Highlights from the CAN Energy Team’s Online Roadshow

17th Mar 2026

The Community Action Northumberland (CAN) Energy Team recently hosted an online energy roadshow to share practical advice on saving energy, improving home efficiency and making the most of renewable technologies.

The session brought together several members of the team with expertise in energy advice, retrofit and renewable systems. Participants were encouraged to take part in polls and submit questions throughout the evening. As host Andrew Beresford, Climate Action Officer for Community Action Northumberland, explained at the start of the session:

“Please ask any question related to energy… we’ve got a wide breadth of knowledge and experience within the team and if we can’t answer it tonight, we will provide a written response.”

From the realities of off-grid living to simple home improvements that can reduce heat loss, the event brought together representatives from the Climate Action in Rural North East (CAIRN), Powering People (off electricity grid) and Community Buildings Energy Advice projects – and offered valuable insights for households looking to lower their energy bills and carbon footprint.

Off-Grid Living: Not Always the Lifestyle Choice People Expect

The first presentation was delivered by David Richardson, CAN’s Off-Grid Energy Advisor. His work focuses on supporting households that do not have access to the mains electricity grid and is funded by the Energy Redress Scheme.

David began by asking participants to picture a typical off electricity grid home powered by a combination of solar panels, a wind turbine, battery storage and a diesel generator. While many people assume off-grid living is a deliberate lifestyle choice, the reality is often very different. “It’s a popular misconception that living off grid is a lifestyle choice, but in most cases it’s not”, he said.

For most off-grid households, connecting to the electricity network is either technically difficult or prohibitively expensive. As a result, the cost of generating electricity independently can be significantly higher than using mains power. Many off electricity grid households still rely on diesel generators too as renewable energy generation is low.

“Off-grid households report to us that it’s very expensive and they have reliability challenges,” David explained. “People pay five times more for their electricity than equivalent grid-connected properties”.

Thinking Like an Off Electricity Grid Household

Despite the challenges, David explained that off-grid homes demonstrate something valuable: they tend to be extremely careful with energy use. “The best way to save on electricity is not to use it in the first place,” he said.

This mindset can help anyone reduce electricity consumption. Small changes in daily habits can have a meaningful impact over time.

Practical examples include:

• Switching lights off when leaving a room
• Turning appliances off at the plug rather than leaving them on standby
• Boiling only the water needed in the kettle
• Drying clothes outside instead of using a tumble dryer
• Reducing the length of electric showers

These kinds of everyday actions can significantly reduce electricity demand.

Choosing Energy-Efficient Appliances

Another important step is replacing inefficient appliances with energy-efficient alternatives. Although efficient models sometimes cost slightly more upfront, they often provide long-term savings.

David shared a simple example from his own home: “Choosing energy saving light bulbs cost approximately £1 per bulb more, but over the lifetime of that bulb, it will save me approximately £16 in energy.”

Using smaller appliances can also help reduce electricity use in certain situations. For example, slow cookers, microwaves and air fryers can sometimes replace the need to run a full oven for smaller meals.

Making the Most of Renewable Energy

For households with solar panels or other renewable technologies, adjusting daily routines can help maximise the benefits. David described how installing solar panels changed the way his household used electricity:

“We used to put our washing machine and dishwasher on overnight, but now we put them on in the daytime while the sun’s shining so we can use the energy we’re producing.”

Timing energy use around renewable generation or cheaper tariffs can help households reduce the amount of electricity they need to buy from the grid.

For anyone interested in exploring renewable technologies or reducing their carbon footprint, the Climate Action in Rural North East (CAIRN) team offers free, impartial advice to guide you on renewable systems, energy efficiency and practical ways to cut costs and carbon emissions.

 CAIRN is a partnership led by Community Action Northumberland (CAN), Durham Community Action (DCA), the Rural Design Centre (RDC), and the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE), and is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Improving Homes with a “Fabric First” Approach

The second presentation was delivered by Leanne Shipley, Climate Action Officer at CAN. Her focus was on retrofit — improving existing buildings, so that they are easier and cheaper to heat. “Retrofit refers to any improvement work on an existing building to improve its energy efficiency,” she explained.

She introduced the concept of a fabric first approach, which focuses on improving the structure of the building and minimalising heat loss before installing technologies such as heat pumps or solar panels.

“Before we start looking at how we’re going to meet the energy needs of your building,” she explained, “we look at reducing them as much as possible first.”

