Library
Here you can access all the published outputs from our relational energy projects, categorised by the four main topics of our research. Click the topic heading to see a list of publications ordered by date, with newest outputs listed first. Each resource is summarised quickly for ease of finding the most relevant to you. You can use the Ctrl+F option to search for keywords if you are looking for something specific. The type of publication can be found at the end of each summary.
Retrofit
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Decarbonising the UK’s housing stock is essential if the country is going to meet its emission targets, yet policies to retrofit homes have often failed to effectively tackle this challenge. The outputs below reflect our efforts to reframe retrofit using a relational approach that addresses how and when people make decisions about their homes. This research covers home-owners who pay for works on their homes, as well as exploring who applies for energy grants and how people engage with these grants. In addition to research papers, we also have outputs that outline our recommendations for how to incorporate a relational approach into retrofit policy.
Rethinking retrofit: Relational insights for the design of residential energy efficiency policy
Here we show how by paying attention to relational dynamics, we can better design policies that work with the grain of existing household practices and social relations. This includes meeting people where they are in their lives, which tends to be looking for advice and support locally. Our work also suggests that trust in actors in the energy system is key, and that current policy has too high an emphasis on finance [Paper - December 2024].
Towards a Relational Sociology of Retrofit
Here we show how concepts from relational sociology can offer opportunities to completely reframe the retrofit challenge, resulting in new avenues to improve energy policy design and incentives. We also show how sociologically driven research can explain how and why people ‘retrofit’ their homes, highlighting dynamics of trust, power and emotion as meaningful barriers to retrofit at scale. [Paper - November 2024].
Landlords' accounts of retrofit: A relational approach in the private rented sector in England
How social connections and community impact decisions on home energy efficiency upgrades, with new insights for creating policies that align with the real-life social networks and discussions of individuals. [Paper - April 2024].
More than money: Moving towards a relational approach to retrofitting
The current UK policy design is inadequate for effectively scaling up home retrofitting, despite the urgent need for significant increases in energy efficiency measures and heat pump installations by 2028. This report offers a new explanation for why retrofitting policies are failing to stimulate the market and attract more interest. [Report - September 2023].
Who applies for energy grants?
A study examining UK energy grant applications reveals a higher uptake among low-income, Asian-origin households in Northern England, suggesting the need for energy policies that incorporate both relational dynamics and economic incentives. [Paper - July 2023].
The relational dimensions of renovation: Implications for retrofit policy
Social connections profoundly influence UK homeowners' decisions on energy-efficient home retrofits, and retrofit policies need to address these social dynamics as well as economic incentives to effectively enhance household energy efficiency. [Paper - February 2023].
Relationships between people and place, and how they shape energy retrofit decisions
The UKERC-funded project 'Net Zero Neighbourhoods' challenges conventional economic motivations for home retrofitting, proposing that decisions are influenced more by social relationships and community dynamics than purely financial incentives. [Blog - June 2022].
Energy Poverty
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These outputs look at the intersection of social relations and energy poverty using large qualitative and quantitative data sets. In the qualitative work we pioneered a new approach to bringing together primary data sets on the lived experience of energy poverty, sampling cases from large numbers of interviews to ask new research questions. We were particularly interested in how people's relationships shape their experience, and found that people's response to this problem in everyday life was highly relational. The quantitative study used EU survey data to find out how households including a disabled person differ from other households with regards their energy consumption.
Disabled people in the EU are trapped in a difficult situation: using less energy, but still experiencing higher needs and deeper poverty, highlighting the urgent need for actions that truly include everyone in the shift towards greener energy. [Paper - December 2023].
A fair energy transition must allow disabled people to level up
Disabled people in the EU face significant disadvantages in energy use and access, consuming less energy and experiencing higher energy poverty compared to others. This inequity must be addressed to ensure that energy transitions towards Net Zero are fair and inclusive, considering the unique needs and circumstances of disabled individuals. [Blog - December 2021].
From rational to relational: How energy poor households engage with the British retail energy market
For UK households dealing with energy costs, support from family and friends can actually be more influential than purely financial factors in making decisions, demonstrating the significance of social connections in managing energy affordability. [Paper - December 2020].
The importance of social relations in shaping energy demand
Behind a paywall. Please contact Lucie Middlemiss for access [February 2020].
