“The workshops are worth their weight in gold.”

Di has always been passionate about energy saving. Within months of moving into her home over two decades ago, she had already installed cavity wall and loft insulation; now,  Di has solar panels on her roof, and was keen to understand more about the grants available to continue making improvements. She was not familiar with our work at Bristol Energy Network, but attended an event at the Greenway Centre and met the us there. As a result of her discussions, she ended up attending a series of workshops and becoming an Energy Champion. 

“I’ve always been conscious of energy conservation,” she said. “But the workshops were full of surprises - like how effective secondary glazing can be. I’ve also applied the knowledge about draught excluders and radiators on internal walls. It’s amazing how little changes can add up. Look after your pennies, and the pounds look after themselves."

Inspired by the clear and helpful advice, she signed up to volunteer, and has attended community events at Greenway and SPARKS, sharing her knowledge and expertise with members of the public. 

“Volunteering has been an amazing experience,” Di shared. “At first, I wasn’t thinking about the bigger picture, but through the workshops, I realised how much I could contribute. The more volunteering I do, the more confident I become. My brain is like a sponge – the more I learn, the more I feel equipped to help.”

Understanding draught-proofing and more through
workshops 

As part of the workshop series, Di attended sessions focused on draught-proofing, which gave
Di new insights into energy-saving techniques and a chance to meet others in the community.

Feeling confident, Di took the next step, thinking about ways she could get involved in her community:

“You learn so much and gain a network of people to turn to for advice. If you have a foot in the door,
you can widen your knowledge and make a real difference - not just in your own home, but in your
community, too."

For Di, the workshops are a key part of being an energy champion: “The workshops are worth
their weight in gold. They’re great for meeting local people, hearing their stories, and learning
things you can actually go home and try.”

What I’ve taken away from the programme…

The Energy Champion Programme has been an incredible journey of learning and empowerment. It has given me the tools to not only improve energy efficiency in my own home but also to contribute meaningfully to my community. I’ve become more confident in identifying and addressing energy inefficiencies, but more importantly, I feel equipped to inspire others to do the same. 

What I learned from the team in Bristol Energy Network community is whether it’s running workshops, organizing community retrofitting events, or simply sharing knowledge with neighbours, every action counts. Together, we can create a greener, more sustainable future! If you’re considering joining the Energy Champion Programme or a similar initiative in the future, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s not just about learning—it’s about creating meaningful change in your home, your community, and beyond.

Experience of an Energy Trace

As an Energy Champion, Di was entitled to an Energy Trace; essentially an assessment of her home by a qualified Energy Tracer using a thermal imaging camera to identify pockets of heat loss and draughts. As well as the assessment, the energy trace provides a report with practical guidance to fix relevant issues like leaks and air gaps. 

For Di, the thermal imaging survey confirmed that many of the steps she’d already taken, like upgrading windows and doors, were working well. It also uncovered small areas for improvement, like minor gaps and draughts, which Di has since tackled.

“The Energy Trace was fantastic.” Di said. “It was great to follow the Energy Tracer around and see the contrast of hotter and colder areas on the screen. Knowing that the improvements I’d made were effective was such a relief. I’d really recommend it to anyone.”

Di’s top tips for improving home energy efficiency and getting involved with community energy action

1. Get an Energy Trace if you can: This helped Di to learn about simple solutions such as optimising radiator placement and using draught excluders, which can increase comfort and reduce leakage of heat.

2. Try small things which can make a big difference: While they may seem small in the scheme of things, when tackled together they can make a real difference. From filling gaps with sealant or putting bubble wrap around outlets, the little changes add up.

3. Share your knowledge far and wide: It’s impossible to know what you don’t know - so programmes such as the Energy Champions scheme are essential for sharing knowledge, resources and information about grants - as well as connecting and meeting new people.