Creative Energy Clubs with Aldgate Solar Power
3
The Pitch
Problem statement
Last April, Aldgate Solar Power installed the first community-owned solar panels in the City of London, on the roof of the Middlesex Street estate. Community energy empowers communities to create a greener and fairer energy future, but the complexity of our energy system and the current crisis means that many people - especially from disadvantaged communities - associate energy with anxiety and fear about affordability and security. Through increasing the local community's understanding of the energy system, we want to empower them to play a part in changing it - through community energy.
Solution
Creative Energy Clubs (CEC) use the power of art and co-creation to bring people together and empower them to get involved in community energy projects. We will co-design 5 CEC with participants, guided by two main themes: - People & the energy system: what can be done medium and long-term at a systemic level (local energy) and short-term at an individual level (support with energy advice efficiency measures) - Community energy & nature: how community energy and urban greening can increase local pride and connection with the built environment We will create beautiful artwork (exhibits, posters, solar lanterns) to be displayed and distributed in public spaces as engagement tools.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
Aldgate Solar Power (ASP) is a community energy co-operative supported by Repowering London - an awared-winning community energy organisation who supports 8 co-operatives across London. Together we have delivered solar panel making and energy tips workshops, engaged with residents of the area, run a logo competition in schools, and raised £11,300 from 34 community investors for our first solar panel installation. Repowering London has successfully delivered Creative Energy Clubs to co-design energy advice materials, and Aldate Solar Power has built a strong local network through engagement residents and community groups.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Labour costs - 7h/workshop in total (preparing/holding/follow-up), with 2 engagement staff members @£15/hour | £1,050 |
| Material costs - £96/workshop | £480 |
| Venue hire - £36/h (booking of 4h on average for each workshop) | £720 |
| Printing, distribution and display costs - £500 across all 5 workshops | £500 |
| Catering costs - £250 across all 5 workshops | £250 |
Beneficiaries
60 people
Expected impact
For these 5 Creative Energy Clubs, we will use significant time and resources to recruit a wide range of participants among the local community: parents and their children, residents of the Middlesex Street and neighbourhing estates, and eldlerly residents. This will be an opportunity for Aldgate Solar Power to strengthen its relationships with local community groups and residents associations. CEC will use the power of art and co-creation to bring people together and empower them to get involved in community energy projects. We will measures our impact through survey, and follow-up with participants to get them involved in Aldgate Solar Power. By increasing local engagement, we will grow Aldgate Solar Power into a thriving co-operative and scale up our activity by creating more community energy projects. These CEC will enable participants to create together artwork they can be proud of, increase their understanding of the energy system - and show how we have the power to change it
Track record
Repowering London has run several Creative Energy Club in the past years, and participants have produced beautiful engagement materials on energy advice that we can share separately. We will measure our impact through involvement in Aldgate Solar Power (recruitment of new members) and qualitative surveys pre and post workshops.