Partnership and Engagement

How do limbo dancing, landlords and student energy habits link #EnergizeWorcester: a case study on student energy behaviour off campus Katy Boom, University of Worcester Peng Li, Worcester Students’ Union

Turn to the person next to you: 1.Who are you 2.Who do you work for 3.What do you do 4.What would you like to get out from this session

What we hope you will get from this session Brief overview of #EnergizeWorcester - partnership to promote behaviour change and lower energy consumption. Define the issues for landlords and students around energy efficiency in student housing. Lesson learnt so far What are the key challenges Where do we go from here

#EnergizeWorcester in Brief Partnership and Engagement HEFCE Funded Student Green Fund project - £170k over 2 years Students Skills – paid, volunteer, curriculum projects Support landlords to retrofit student houses to improve energy efficiency Encourage students to adopt energy efficient behaviour in privately rented student houses Partnership- Councils, NLA, SmartmetersUK, Eon, ChangeAgents Multiple behaviour change interventions - to compare effectiveness, including installing SMART meters Develop a cost effective model which could be replicated in any university town

Partnership and Engagement Issues Landlords Those with a good relationship with uni/council very engaged Want their properties heated adequately preventing condensation/mould Students Inclusive rents - ‘get their monies worth’ Exclusive – Save money so don’t heat adequately Agree with the principles of project, but no knowledge of how

Partnership and Engagement Key project parameters Number of students trained and accredited as energy advisors/advocates Number of households engaged Number of student tenants reached Amount of energy/carbon/money saved Attitudes to energy saving Energy saving habits maintained

Partnership and Engagement Our approach Recruit and train students as accredited Energy Advocates to support peers with energy advice Feedback system through online software. A bespoke online application gives instant feedback on their home energy consumption Financial incentives to encourage participation and commitment Smart meter installation in selected houses Provide extra-curricular and curricula opportunities to students enhancing employability

Energy Advocates

Partnership and Engagement ‘Curriculum Project’

Partnership and Engagement

Lessons learnt to date 1.Engaging with students on energy issues is a challenge, as it is seen as not a high a priority to many students 2.Students have a significant knowledge gap in energy awareness 3.Assumed financial incentives have not proved to be effective to encourage energy saving: have we offered the ‘right kind’ to attract students 4.A new brand #EnergizeWorcester needs time to gain trust; better to use existing brands? 5.Student Advocate training is highly effective for the individual but is this cost effective?

Partnership and Engagement Three key challenges How to monitor and evaluate a project – not the same parameters we initially expected. How to effectively communicate to students in order to raise awareness and encourage participation – has using students worked? How to encourage effective behaviour change, particularly involving lifestyle change

Partnership and Engagement In groups discuss a challenge Key questions around each challenge are available to prompt discussions. List on flipchart all ideas/actions Decide as a group from the initial list the top three ideas/actions

‘Aha’ moments – In a pilot project if you don’t reach your expected targets don’t despair all is not lost, there is time to refocus Students face a knowledge gap in fully understanding domestic energy use and the importance of energy efficiency. Effecting lifestyle changes, is not easy, takes time and you have to compete for students’ attention Partnership and Engagement