Sally Blackwell, Executive Officer of the Energy Efficiency Community Network (EECN), discusses community engagement projects. Sally gives a bottom-up perspective to behaviour change with an example of a community engagement project that the EECN has been running: the ‘Home Energy Advice Centre’. The results from an assessment of the impact this advice was actually having on participants are provided. In particular, this assessment highlighted that community groups, such as the EECN, are the most preferred type of organisation for households to receive advice from.

4. Energy Efficiency Community Network

10. Actions taken 30.8% 117 Upgraded curtains 33.7% 104 Changed the way you ventilate the house 37.2% 121 Installed more efficient heating Bottom 3 77.5% 129 Turn off appliances not in use 81.0% 116 Dry clothes outside 81.0% 142 Contact at least one of the companies providing subsidised heating and insulation Have done n Actions taken at home Top 3

13. Reasons for contacting HEAC “ What would you say is the MAIN reason you chose to call the HEAC rather than accessing other sources of information?”

14. Source of advice “ Is there another type of organisation you would prefer to give you advice about energy use and energy efficiency in your home?”