• 60% reduction in GHG emissions through
 20-30% increase in energy efficiency
 20-30% low-carbon energy generation
 10-15% behavioural change
• At zero cost or capital outlay to residents and reduce bills
• Try and engage as many houses and flats as possible
 Scale necessary to collectively bargain and reduce administrative costs
 All owners and tenants benefit from increased home value and/or reduced bills
 Buy-in will require good marketing and hard graft!
Delivery
• Governance: Charity with Management Committee and part-time
coordinator
• Operations: Management Committee select and coordinate
commercial, NGO and community group partners. Coordinator
manages project. Commercial partners are required to commit
additional resources to deliver this innovative demonstration project
• Financing: Improvements funded by personal loans from a high
street bank in coordination with the power and gas company.
Administrative finances for the charity from grant funding
Similar to a traditional Energy Service Company (ESCo) model but
charity only coordinates partners, it does not finance or deliver
energy
Delivery
Energy efficiency and
microgeneration
contractors
£ Pay for
equipment
ASSA Local Energy
Network Charity
with Ltd Company
Subsidiary
Install
equipment
£ Community
Grants
Grant funding
organisations
£ Pay for
equipment
£ Direct Loan
£ Capital & Interest
£ Single
Monthly bill
Payment
vehicle
Power & Gas
Bank
For admin and credit
purposes, bank has
recourse to individuals.
£ Energy payments
Power Company
Also provides energy
advice line and other
support.
Community
Engagement
• Getting everyone involved not just the committed
environmentalists is key to the scheme
• The key innovation of this scheme is that it is delivered from the
ground up – rather than most schemes delivered by companies
or government - this increases trust and acceptance of a new
concept
• We will leverage the following existing networks to deliver the
message:
•
•
•
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Residents association and local events
St Stephen’s Church and related community groups
Local Schools (Reay, Durand and St Stephen’s)
Key landlords (London and Quadrant, NHS Trust)
Existing informal networks – there exists a strong local community
The Bigger Picture II
• This is a small project covering 140 houses and 300 residents
• It is designed to demonstrate that it is possible to achieve
significant improvements in the carbon and energy footprint of
the existing housing stock by leveraging existing community
networks
• If the model works here, we will endeavour to create a legal
template and mentor programme that allows communities
across London and the UK to ‘copy and paste’ our model
Appendix
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Energy Efficiency
Microgeneration
Delivery Partners
Regulatory Background
Financial Example
Energy Efficiency
• 20-30% reductions from energy efficiency
• Engage electricity and/or gas provider to participate
 Both have regulatory obligations to reduce the CO2 emissions of their
customers1
 Get all residents to switch to this provider(s)
• Energy efficiency measures carried out by dedicated company
 Company carries out energy audit then implements energy efficiency
measures such as loft insulation, draught-proofing, newer boiler, CFL lighting,
heating controls etc.
 Economies of scale given homogenous houses on each street
 Ideally, energy savings are guaranteed. These guaranteed savings are like
an income stream and mean up-front funding can be provided and paid out
off over time form the savings
1. UK Carbon Emissions Reduction Target
Micro Renewables
• 20-30% reductions from low carbon energy generation
• Low carbon energy generation comes in many forms…
 Totally renewable energy like solar hot water heating (tubes on south-facing
roofs), solar photo voltaic (these come as tiles that look like slate), ground
source heat pumps (vertical or horizontal trenches)
 Highly efficient solutions such as combined heating and power - boilers that
provide heating and produce electricity
• Low carbon energy can be expensive and have long payback
times but it uses little or no energy once installed. It would be
financed through
 Energy savings
 Grants - there are many, many grants for individual and community
programs
Regulatory Background
• Carbon Emissions Reduction Target
• Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 1 (Households) &
Phase II (Communities)
• Community Energy Savings Programme
• Community Sustainable Energy Programme (National
Lottery/BRE)
• Green Neighbourhoods Initiative (2009)
• Low Carbon Homes Strategy (2009)
Example