The mechanisms energy communities (ECs) use to identify and engage households in situations of energy vulnerability will vary. Often, it helps to start by getting to know the broader context.
What policies or practices currently lead to injustices for some groups? Who is most affected? How does lack of affordable energy contribute?
During this early stage, ECs may also start to consider the possibility of working with local collaborators that have shared or complementary aims. Potential collaborators typically include municipalities; housing associations; public social, health and care services; and third sector organisations (also known as civil society organisations or CSOs) working in the same geographic area or on the same social challenges. A few basic tips can help ECs get started.
The idea of cross-linking with both households and local collaborators can be vital to developing a robust understanding of energy poverty in the local context and how it intersects with other vulnerabilities. In turn, it can facilitate the process of co-developing solutions that are effective for all parties – especially the households.
Ensuring that people understood the services ZEZ provides are free was critical in early efforts to engage with households. Often, they did not register to receive the energy efficiency kits because they thought they would be expected to give something in return. Many were also afraid of getting ‘scammed’ because of past experiences.
Paula Damaška, ZEZ
Identify alert signals in the target community1
These first steps need to be undertaken in ways that are practical and manageable for ECs, households and local collaborators, based on information that the various parties can easily obtain or supply. Processes for identifying and engaging in all directions should be relatively simple and easy to understand. A key aim of this stage should be to clarify who will do what to quickly deliver initial benefits to households in vulnerable situations.
Like energy itself, situations of vulnerability are often ‘invisible’ – and people living in them may go to great lengths to mask difficulties they are facing. EC staff and volunteers need to learn to use all oftheir senses to detect subtle signs.
Keep an eye on vulnerable groups, specific groups are known to be at much higher risk of energy vulnerability. While seeking to be discrete, they often devise coping mechanisms that can give off clues.
Recognising that the stigma associated with asking for and receiving help is a barrier for many people facing situations of energy or other vulnerabilities, ALIenergy aims to normalise the use of its services. It also makes special effort to enable access for all — particularly hard-to-reach individuals. Related advice for educating and training frontline workers, recruiting ‘Energy Champions’, and establishing a referrals network is covered in other blogs (see links below).
Note the status of dwellings
Poor quality houses are a major contributor to high energy demand and excessive energy bills. Identifying such dwellings – whether individual homes or multi-family buildings – can be an indirect way to identify families in vulnerability. It is important to keep in mind that high walls or a thick stand of trees may make it impossible to ‘see’ the quality of a home from the street. In other regions, the challenge may be that houses are in remote, hilly areas or on islands with few inhabitants. Also, the efficiency of a particular dwelling may not be obvious as insulation is hidden behind walls or in attics or floors. Finding out whether a given house has an Energy Performance Certificate is a helpful start, but not always easy to obtain.
Click through to other blogs related to ‘identity and engage’:
- A few thoughts on building trust
- Tapping into frontline workers
- Engage others to be on the lookout
- Securing a senior champion
- Recruit community energy champions
- Launching an Energy Solidarity TaskForce
1 https://energy-poverty.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-03/EPAHhandbook_diagnosis_finalpdf.pdf