This includes measures such as insulation, draught proofing and improving windows and doors.

Tackling Heat Loss at Home

Heat loss from buildings is a major contributor to energy demand. Leanne highlighted several areas where heat typically escapes:

• 35% through walls
• 25% through roofs
• 15% through floors
• 15% through draughts
• 10% through windows

Addressing these issues can make homes more comfortable and significantly reduce heating costs. One of the most effective measures is draught proofing. Common sources of draughts include window frames, door frames, gaps around pipework and unsealed openings between loft spaces and living areas.

Adding insulation or covering these drafts is often a simple DIY improvement. “It’s straightforward, it’s an easy DIY job,” Leanne advised, “it might cost you a couple of hundred pounds, but it’ll pay for itself very quickly, normally within about six months.”

Leanne also emphasised that insulation works best when it is installed correctly. For example: “Loft insulation works by trapping air… people throw boxes on top of it and squash it but then it doesn’t work as well.”

Why Energy Tariffs Matter More Than Ever

The final presentation came from Jake Delacey, CAN’s Community Buildings Energy Officer. He explained how choosing the right energy tariff is becoming increasingly important as homes and community buildings electrify heating and transport. “Energy tariffs are probably the most important part now of your energy bills,” he said.

Jake outlined the main types of tariffs available: fixed-rate tariffs (which provide price certainty) and variable-rate tariffs (which may fluctuate but can offer savings if used strategically). Time-of-use tariffs, such as Economy 7 style tariffs, give lower rates during specific periods, usually overnight.

“These work well with EV tariffs that give you a lower rate at specific times to allow you to charge up the EV,” Jake outlined.

Many time-of-use tariffs require a smart meter, and rural areas can still face connectivity challenges, so Jake encouraged participants to explore all options and to consider how tariff choice can interact with renewable energy systems.

Community buildings face additional challenges, as their energy contracts are typically longer-term and are not protected by the domestic energy price cap.

“Community buildings are usually set on two-to-three-year contracts, and these contracts haven’t got any price cap protection at all,” Jake lamented.

This makes energy efficiency improvements particularly important. Jake highlighted strategies to manage energy demand and reduce costs, including:

• Solar PV systems: generating electricity on-site can reduce reliance on grid power, especially during peak periods.
• Battery storage: storing excess solar energy for later use maximises self-consumption and helps avoid high tariffs.
• Sequencing appliance use: spreading out high-demand equipment like ovens or boilers to stay within renewable generation limits.
• EV integration: using electric vehicle batteries for storage or Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) setups can further reduce grid dependency.

“The more we electrify our heat and transport, the more reliant we become on these tariffs and the more important they become to help keep our costs down,” Jake explained.

Jake concluded by reminding community organisations that careful planning of energy use, in combination with renewable systems, can deliver significant savings while supporting wider sustainability goals.

Carbon Monoxide Awareness and Priority Services Register

The roadshow concluded with Andrew Beresford, Climate Action Officer, highlighting key safety and support initiatives for households.

Andrew discussed the Priority Services Register, a free service designed to support vulnerable people during power cuts. Eligible individuals include anyone over 65, under five years old or living with specific health conditions. Andrew noted: “CAN is a partner organisation. We are able to register someone, and you can also register via your energy provider.”

In addition, he raised awareness of carbon monoxide (CO) risks, describing it as a “silent killer” potentially present wherever fuel-burning appliances are used. The CAN team offers home energy audits and free CO alarms to help households stay safe with support from the Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA) offered by Northern Gas Networks.

These initiatives complement the energy efficiency and renewable energy advice provided throughout the roadshow, ensuring participants are not only saving energy but also safeguarding their homes and wellbeing.

Key Takeaways from the Roadshow

The online roadshow highlighted that reducing energy costs and carbon emissions doesn’t always require expensive technology. Often, the most effective steps involve improving efficiency and changing everyday habits.

Some of the key messages included:

• reducing energy demand should always come first
• off-grid households offer useful lessons in energy awareness
• improving insulation and reducing draughts can significantly cut heating costs
• choosing the right energy tariff can help households make the most of cheaper electricity

Need Advice on Energy at Home?

The CAN Energy Team provides advice and support to households and community organisations looking to improve energy efficiency, reduce bills and explore renewable energy options.

If you have questions about energy in your home or community building, the team is happy to help.

Email: energy@ca-north.org.uk
Telephone: 01670 517178