Words by Smiley Team
A charity is training up students to become energy auditors, to focus on helping students reduce their exposure to energy poverty.
The project – run by SOS-UK and called Homes Fit For Study – is being delivered in partnership with National Energy Action and funded by the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme until 2023.
SOS-UK – Students Organising For Sustainability – is a student-led education charity focusing on sustainability. They focus on the power in students to be are the forefront of change, and work alongside them to help them achieve that.
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With energy prices rising, there couldn’t be a better time to support students who may be struggling with living costs and rising energy bills. The Homes Fit For Study initiative aims to support more than 20,000 students to save 3,170,800 kWh of energy and 556 tonnes of CO2 through several interventions.
For the programme, 100 students are being trained up to become home energy advisors, providing advice to other students on how to adopt energy-saving habits, implement low cost efficiency measures, improve their heating systems and seek out energy efficient properties.
Students started this training in February 2022, through a programme put together by National Energy Action and SOS-UK.
And all those who do it will receive a CPD certificate of recognition for the skills they gained, improving their future employability. The audits will cover: number of occupants, insulation, heating systems and controls such as thermostats, no/low cost measures such as draft exclusion and LED light bulbs, with advice provided on choosing energy efficient properties and selecting tariffs.
”This project is very important to us as students have a higher risk of falling into energy poverty compared to other demographic groups, yet are not sufficiently targeted through policy interventions,” says a spokesperson from SOS-UK.
“Coupled with limited knowledge and experience of how to navigate the energy system, and low incomes, means students are vulnerable to energy poverty.
"This can have a significant impact on their physical and mental health, and consequently impact their wellbeing and academic attainment.”
RECRUIT: When SOS-UK is recruiting for more student auditors, the opportunity will be shared on their website.
TAKE ON ADVICE: You can read SOS-UK's energy advice to make sure you’re not paying too much for your energy and have a warm and efficient home.
DONATE: Donate to SOS-UK to help them further their mission of supporting students on sustainability.
