About Bristol Energy Network

Hello there!

 

Want to know what it's all about? Interested in finding out how it all began? Want to know how you can get involved?

 

...  You're in the right place.

 

 

The Bristol Energy Network is a voluntary organisation which was formed in 2010 by a group of specialists working in the energy and sustainability sector.

 

The primary aims of the Bristol Energy Network are:

a) To promote understanding and awareness of energy and water consumption

b) To help people learn how to manage and reduce consumption of resources

c) To inform people about energy and sustainability related projects, including successes and failures

d) To inform people about available grants and incentive schemes

e) To facilitate information, skills, ideas and resources sharing for energy and sustainability related groups

f) To provide a link between the public, local and national Government, and community groups

g) To promote people's awareness and involvement in communities

 

The Bristol Energy Network primarily focusses in the Bristol area, however we are very keen to learn from and share information with other people, community groups and organisations around the UK and worldwide.

 

 

Bristol Energy Network was created by the founding members of the Easton Energy Group which was formed early in 2009 as a voluntary community energy awareness and advice group based and focussed in the Easton area of Bristol. The founding members of the Easton Energy Group and the Bristol Energy Network were (and still are!) all specialists working in the energy and/or sustainability sector.

 

We are:

Paul Adams (PhD researcher in bioenergy, Bath University)

Daniel Narayanan (Energy Engineer, Bristol)

David Tudgey (Environmental and Sustainability Consultant, Bristol)

Inigo Uribeechevaria (Energy Assessor, Bristol)

 

We have also had a considerable amount of help from other individuals such as Stephen Moore, Morgan Griffin, Bridget Newbery and Jacob Barnes to name just a few.

 

In creating and exploring ideas and projects within the Easton Energy Group, we found that a number of other community groups across the city were either partly or entirely focussed on energy awareness also. Previously there has been minimal sharing of information, ideas, resources, and skills across these different groups, and when we dug a little deeper we also found a number of cases where ideas were similar but skills, time and resources had not been shared, hence there was some duplication of work where instead improved collaboration could have made things less time consuming.

 

We figured that since most other people who formed these groups were like ourselves (working full time, building our careers, trying to keep our relationships and social lives going, etc. etc.), it would be extremely useful for everyone to have a central place to discuss ideas, successes and failures, to share resources, and just to do some friendly networking. Hence the Bristol Energy Network was born.

 

The first formal Bristol Energy Network event was on the 7th October 2010 in Hamilton House. We were overwhelmed by the considerable enthusiasm and interest which was shown from a huge number of people. We published an official document after this event, which is available here <<link will be inserted soon, in the meantime please email us for a copy!!>>.

 

 

There are a number of ways:

a) Get involved in, or set up a project or group in your community

b) Register yourself, your community group and/or your organisation on this website

c) Share your knowledge, resources, and discuss successes and failures with others

d) Take part in our events - see the events page

 

There is no obligation to do all of the above, but arguably the most important thing is to get out there and get involved in some active projects. Feedback your experiences into the network, and help others to learn from your successes and failures. The Bristol Energy Network and associated organisations can offer support, assistance and networking opportunities, but less talk and more action is critical.

 

 

The Bristol Energy Network also hosts an events stall. This is to promote awareness of the network and associated groups across the city. If you are interested in helping out on our stall please email us (bristol.energy.network@gmail.com).

 

 

 

Get involved!

 

Dan Narayanan  :)