Subject: Energise Manchester, Beginners Guide to Retrofit and our AGM ⚒️

Retrofit training, annual general meeting and time to Energise Manchester!

Hi Friend,

Our AGM is taking place next week, and if you haven't already registered now is your opportunity. This will hopefully be an exciting in-person and online event bringing together our membership and various experts in the retrofit space. Come along to attend the celebratory meal, panel discussion and to hear about our work over the past year.

We still have opportunities to take part in the solar research study in collaboration with University College London. So make sure to sign up!

We are excited to be sharing the latest from our Energise Manchester project. Find out what they have been up to below and visit their project page to learn more.

If you are looking to get started on your retrofit, develop a basic understanding of eco-renovation and use thermal imaging cameras then make sure to come along to our in-person training at Station South.

Carbon Co-op AGM 2024

A photo of solar panels on the roof of a house

Register for the Carbon Co-op AGM

We invite members and guests to join us for our annual in person / hybrid AGM and panel discussion.

We will re-cap of Carbon Co-op's work in tackling climate change through collective action and highlight the progress made over the last few years and the plans and challenges ahead.

Come along to hear about our work, offer your views and meet other members. The event features a celebratory meal and a panel discussion.

Get your tickets (free)

Beginner's Guide to Retrofit and Heat Camera training

Wednesday, 3 April; Station South, Levenshulme

Join us at Station South Cycle Cafe Levenshulme for an in-person event where you'll learn all about the basics of retrofitting and using heat cameras (cameras that help you visualise heat).

We will help you establish a basic understanding of eco-renovation and how you might go about planning to make your home warmer, more comfortable and that little bit greener whilst reducing bills.

We'll discuss both DIY and contractor-led approaches, this is very much a starting point for retrofit rather than an in-depth discussion of the technical aspects but we will be introducing a new support programme with follow on training and assistance.

We'll end the session with a hands-on, heat camera exercise contractor-led. Spotting gaps, draughts and sources of heat loss in the cafe building.

Suitable for people thinking about or actively planning retrofit improvements.

Less suitable for social housing tenants who are reliant on their housing provider to make these changes.

Complimentary refreshments will be available from the cafe!

Interested? Register now

Energise Manchester

People writing on post it notes and postcards in front of a Carbon Co-op banner

In ‘Energise Manchester’ Carbon Coop is trailing new ways to get energy advice to under-served and under-represented communities.

The team has been busy this winter, testing out our ideas in a community setting.

They’ve run over 20 stalls and energy cafes across South Manchester, to make sure that communities know how to improve their home’s warmth, health and comfort.

The NHS's Neighbourhood Health Champions have played a key role in kick-starting a local conversation about the link between heating, homes, and health.

Our energy advice also included several local community groups hosting our damp and mould workshop series. The participants' feedback that following the workshops they’ve also been able to share their newly learnt knowledge with friends, neighbours and family reaching even more households, already proving one of our key aims: to help build peer-to-peer support and network around knowledge that helps make our homes warmer and healthier.

These new routes to in-person advice are proving to be great ways of hosting conversations around common household energy challenges and working together to find solutions.

The project is part of the government’s Local Energy Advice Demonstrator (LEAD) fund.

Read more about the project

EcoHome Lab: Retrometer findings with Energy Systems Catapult

In this month's iteration of the EcoHomeLab we will be joining forces with Energy Systems Catapult to discuss the findings of the Retrometer project.

The Retrometer project has taken a deep dive into the world of Metered Energy Savings for retrofit projects and looks at the potential viability of this approach in the UK context.

Join the event to learn more.

Solar Study Opportunity

If you have solar panels and a smart meter and have not yet registered to take part in our solar research study in collaboration with University College London, then you still have time.

Take a look at our short survey to learn more about the project, and register your interest in earning £50 for taking part in a collective workshop.

Take part in our solar study

Are you a woman working in retrofit?

A photograph of a young girl standing in front of a brick wall with the words 'FOR WOMEN' painted on in large white letters.

Her Own Space, the community space for women in retrofit is surveying to identify the personal and professional support, networking, training, funding, knowledge sharing and other opportunities that women within the retrofit industry require.

If you are a woman working in the retrofit industry, we would encourage you to fill in the survey and help support the further development of women in this space.

Fill in the survey