Our training brings together our expertise in energy advice, our hands-on, practical knowledge and our innovative research projects to create sessions that are comprehensive, fresh and grounded in practice.

Our courses are open to all, they are equally suited for the seasoned energy advisor who wants to expand their knowledge, or for someone with no prior knowledge of energy at all.

We are a CPD accredited organisation, and some of our courses are CPD certified.

Current courses

Our currently available courses include:

• Retrofit and Smart Energy Essentials

• Domestic Energy Essentials (CPD certified)

• Community Action on Energy courses and bespoke training

Retrofit and smart energy essentials

This one-day training session for frontline advisors offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of domestic retrofit, smart energy technology and low carbon household energy use. We have developed this training for all advisors regardless of their prior knowledge or expertise, so that they can confidently support people in vulnerable circumstances to join in with the smart energy transition.

Our trainers are experienced retrofit advisors or smart energy advisors who have a deep understanding of the subject matter and the barriers to smart energy and retrofit.

The practical knowledge gained from this course will help both advisors and the people they support to make informed choices and be able to participate in the shift to the UK’s future smart energy system.

The course includes 3 modules, which can either be presented as a whole or purchased individually:

Module 1: Understanding Retrofit (3 hours) – CPD Certified

• The role of retrofit as part of the UK decarbonisation plan.
• Operational and embodied carbon in retrofit.
• Updated thinking on the energy hierarchy.
• Regulations which apply to retrofit.
• Understanding the building; property types, and why this matters.
• The importance of maintenance, draughtproofing, and insulation.
• Choosing appropriate ventilation.

Module 2: Smart Energy Use in the Home (2 hours)

• Why carbon matters.
• Operational and embodied carbon.
• Renewable electricity and the grid.
• Flexing usage: why and how.
• Time of use and smart tariffs, demand shifting schemes.
• Smart technologies and products for the home.
• Electric vehicles.
• How to understand and overcome the needs, limitations and barriers for householders.

Module 3: Low Carbon Heating and Home Energy Generation (2 hours)

• Why carbon matters in heating and home energy generation.
• Operational and embodied carbon.
• Changing technology to support the grid.
• Low carbon heating options with a focus on heat pumps.
• Other low-carbon heating options including night storage heaters, heat batteries and district heating.
• Less sustainable alternatives including biomass, infrared and hydrogen.
• Renewable technologies for home energy generation: solar, solar diverters, battery storage and wind.

Domestic energy essentials – CPD Certified

This CPD-certified training will help individuals and organisations who work with low-income families and support them to stay warm, healthy and out of debt.

This training will be particularly valuable for those working with vulnerable clients who struggle to maintain a basic quality of life through being unable to heat their homes or afford their household bills. It will be useful even if your primary reason for visiting vulnerable clients is not about energy usage.

This 2.5-hour course is both in-person and online. It has one module which covers the fundamentals of fuel poverty, energy efficiency and giving energy advice.

• How to recognise that someone is in fuel poverty.
• Health and social impacts of living in a cold home.
• Advice on using heating and hot water controls.
• Dealing with electricity and gas suppliers.
• Making the home more energy efficient.
• Tackling damp and mould.
• How to give energy efficiency advice to the people you support.
• Accessing further support.

All our trainers are talented fuel poverty experts who have practical experience working with vulnerable customers and delivering advice across the industry to fight against fuel poverty.

Tickets

Anyone from a not-for-profit organisation can attend this training for free. Those from other organisation types can access the training for a donation – we recommend between £15 and £20.

Upcoming sessions

The next session is online on Wednesday 29th April (10:00am to 12:30pm), details can be found on our Eventbrite page.

Further online dates will be announced soon.

Community Action on Energy

We also deliver training to support community level action on energy, with half day or whole day courses on:
• Energy champions
• Energy efficiency in community buildings

Energy champions interactive session:

• The role of an energy champion
• Bills, meters and switching tariffs
• Heating systems and controls
• Insulation and draught proofing
• Damp, mould and condensation
• Energy saving tips, appliances and lighting
• Tenant rights and engaging with landlords
• Signposting and referrals

Energy efficiency in community buildings:

• How to look at and understand buildings
• Common issues, repair and maintenance
• Considerations for healthier, sustainable, resilient buildings
• Heating and ventilation 
• Solar panels and batteries
• Listed buildings and conservation areas
• People, energy, buildings, and climate
• What to look for in a good survey, and questions to ask installers

We can deliver bespoke training  on a range of topics, including Engagement and Communication; Sustainability Action Planning; Identifying Opportunities in your Local Area, and on several of our tools and resources, such as our Future Energy Landscapes approach (FEL workshops), neighbourhood carbon foot printing Impact carbon footprinting and DIY community building  energy auditing.

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