Discussion and feedback from the BEMP event

Blacon, 9th January 2012

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The event was organised by Sustainable Blacon (SBL) as an event on 9th January 2012 to hear and discuss the results from University of Chester’s research into Blacon Energy Management Programme (BEMP), and develop the plans of the emerging volunteers.

 

The aims of research at the event were to gather evidence on:

• Motivations for involvement in events

• Changes in attitudes to climate change / energy reduction

• Changes in awareness  / knowledge / skills about energy reduction

• Social learning about energy and climate change

• Gather ideas for potential future materials for Sustainable Blacon.

 

32 BEMP participants attended the event, around 24 participated in the exercises afterwards.  Attendees who were involved in organisation / speaking were Ged Edwards and Angie (SBL), Roy Alexander and Tamara Hunt (University of Chester), and Milena Buchs (University of Southampton) who briefly reported back on the pilot study done with SBL as part of their energy and communities project.

EVALOC researchers then led the 30 minute session, which aimed to reflect on some of the key messages and develop some initial materials for future usage by SBL. This was identified as a theme from the focus group.

The participants were arranged around tables,  around 8-10 per table, divided into groups according to whether they wanted to focus on behaviour change, energy monitoring or home makeovers.

 

They worked to complete some flipchart sheets, which asked them:

• What’s the best thing about your home makeover?

 

• If you had one ‘energy top tip’ to tell other people in Blacon, what would it be?

 

The second part of the exercise involved them designing quick posters, either to encourage the use of energy displays / energy monitoring, or to promote behaviour change to reduce energy consumption. The posters were briefly shared at the end.

 

The interactive exercises generated a lot of energy from the participants, the camaraderie that had been built up through participation in the BEMP was evident.