Think Big (Build It Greener)

Background

Home improvement has become something of a national obsession in the UK, with high profile media coverage on television programmes, supported by books, magazines and newspaper articles. This coverage not only markets the fashion and lifestyle aspects of home improvement but also promotes the concept of adding value to the property by carrying out quality renovations.

Energy efficiency measures should be an integral part of home improvement because they can improve comfort and reduce running costs. However energy efficiency has yet to be widely accepted as a mainstream part of DIY and there is no strongly established perception that investment in energy efficiency measures adds value to a home.

SWEA developed Think BIG to strengthen the connection between home improvement, energy efficiency and increasing the market value of the home. This involved working with a new set of project partners in the DIY and home improvement industry, leading to an EST-funded feasibility study prior to the full implementation.

Think BIG complemented existing energy efficiency advice and grants provision by targeting the “able-to-pay” sector, where fewer installed grants are available to householders although greater carbon savings can be made.

Aims

The implementation phase of Think BIG aimed to:

Raise awareness of the ease with which householders can install simple energy efficiency measures on a DIY basis and the cost effectiveness of this approach
Encourage the installation of carbon saving measures when carrying out home improvements

Activities

The first step was to develop a marketing campaign for carbon saving measures aimed at the home improvement sector – an entirely new target audience. New materials were developed including fact sheets specifically covering DIY installations and these were incorporated into the existing package of advice services provided by the EEACs.

Each EEAC sought to develop partnerships with local retailers in the home improvement sector to promote carbon saving measures. Various promotional activities were carried out throughout the South West of England including launch events at major shows in each EEAC area, such as the Ideal Home shows.

A 25% cashback grant was offered for DIY energy efficiency measures including loft insulation, draught proofing, solid wall insulation, lighting, hot water tank jackets and pipe insulation. There was an excellent response to this offer, with almost 1,000 applications comprising a wide range of materials and measures installed. This showed that there is a high level of interest in DIY energy efficiency home improvements.

The materials and techniques developed for the project will continue to be available to the population of the South West via the EEACs together with wider energy saving advice and referrals

Partners

The project was developed and managed by Severn Wye Energy Agency. Other contributing partners on the project were; the six Energy Efficiency Advice Centres in the South West of England and local authorities in Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, Dorset and Wiltshire. The project was funded by the Energy Saving Trust’s Innovations programme.

Key points

Developed and managed by SWEA

Delivered in partnership with Energy Efficiency Advice Centres (EEACs) across the South West of England

943 varied energy efficiency measures were installed

2,474 tonnes of carbon saved over the lifetime of these measures

To find out more contact