Energy poverty and social relations: A capabilities approach
People facing energy poverty in the UK rely heavily on their social connections to manage their energy needs, and policies aimed at reducing energy poverty must consider the impact on, and of, social networks. [Paper - September 2019].
Local Climate Bonds
This collection of outputs explore the journey taken by multiple stakeholders in engaging with the Local Climate Bond. They reflect on how different UK local authorities have evaluated and adopted the Community Municipal Investment (CMI) model behind the bond, developed through research at Leeds and used to help fund place-based net zero projects. The library for Local Climate Bonds also includes policy reports, details on a national campaign led by the Green Finance Institute – including their Local Climate Bond Toolkit to help councils navigate the process – and several profile pieces in local and national media.
Could women investors swing the balance in the fight on climate change?
Investing in local green projects like the H&F Green Investment can empower women and foster significant environmental change, offering residents a tangible way to contribute to their community's sustainability efforts. [Blog - March 2024].
Flying start for council's call to residents to contribute to climate investment scheme
Southwark Council launches the Southwark Green Investment scheme, offering residents a compelling opportunity to invest in local climate projects with a promising 4.6% return, aiming to bolster community-led sustainability. [News - March 2024].
Cash-strapped London council starts crowdfunding drive to pay for green upgrades
In response to severe government funding cuts, Southwark Council in South London has launched a crowdfunding initiative to raise £6 million for green projects by offering residents a 4.6% return on investments from just £5. [News - February 2024].
Winchester looks to community municipal investments to fund net zero strategy
How Winchester City Council is exploring Community Municipal Investments as a way to support local green projects, engaging residents and institutions in creating a net-zero carbon and nature-rich district by 2030. [Blog - January 2024].
Green Finance Institute launches Local Climate Bonds Toolkit
The Green Finance Institute's new Local Climate Bonds Toolkit equips local authorities with the potential to tap into £3 billion for eco-friendly projects, enabling residents to invest from just £5 and actively shape their community's green future. [Blog - November 2023].
Local Climate Bonds are a breakthrough for net-zero delivery
Discover how a groundbreaking green finance initiative, Community Municipal Investments, successfully raised £7 million across the UK to fund local net-zero projects, offering residents a direct stake in sustainable community development through Local Climate Bonds. [Blog - July 2023].
Westminster City Council partners with Abundance Investment to launch Westminster Green Investment, allowing residents to invest in local green projects with a 4.2% return, aiming to make Westminster a net-zero city by 2040. [Blog - March 2023].
How Warrington invested in renewable energy with community municipal bonds
Learn how Warrington Borough Council is leading the way with community municipal bonds, empowering residents to contribute to local renewable energy initiatives and drive their community towards a sustainable future. [Blog - December 2022].
Local decarbonisation opportunities and barriers: UK public procurement legislation
A look at post-Brexit changes in UK public procurement laws, local decarbonisation efforts, and the strategies that prioritise social value, jobs, and achieving Net Zero goals. [Paper - November 2022].
Warrington's community municipal bonds help residents invest in local climate solutions
See how Warrington Borough Council's innovative use of community municipal bonds enables local investments in renewable energy projects, empowering residents to contribute directly to their community's net-zero goals with a minimum investment and a reliable return. [Blog - April 2022].
Local climate bonds: democratizing finance for a just transition to net zero
Dr. Mark Davis introduces a new model of alternative finance, Community Municipal Investments (CMIs), empowering councils to fund local net-zero projects directly through citizen investments, fostering a community-driven approach to achieving a decarbonised future. [Blog - October 2021].
Aiming to foster a net-zero carbon borough by 2030, Islington Council is set to launch London's first Community Municipal Investment with Abundance Investment, giving residents a chance to invest in local green projects. [Blog - October 2021].
How a London neighbourhood is getting residents to invest in green projects
Islington Council in North London is aiming to raise £1 million to enhance sustainability and tackle climate change within the borough, by launching the city's first Community Municipal Investment, inviting local residents to invest in green infrastructure projects from as little as £5. [News - October 2021].
Islington Council has pioneered "Islington Greener Futures", London's first Community Municipal Investment, allowing residents to invest in local climate action projects with returns through an ethical crowdfunding platform, fostering a sustainable environment for future generations. [Blog - October 2021].
Is there a purpose to financial innovation?
