Among the attendees were Brighton and Hove Energy Services Company (BHESCo), a social enterprise involving thousands of people in Brighton and Hove to bulk buy energy and save money on their fuel bills. 

As well as passing on the savings from buying together, they reinvest the profits in energy saving improvements and renewable energy micro-generation, helping customers save money now and into the future.

I’m delighted that, as a result of this meeting, BHESCo have teamed up with Energy Express, who are seeking 30 households to participate in a new pilot for home energy assessments and installation of energy saving devices.

Participants will receive a home energy assessment and anything installed for free.

If you’re interested in finding out more or applying, please visit the BHESCO website.

The fact that thousands of people die every winter because they can’t afford to heat their homes is a disgrace.

Energy efficiency should be an urgent national priority to reduce energy bills, improve energy security, create jobs and cut carbon emissions. 

I’ve been lobbying Coalition Ministers to adopt the Energy Bill Revolution proposals that I know hundreds of Brighton residents support.

Power to the people!

We need more radical changes to our energy system too. Right now the way most energy is generated puts the profits of big fossil fuel companies above the public interest in locally produced, secure, sustainable energy.

These are some of the issues that will be debated at an event taking place at the Brighthelm Centre on 3rd June entitled: “New Dawn or Same Vested Interests? The future of UK Energy”.

Dr Doug Parr, Chief Scientist and Policy Director at Greenpeace UK, will be sharing his thoughts on a range of hot topics – from fracking to the merits of decentralised versus centralised energy generation, and the failure to address heating. 

It’s open to all and you’re very welcome come along.

More information can be found on the communityenergysouth.org.uk website.

It would be great to see you there.