Our story
Brighton and Hove Energy Services Co-op (BHESCo) are a not-for-profit social enterprise who are dedicated to helping homeowners, schools and businesses in Sussex to meet their daily needs with low-cost, low-carbon energy.
Since 2015, BHESCo have completed more than 50 projects which reduce energy costs and carbon emissions for their customers. They estimate that over the course of their lifetime these projects will reduce CO2 emissions by 5,478 tonnes, which is the same environmental impact as avoiding 6,040 flights from London to New York.
In addition to the obvious environmental benefits of these projects, BHESCo estimate that by producing their own clean energy and by improving the energy efficiency of their buildings, customers' stand to save nearly £2 million collectively on their energy costs.
All of BHESCo's projects are completed at no upfront cost to customers using what they call a 'Pay As You Save' finance model. What this means is that BHESCo installs a brand new energy-saving or generating technologies on behalf of their customers, who then repay the upfront cost over a number of years using a portion of the savings achieved in their monthly energy bill.
In this way, everyone can take action on climate change without the obstacles of prohibitive costs or a lack of technical expertise.
To finance the initial cost of their projects, BHESCo raises money through a community share offer. Residents from across the UK are invited to become investors in the co-operative in return for a 5% annual interest rate and a say in how the co-operative is run.
Since their first share offer in June 2015, BHESCo have successfully raised over £1 million in this way and now have more than 300 shareholder members.
As well as their activities within the 'able to pay' market, BHESCo also do a great amount of work tackling fuel poverty in Brighton and Hove. Since it was first launched in January 2016, BHESCo's Energy Saving Service has delivered free home energy improvement surveys to more than 650 local residents who struggle to heat their home.
Each winter, BHESCo also runs outreach events for foodbanks, job centres, and other community groups around the city, providing free advice on switching and fuel benefits. They have advised more than 2,000 residents in the last five years, achieving combined savings of £194,138 for some of Brighton and Hove's most low-income residents.
Commenting on the remarkable progress that the business has achieved in the last five years, BHESCo's founder and CEO, Kayla Ente, said:
"What we have achieved over these past five years has exceeded all expectations. We just raised our first £1 million of investment, and the co-op keeps going from strength to strength."
Our advice
Engaging the support and co-operation of trusted community leaders is integral to stakeholder buy-in, e.g. faith leaders, Councillors, MPs, headteachers, etc.
Its easier for people to say no and remain with the status quo. You have to make your offer so compelling that no is not an option.
The long-term financial savings to be achieved from low-carbon energy projects are often more appealing to stakeholders than the potential carbon savings.
Navigating the bureaucracy of DNOs & local building application requirements can be challenging and technical.
It is vital to engage with and mitigate the concerns of all stakeholders who will be affected by your community energy project.
Our metrics
We are able to accurately measure the monthly and annual saving on energy bills that our projects achieve as a result of the energy saving/ energy generating technologies installed.
We can also estimate the anticipated volume of carbon emissions reduction that we would expect from installing low-carbon technologies, based on a property's energy use.
