University opens energy advice centre to help households save

A London university has opened an energy advice centre to help households save money on their bills.

The new centre at London South Bank University will offer Londoners information on how to get help with their bills, how to reduce energy consumption and how to get grants for home energy improvements.

The centre will offer help via a website, in person at LSBU’s Elephant and Castle campus, and at events across south London.

It will be staffed by undergraduates from LSBU’s engineering school, with support from PhD students who have created a question and answer database and produced support information. Support is also being provided by academics in LSBU’s London Centre for Energy Engineering research centre.

It builds on the work of legal advice centres operated at LSBU and other universities, which are staffed by undergraduates.

Graeme Maidment, professor of heating and cooling, said that the university was “determined to use the huge expertise at LSBU on cutting energy costs to help people save money on their energy bills”.

“Rising energy bills and the cost-of-living crisis are hitting people in the pocket and we hope to reach thousands of people through the advice and information on our website, email and face-to-face services,” he said.

The UPP Foundation has made a donation to support the running of the LSBU Energy Advice Centre.

Henrique Lagoeiro, research fellow in LSBU’s Centre for Heating and Cooling Research, added: “As a university we have an important role to play in supporting our community to thrive. The LSBU Energy Advice Centre is a student-led initiative with hands-on experience that is a great example of how the research and education we deliver can have a real impact on the lives of people in our local area and beyond.”

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com