Green guru - how to save energy

Green Doctor is a national programme developed by the environmental and community charity Groundwork to provide advice to vulnerable households on saving energy and greener living. Energy advisors known as Green Doctors offer home visits and advice on using energy to show people how to make their homes more environmentally friendly and cheaper to run.

The scheme is particularly relevant to housing associations tackling financial exclusion and supporting residents to tackle fuel poverty. Earlier this month energy watchdog Ofgem predicted more and more people would suffer fuel poverty in the coming decade.

So how does Green Doctor work? In Birmingham, Green Doctor is delivered to homes through a partnership which brings together the Birmingham Environmental Partnership, Birmingham Council, Groundwork West Midlands, Moseley Community Development Trust and Family Housing Association, each contributing different skills, knowledge and experience to the scheme. Family Housing Association is its lead partner - here are its tips for eco-medical success:

Don’t try to go it alone

Identify key partners and the strengths they can bring to the project, such as specialist eco-knowledge, awareness of funding sources, ability to calculate savings and access to potential beneficiaries.

Money talks

The main focus of the project does not have to be on the environmental gains - the idea of reducing bills changes people’s behaviour. By highlighting potential financial savings and reducing fuel poverty alongside the green theme you will gain more interest.

Know your community

Understand the profile of the people you are targeting, the geographical areas, and have an awareness of other local projects. Develop links with existing agencies, such as community and faith groups, doctors’ surgeries and schools, to build awareness and trust.

Happy shoppers

By making sure customers are satisfied with your service, you make it more likely they will recommend Green Doctors to others. The households that you help will become your eco-ambassadors and spread the word about the scheme among the community.

Signpost other schemes

Help customers by pointing them towards other schemes with similar eco and financial benefits. We have links with Birmingham Council to encourage people to recycle by ordering customers recycling boxes if they have misplaced theirs, and explaining how to use them.

Stand out from the crowd

People are bombarded with information - why are they going to want to get involved in your scheme? One way is by offering incentives: we ran a quarterly prize draw to win an energy efficient fridge freezer or washing machine.

Family Housing Association delivers a wide range of community investment/regeneration activities to improve the quality of life of residents living in deprived areas. This includes being the lead delivery agency on the multi-award winning Summerfield Eco Village partnership.
For more information on how housing associations can use such schemes, visit www.family-housing.co.uk

Groundwork has vast experience in this work and is conducting Green Doctor programmes in Leicester, Leeds, Thames Valley, London, and South Wales as well as in the West Midlands. Groundwork aims to replicate the programme in other locations in partnership with housing providers, local authorities and other local partners. For more information, visit www.groundwork.org.uk

Claire Hardwick is head of community investment at Family Housing Association. Phil Beardmore is climate change development manager at Groundwork West Midlands.

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