Net Zero, Warm Homes and Green Jobs

This on-line event, organised by West Oxfordshire Green Party, is open to the public.

"Home energy consumption accounts for around 30% of total energy used and 20% of total carbon emissions in the UK. According to Ofgem an average UK home with a medium energy consumption uses 12,000 kWh of gas and 3,100 kWh of electricity per year. That represents total carbon emissions of 3,067kg per year.

So if we want to meet targets and reduce the threat of climate change, addressing energy use in the home is a good place to start. Plus, making energy efficiency improvements to homes also makes them healthier to spend time in, and more comfortable – cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It’s a win-win." Cosy Homes Oxfordshire

With the help of our expert speakers, we will explore the role of home retrofitting for energy conservation and generation, in the reduction of carbon emissions and fuel poverty and also as a vehicle for "building back better" in terms of economic recovery and Green job creation.

The overall aim of this Green Party meeting is to examine the role of home retrofit in reaching net zero, how it is going so far and what extra actions are needed to achieve net zero - including developing the supply chain which will create new green jobs.

Thursday 21st January

Net Zero, Warm Homes & Green Jobs

Draft Programme:

19:30 Welcome

Net Zero, Warm Homes & Green Jobs, West Oxfordshire Green Party

19:40 Context: importance of whole house retrofit in reaching net zero

19:50 "Cosy Homes Oxfordshire" model & experience/learning

(challenges, including retrofit options in rural heating / Cotswold stone houses, funding,

building regulations, supply chain etc

20:05 Developing the supply chain

20:20 Green jobs investment in West Oxon

20:30 Discussion: What can we do to accelerate progress?

21:00 Close

Speakers

Geordie Stewart is a skilled construction and project manager with over 25 years of international experience, and is passionate about sustainable and energy efficient solutions in the built environment. He is a trained Retrofit Coordinator and manages the Cosy Homes Oxfordshire team based in Charlbury, Oxfordshire.

Liz Reason is Chair of the Green Party Executive as well as of Southill Community Energy, which runs a 4.5MW solar farm near Charlbury, Oxfordshire. She has a professional background in strategy and policy development for a low carbon built environment.

Dr Gavin Killip is a Researcher at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute (ECI). He carries out research on the construction industry in relation to climate policy targets. Gavin is currently involved in construction sector debates about the 'green' recovery post-Covid, as well as evaluations for BEIS on the retrofit supply chain pilots (including Cosy Homes Oxfordshire).

Andrew Prosser is a Green Party Town Councillor in Witney and runs his own sustainability consultancy, supporting businesses and local authorities to reduce carbon emissions.

Dr Helen Gavin is Manager and Knowledge Exchange researcher of the Oxford Martin Programme on Integrating Renewable Energy, bringing the findings of the programme to new audiences, and fostering a culture of collaborative working between academia and practitioners.

This event is open to anyone interested in how retrofitting existing homes can not only reduce energy consumption, but also make homes more comfortable while at the same time creating new green jobs.