Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · 1d

Now with updated times and dates below!

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · 16d

Know someone in #Croydon who needs help with their energy bills, or advice on keeping warm?

@croydoncommenergy.bsky.social are offering free, expert energy advice - see below for details!

1

Reposted by Chris Galpin

Croydon Community Energy @croydoncommenergy.bsky.social · Sep 8

✨ Community in action! On Saturday we joined Archbishop Tenison’s School to celebrate the amazing improvements they’ve made to their buildings – including our newly installed solar panels ☀️⚡

#CommunityEnergy #Croydon #SolarPower #YouthInAction #RenewableEnergy #CommunityPower

1 3 4

Reposted by Chris Galpin

Ellie Mae O'Hagan @elliemaeohagan.bsky.social · Aug 28

I am once again saying that clean energy is inherently cheap, and the reason we don't benefit from that is because the energy market doesn't let us. Great stuff here from my colleague @chrisgalpin.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Heat pumps could halve heating bills with energy system reform, study finds

Steps to make electricity cheaper, such as ending levies, could transform prospects for pumps, thinktank shows

www.theguardian.com

3 94 210

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Aug 28

Want more detail on how we achieve the savings?

You can read our briefing in full here: www.e3g.org/publications...

Heat pumps could have potential to halve UK heating bills

Heat pumps can cut UK household heating bills by over £400 a year. Our briefing sets out four reforms to make clean heating reliably cheaper

www.e3g.org

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Aug 28

There is huge potential here for energy bill savings - but only if the UK acts on the recommendations.

Heat pumps do come with a higher up-front cost - but maximising running cost savings unlocks more options to finance those upfront costs and deliver long-term savings

1 1 3

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Aug 28

Step 4 - Ensure consumers can access cheaper off-peak electricity

Making sure consumers can access the benefits of cheaper "off-peak" renewable electricity has the potential to reduce heat pump bills by a further ~£175 per year.

1 1

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Aug 28

Step 3 - Drive up installed heat pump performance

Heat pumps are very efficient (~280%+ compared to a gas boiler at ~90%). But many installations could be even better.

Increasing average installed efficiency to 350% could reduce average heat pump bills by another ~£140 per year

1 1

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Aug 28

Step 2 - Reform the electricity system to bring down electricity costs

Clean Power 2030 is a good start, but there's more we could be doing to clamp down on excess profits and reduce electricity prices.

See e3g.org/publications... for more on this!

The UK's clean power mission: Delivering the prize

UK government can both achieve its Clean Power 2030 mission and bring down electricity bills for households.

e3g.org

1 1

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Aug 28

Step 1 - Remove levies from electric heating.

Introducing a levy-free Affordable Electric Heating Tariff could reduce electric heating bills by over £150 per year.

We shouldn't tax people to heat their homes. As more people switch to electric heating, this must be addressed.

2 2

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Aug 28

So - how do we make sure low carbon heating delivers lower heating bills?

1

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Aug 28

These actions would also substantially reduce bills for households with less efficient forms of electric heating.

As we set out in our blog earlier this year, these households are among some of the poorest in the country.
www.e3g.org/news/the-uk-...

The UK needs more affordable electric heating tariffs

Clean, efficient electric heating is one of the best options for government to translate the Clean Power mission into energy bill savings for households. But poor policy decisions stand in the way of ...

www.e3g.org

1 1 2

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Aug 28

We set out four recommendations for government - in total, these could slash the average UK heat pump bill to ~£375 per year.

That's over £445 per year LESS than the current average gas heating bill.

1 1 2

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Aug 28

Instead, we need to insulate homes and install efficient forms of electric heating, like heat pumps.

Heat pumps can already be cheaper to run than a gas boiler in some cases. But government needs to act to make heating bill reductions accessible to the average household.

1 2 3

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Aug 28

Moving away from fossil gas is the ONLY credible, long-term option to reduce heating bills.

It is not economical to expand UK gas production - doing so risks pushing up bills even further.

1 1

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Aug 28

NEW @e3g.bsky.social analysis - Heat pumps have potential to *halve* UK heating bills.

But policies need to change if these savings are to be accessible to the mass market 🔌💡
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Heat pumps could halve heating bills with energy system reform, study finds

Steps to make electricity cheaper, such as ending levies, could transform prospects for pumps, thinktank shows

www.theguardian.com

1 24 49

Reposted by Chris Galpin

Croydon Community Energy @croydoncommenergy.bsky.social · Aug 14

Croydon Community Energy finally installed solar panels on our first community building!
A huge thanks to all our investors, members and volunteers who are leading the way for community energy in Croydon!!
#croydon #communityenergy #croydoncommunityenergy #renewableenergy #sustainability

3 3

Reposted by Chris Galpin

Croydon Community Energy @croydoncommenergy.bsky.social · Aug 27

We have two paid opportunities you can apply for at the moment (the deadlines are quite tight but we only discovered these opportunities very recently!)

For more information and to apply by 5th September, click here: www.croydoncommunityenergy.co.uk/work-with-us

3

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Aug 25

Fantastic to have been selected as a Labour candidate for Addiscombe East, together with @maddiehenson.bsky.social .

Looking forwards to delivering positive change for #Addiscombe, and working with @rowennadavis.bsky.social to transform Croydon into a council which puts #PeopleFirst.

1 2 6

Reposted by Chris Galpin

End Fuel Poverty Coalition @endfuelpoverty.bsky.social · Aug 13

It’s time for households to do one quick check to ensure those eligible get £150 off your bill this winter

The #WarmHomeDiscount now covers more than 6 million households

[1/3]

1 5

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Jul 18

Great to join @rowennadavis.bsky.social and @maddiehenson.bsky.social visiting some of our amazing local businesses in Addiscombe - pictured here with the brilliant Alfredo at Farrago Fish.

The real sense of community here is what keeps our local high street thriving.

1 1 3

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Jul 17

To really put a dent in energy bills, govt should extend this to *all* electric heating.

We set out in our latest blog how electrically heated homes are twice as likely to face fuel poverty
www.e3g.org/news/the-uk-...

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Jul 7

With new affordable tariffs, modern forms of electric heating would at last offer reliably cheaper bills than fossil fuels. Aligning climate action with action to bring down energy bills.

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Jul 7

For clean power to mean lower heating bills, government needs to act:
💲 Removing levies from electricity used for heating
🛠️ Supporting households to modernise their heating
🔌 Introducing an Electricity Bills Charter (www.e3g.org/publications...)

1

Chris Galpin @chrisgalpin.bsky.social · Jul 7

Cheap, clean power should be lowering bills for electrically heated households. But right now, they are blocked from feeling the benefits.

1