Why not have a browse of the following reports and publications that we have written or produced, or to which we have contributed. Use the menu on the right to select reports or publications by theme
Smart meters have the potential to deliver significant benefits, but the programme for their introduction runs a high risk of failure. This report was written by CSE for consumer champions, Which? | November 2011
Click here to download (PDF file 431kB)
This report examines the current plans for the roll-out and operation of smart meters, and measures the plans against a range of consumer-oriented objectives (e.g. low costs, a confidence-inspiring roll-out process and a fair share of the benefits). But the report concludes that without remedy, the smart-meter programme may fall short, leading to consumer resistance and/or surrendering the bulk of the benefits to energy suppliers.
Written by Simon Roberts and Zoe Redgrove | November 2011
An analysis of English Housing Survey (EHS, 2007-08) data to understand more about the geography, occupancy and general characteristics of England's hard-to-treat housing stock
Click here to download (PDF file 246kB)
38% of English housing stock is considered hard-to-treat (defined as having no mains gas heating system and/or a solid wall property).
CSE has analysed English Housing Survey (EHS, 2007-08) data to understand a little more about the make-up, nature, geography, occupancy and general characteristics of England's HTT housing stock.
Internal research paper | November 2011
A research paper commissioned by CSE drawing on peer-reviewed articles and government-funded analysis to address some of the concerns that are expressed in relation to wind power.
Click here to download (PDF file 288kB)
Produced by CSE as part of PlanLoCaL (www.planlocal.org.uk). It was written in response to requests from community groups for factual information about wind energy, in part to counter the many myths and misconceptions surrounding this technology.
Published May 2011
Understanding the energy consumption patterns of low income households.
Click here to download (PDF file 732kB)
Final report to Ofgem, prepared by Vicki White, with Simon Roberts and Ian Preston (all Centre for Sustainable Energy).
Published November 2010
In-depth study which reveals that the costs of policies designed to tackle climate change are likely to be borne disproportionately by low-income groups | July 2010
Click here to download (PDF file 2MB)
In-depth study which reveals that the costs of policies designed to tackle climate change are likely to be borne disproportionately by the poor.
Prepared on behalf of Eaga Charitable Trust by Ian Preston and Vicki White (CSE) and Pedro Guertler (Association for the Conservation of Energy).
July 2010
Describes the results of a consultation designed to explore the attitudes to improving the energy performance of traditional buildings in the city of Bath | November 2010
Click here to download (PDF file 2MB)
Describes the results of a consultation designed to explore the attitudes to improving the energy performance of traditional buildings in the city of Bath. The results will inform the development of practical guidance about upgrading the diverse range of historic and traditional (solid wall) buildings in Bath.
Produced by CSE and the Bath Preservation Trust. Written by Will Anderson (CSE)
November 2010
How can prospective systems of personal carbon trading be tweaked to protect low-income households? | August 2009
Click here to download (PDF file 539kB)
CSE's research (Distributional Impacts of Personal Carbon Trading - see below) showed that a system based on an equal allocation of carbon allowances to every adult is broadly fair, but that a small proportion of low-income households would be made worse off.
This report, by Vicki White and Joshua Thumim for the Institute for Public Policy Research, aimed to find out how the system could be tweaked in order to moderate the negative impacts on low-income households.
August 2009
Smart meters: what should they look like, and how should they work? | October 2009
Click here to download (PDF file 2MB)
This study sought to define a core specification for real-time energy displays (smart meters) derived from a qualitative investigation of consumer experience of the gadgets currently available on the market.
Written by Will Anderson and Vicki White (both Centre for Sustainable Energy) on behalf on the Energy Saving Trust, the study was based on focus-groups plus literature reviews by Clive Frankish (University of Bristol) and Sarah Darby (University of Oxford).
October 2009
Final Report to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs | February 2008
Click here to download (PDF file 384kB)
Initially Accenture were commissioned by Defra to undertake an analysis of the technical feasibility and potential cost of a Personal Carbon Trading scheme.
The findings in the study provide a basis for further investigation into the feasibility and cost of this type of Personal Carbon Trading scheme and the opportunity to consider alternatives. The report highlights some of the next steps Defra might take if either of these paths were pursued.
Produced for CSE by Simon Roberts and Josh Thumin.
February 2008
Personal Carbon Trading: if such a policy came to pass, who'd win, and who'd lose? Published by Defra | March 2008
Click here to download (PDF file 474kB)
This report builds on CSE's earlier work for Defra (see A Rough Guide to Individual Carbon Trading) and attempts to identify the distributional impacts that would emerge in the event of the introduction of a Personal Carbon Trading scheme. It looks at the likely winners and losers in different income groups, across geographical area and by household composition.
Written by Joshua Thumim and Vicki White (both Centre for Sustainable Energy)
March 2008