Energising Cities, and the people that live in them Samantha Heath Feb 2016
The Challenge
Provides organisations and networks of individuals with the motivation, knowledge and connections they need to put sustainability into practice Our vision: Of London as the most sustainable world city
London Energy Plan
Motivations and barriers
Motivation and Barriers The Challenge
Disengagement
Community motivators
Christakis
Thinking Fast and Thinking slow
How people use energy in the home.
Our energy poll – 1025 Londoners • 34% of the general population report have friends / family / neighbours nearby who they can rely on • This number goes up to 45% when just looking at of people faith • 70% of the were already involved in or interested in finding out more about community energy, • If you were part of a strong group – i.e. Faith – you more than twice as likely to be interested in community energy
•Energising London (Opening Windows on Climate Change) •Energise Brent
•Warmer Homes LB Hounslow, LB Brent •Green Mosques LB Tower Hamlets, Greenwich etc
“I call them my first Family”.
Consumer Engagement
Habits Adopt more energy efficient practices in the home in a way that reduces energy consumption
Decision Making Make choices to increase the energy efficiency of the home
Switching the TV off standby
Line dry clothes
Boiling the kettle for only one cup of tea
Use energy saving plugs
Leaving taps running for spiritual cleansing
Install double glazing/ a new boiler
What really works
What really works
•57 houses benefitted from retrofits directly benefitting 141 people •Household improvements created a collective annual saving of £2,419 or £42 per household and at least of 12,091kg of CO2e •5,853kg of additional CO2e savings through fitting energy efficient light bulbs
Bengali Muslim Female messenger
• The Imam gives an energy Khutbah to engage people in energy efficiency • Champions are trained receiving materials for retrofits in resources • Champions identify beneficiaries (elders) through trusted sources • Champions visit homes installing retrofits – draught excluders etc. – and give advice to home owners on energy efficiency, particularly thermostat control.
18
Behavioural goals
Targeted behaviour Heating the home – thermostats above 21 Desired Behaviour Improved energy efficiency in the home Explicit expression Increased thermal comfort in the home of what change will occur Thermostat is kept between 18-21 Target audience understand how to use the thermostat effectively and efficiently
Motivation Values, interests and aspirations and drivers
Environmental factors, protection of natural resources and not being wasteful are powerful motivators for Islamic faith. Improved thermal comfort i.e. draught reductions Financial reasons would be a motivation for bill payers to reduce their energy consumption For some, climate change is motivator due to impacts felt in ‘home’ countries "O children of Adam! … eat and drink: but waste not by excess, for Allah loves not the wasters." (Surah 7:31)
“The room heats up much quicker, so we don’t have to put the boiler on for as long as we did before. Also the draft excluders on the door are really helpful” – Project beneficiary
Messenger
“Using the Quran gave it meaning” – Project Champion
The Imams serve as community leaders, and provide religious guidance. As such they are highly respected and influential within the Islamic tradition. The Imam could garner interest with an Energy Khutbah A message from the imam would be taken very seriously especially by the older generations (Young) Women and Men should be recruited as Champions to learn more about energy efficiency in the home and to support elders with basic retrofit insulations Working with influential religious networks and Islamic societies of universities such as LSE, UCL, KCL is key to gaining collaboration and contacts Working with Islamic charities and NGOs such as MADE in Europe
Message
A reminder of the spiritual significance of environmental protection, natural resources and a duty not to be wasteful Save energy at home and in the mosque Education on wider environmental issues, climate change and impacts felts home and abroad Messages in both Bengali and English for the older and younger generations ‘Saving energy saves money’ – message can be used to involve mosque authorities as a mosque is essentially a charity with limited resources
“If the Mosque would design something I would more inclined to do it” - Beneficiary
“My parents can see that it has made a difference, they understand it better” – Project beneficiary
Behavioural change
Engage
Encourage
Exemplify
Enable
Engage Champions in workshops and demonstrations Engage elders with an Energy Khutbah from the Imam Encourage Champions and elders with inspirational speakers and involvement of Muslim organisations. Messages displayed in Bengali and English in the Mosque will help to reinforce the message given by the Imam Champions demonstrate energy saving measures Elders share their experience and savings
Enable Champions through workshops and training Insulation of energy saving measures (draught excluders, radiator reflector panels) in the home Resources and info in English & Bengali
Networks matter so let’s keep in touch…
T: 020 7234 9400 E: Samantha.Heath@ LSx.org.uk www.lsx.org.uk