We’re addressing the climate emergency, tackling the root causes of fuel poverty, and ensuring a fair, inclusive transition to a net zero energy system that benefits everyone.

As we mark 45 years of the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE), our commitment to addressing the climate emergency and eradicating cold homes is stronger than ever. Our impact over the past year underscores our role as a trusted source of help and a driving force for change. 

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The way we produce and use energy needs to change. It’s one of the main causes of the climate emergency. At the same time, millions of people in the UK face the harsh reality of cold homes which threatens their health and wellbeing.

Our work spans the breadth of the energy transition challenge, from supporting individuals in fuel poverty to empowering communities and advising local authorities and national policy. We’re advancing housing energy retrofit, championing future generations, promoting fairness in the energy transition, and offering expert advice on energy efficiency and renewables.

Through innovative research, policy advocacy work, and practical tools, we tackle the complex challenges of climate change and fuel poverty from every angle. Undoubtedly, our work is paving the way for a more sustainable, smarter and fairer energy system.

• Helped a record number of people living in cold homes and struggling with their energy bills.
• Saw significant growth in our home energy retrofit schemes, improving living conditions and energy efficiency in more homes.
• Increased our support for communities and local councils through our fuel poverty and net zero programmes.
• Developed sets of consumer archetypes for Ofgem and National Grid to aid policy and programme design ensuring it’s more inclusive and effective.
• Delivered research for the National Grid on the Demand Flexibility Service, building the case for its continuation.

• Beneficiaries – we record and evaluate the number of people we’ve supported through our advice service and community support programmes as well as the financial savings achieved by our advice line clients.
• Innovation – we keep track of the new approaches and methods CSE has developed, introduced or pioneered and the outcomes, or changes this influences.
• Support and tools – we assess how widely our tools and resources are used and the real-world impact they create. We measure the effectiveness of our plans, studies and research by how they empower organisations and individuals to make informed decisions and drive meaningful change.
• Policy and learning – we monitor CSE’s influence on national policy and the practical changes we bring about. We record our active engagement, policy consultations and insights shared based on our research and direct engagement with individuals and communities.

Since CSE was founded in 1979 we have:

• Provided high-quality, tailored energy advice to more than 400,000 local people to help them take control of their energy use at home.
• Trained and supported more than 76,000 people to empower them to take action on sustainable energy within their own organisations and communities across the UK.
• Reached approximately 58,000 young people with our high-quality education and youth leadership programmes. In particular, we help them become influential energy activists in their own homes, communities and schools. 
• You can read more about our history here.