Energy Engagement Projects
We deliver award-winning energy engagement projects
One of the hardest parts of reducing your energy use is engaging those people who use it the most. We have a wealth of experience in doing just that! Through our in-house projects arm, we can inspire your building users, your visitors and your stakeholders to reduce their energy consumption. This is especially useful in buildings that are already efficient as it’s the last step on the ladder to achieve the lowest use.
Energy Relief
A simple domestic and SME switching platform that compares prices across the entire market to provide the best rates on your energy. When you successfully switch, the money typically given to the switching engine goes to your selected charity instead - effectively donating £20 or £40 to charity at absolutely no cost to you.
The Student Energy Project
We work with students in rented accommodation to encourage them to reduce their energy use by providing them with rewards for low consumption. Working across over 20,000 student beds, we are currently providing our existing Student Energy Project clients with an average saving of 10% on heat and energy.
Power2Africa
We decided to flip charity work on its head, paying for running costs through corporate memberships so that all donations to Power2Africa can be spent entirely in Africa, delivering clean energy projects to rural communities. We believe that power is just the beginning, once electricity is in place the possibilities are endless.
Making a real difference through energy engagement
In 2017 alone, 9.2 million Brits changed their gas or electricity supplier – imagine if just 15% of these had switched a single fuel through Energy Relief. At £20 per fuel that could have been over £250,000 donated to charity at no cost to the individual switching!
The potential here is phenomenal and the good it could do is endless. Did you know that there are hundreds of millions of people living in Africa still don’t have access to electricity? Power2Africa is our project that aims to help change this, delivering projects that provide local communities with electricity and access to WiFi.
Why energy engagement matters
Buildings account for a significant proportion of global energy consumption, and even the most efficient building can fall short of its potential if its occupants are not actively engaged in saving energy. Traditional approaches often focus on technical upgrades—better insulation, more efficient HVAC systems, or smart building controls—but these measures alone cannot achieve the deepest savings. Behavioural change is the missing piece: when people understand their energy use and are motivated to reduce it, the results can be remarkable.
Our engagement projects are designed to bridge that gap. We combine behavioural science, data insights, and creative communication to make energy saving tangible, rewarding, and even fun. Whether it’s a student turning down the heating, a household switching to a greener tariff, or a community in rural Africa gaining access to electricity for the first time, the common thread is empowerment. We believe that when people are given the right tools and incentives, they will make a positive difference.
This approach is especially valuable for organisations that have already invested in energy efficiency measures. Once the low-hanging fruit has been picked, further savings often depend on the daily actions of building users. Our projects provide the structure and motivation needed to unlock those remaining savings, ensuring that your investment in efficiency delivers its full return.
How our engagement projects work
Each engagement project is tailored to the specific audience and context, but they all share a common framework. We begin by understanding the current energy behaviours and the barriers to change. This might involve analysing consumption data, conducting surveys, or observing how people interact with their environment. From there, we design an intervention that combines education, incentives, and feedback.
Education is the foundation. Many people simply don’t know how much energy they use or what actions have the biggest impact. We create clear, accessible materials that demystify energy and show the direct link between everyday choices and consumption. Whether it’s a poster in a student kitchen or an online dashboard for a corporate client, the message is always practical and actionable.
Incentives are the next layer. We know that good intentions often fade without reinforcement. That’s why our projects incorporate rewards—monetary, social, or environmental—that keep participants motivated over time. For example, the Student Energy Project offers tangible rewards for low consumption, while Energy Relief turns switching into a charitable donation. These incentives create a positive feedback loop that sustains engagement.
Finally, feedback is essential. People need to see the results of their efforts to stay engaged. We provide regular updates on energy savings, carbon reductions, or charitable contributions, making the invisible visible. This not only reinforces positive behaviour but also builds a sense of collective achievement.
The impact of our projects
The numbers speak for themselves. Across our portfolio, we have engaged tens of thousands of individuals and delivered measurable savings. The Student Energy Project, for instance, works with over 20,000 student beds and has achieved an average saving of 10% on heat and energy. That’s not just a statistic; it’s real money back in the pockets of students and landlords, and a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
Energy Relief has the potential to transform the way people think about switching. By redirecting the commission from a switch to a charity, we’ve created a model where doing the right thing for your wallet also does good for the world. In 2017 alone, 9.2 million Brits switched supplier—imagine the collective impact if even a fraction of those switches had been through Energy Relief.
Power2Africa takes our impact global. By funding clean energy projects in rural African communities, we’re not just reducing carbon; we’re enabling education, healthcare, and economic development. Electricity is the foundation for so much of modern life, and providing it to communities that have never had it is truly transformative. Our corporate members cover the running costs, so every donation goes directly to the projects on the ground.
Who can benefit from energy engagement?
Our engagement projects are relevant to a wide range of organisations and individuals. Universities and student housing providers can reduce their energy bills and enhance their sustainability credentials by engaging students. Local authorities and social housing providers can help tenants save money and stay warm. Businesses can involve their employees in sustainability goals, boosting morale and reducing operational costs. And charities can benefit from a new, effortless fundraising stream through Energy Relief.
Even if you’re not directly responsible for a building, you can still participate. Energy Relief is open to any household or small business in the UK, and every switch makes a difference. Power2Africa welcomes corporate members who want to demonstrate their commitment to global energy access. And our educational resources are freely available to anyone who wants to learn more about saving energy.
Ultimately, energy engagement is for everyone. The challenges of climate change and energy affordability affect us all, and collective action is the only way to address them. By participating in our projects, you become part of a community that is making a tangible difference—one kilowatt-hour at a time.
Integrating engagement with our wider services
Energy engagement is most effective when it complements a broader energy management strategy. Our team works closely with our other service areas to ensure a seamless approach. For example, our Business Energy Benchmarking service can identify where engagement efforts will have the greatest impact, while our Data Analytics for Utilities can provide the insights needed to track behavioural change over time.
For organisations looking to procure energy more strategically, our Energy Procurement & Risk Management team can help you secure favourable contracts, freeing up budget for engagement initiatives. And our Energy Bureau Service can handle the day-to-day management of your energy accounts, leaving you free to focus on engaging your people.
We also recognise that engagement is not a one-off event but an ongoing process. That’s why we offer long-term support, from initial design to implementation and evaluation. We work with you to set realistic goals, measure progress, and adjust the approach as needed. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to revitalise an existing programme, we have the expertise to help you succeed.
Get involved
If you’re inspired by what you’ve read, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re a university, a business, a charity, or an individual, there’s a way for you to get involved. Explore our projects, learn more about the impact, and consider how you can be part of the solution. Together, we can make energy engagement a powerful force for good.
Remember, every action counts. A single switch through Energy Relief can donate £20 or £40 to charity at no cost to you. A single student turning down their thermostat can save energy and earn rewards. A single corporate membership can help bring electricity to a village in Africa. When multiplied across thousands of people, these small actions add up to a significant impact.
Join us in our mission to make energy saving engaging, rewarding, and accessible to all. The future of energy is not just about technology; it’s about people. And with the right engagement, people can achieve extraordinary things.