Mark Carney critiques the current finance system for not adequately addressing social and environmental issues, suggesting that true financial innovation should aim to reconcile money's function with its societal purpose, as explored in a new book on crowdfunding and P2P lending as forms of democratic finance. [Blog - September 2021]
Community Municipal Investments: Accelerating the potential of local Net Zero strategies
How local people can help pay for their council's green projects by investing in Community Municipal Investments (CMIs), boosting community involvement and trust in the council's efforts to tackle climate change. [Paper - July 2021].
Research by Dr Mark Davis inspires national campaign for Local Climate Bonds
How the Green Finance Institute's new national campaign empowers UK local authorities to issue Local Climate Bonds, facilitating public investments in crucial green projects and supporting the nationwide drive towards net-zero goals. [Blog - July 2021].
New campaign calls for local climate bonds to support green developments
The Green Finance Institute has launched a campaign with partners to promote community municipal bonds across UK local authorities, aiming to fund green initiatives and offer local residents a sustainable investment opportunity. [News - July 2021].
Crowd funding as Democratic Finance? Understanding how and why UK investors trust these markets
UK investors trust crowdfunding through social networks, seek blended returns, prefer automated tools if inexperienced, and typically invest money they are prepared to lose, highlighting the need for enhanced investor protection to democratise finance effectively. [Paper - December 2020].
Financing Green Ambitions - Final Report
With various funding methods for local councils in the UK to support green initiatives, why are Community Municipal Bonds a particularly useful solution to finance sustainable projects in times of crisis? [Report - November 2020].
The UK's first local government green bond raises £1 million for West Berkshire Council
West Berkshire Council successfully launched the UK’s first local government green bond, raising £1 million to fund its Net Zero strategy with strong local participation, and paving the way for more sustainable community investments. [News - October 2020].
Pioneering bond enables solar panel project
A pioneering scheme in Leeds to equip public buildings with solar energy shows how Community Municipal Investments offer UK residents a participatory way to fund local climate projects [Case study - September 2020].
The platform that lets people invest in sustainable local developments
The UK's first Community Municipal Investment offers people a practical way to lend money to their local councils for funding green projects, providing a tangible return on investment and strengthening community ties. [News - July 2020].
Community Municipal Bonds: Turning Words into Action
How Community Municipal Investments (CMIs) can offer local councils in the UK a new method to finance climate action projects by enabling local residents to invest directly in these initiatives, fostering community engagement and participation in local government actions. [Report - June 2020].
Financing for Society: Assessing the suitability of crowdfunding for the public sector
Crowdfunding is a promising method for public sector projects, offering financial and social benefits, but still faces challenges, particularly for larger or more complex projects. [Report - May 2019].
Finance and justice in low-carbon energy transitions
Investing up to $61 trillion in low-carbon energy systems by 2060 is crucial to meet the Paris Agreement goals, but current energy finance models, which prioritize commercial interests, could lead to injustices unless they incorporate broader principles of fairness and equity. [Paper - 2018].
Energy Demography
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The following outputs cover our exploration into the distributional effects and issues associated with energy use and carbon emissions by UK households. We consider the most appropriate data sets and methods to disaggregate national level carbon emissions to the local and household level. Then we explore the resulting spatial patterns and correlations of neighbourhood level emissions accounts. Finally we investigate the types of neighbourhoods and households that might be unfairly impacted by current and future low carbon policy.
By looking at how emissions changed after the 2007 financial crisis and during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, this resarch suggests specific ways to cut household greenhouse gas emissions based on income and age, highlighting the need for policies that reduce emissions without making inequality worse. [Paper - November 2023].
Exposing a significant disparity in UK energy use, primarily due to car and air travel, this paper calls for policies that both reduce energy demand and promote energy justice by factoring in the social and wellbeing impacts of energy consumption. [Paper - March 2023].
How transport emissions vary across different areas in London, what social factors influence these emissions, and how policies tailored to specific areas could help reduce emissions and improve transport for disadvantaged groups. [Paper - September 2022].
Luxury Carbon Taxes on Household Consumption–A Comparative Study Across 88 Nations
Using carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) technologies to compare costs for bio-energy across different income groups in the UK, we can see that funding these technologies through household energy bills is highly regressive, while using income tax is more equitable. [Paper - August 2022].
Who pays for BECCS and DACCS in the UK: designing equitable climate policy
How does funding climate technologies like BECCS and DACCS through household energy bills disproportionately burden lower-income groups, and is using income tax is a more equitable alternative? [Paper - August 2022].
Who pays for greenhouse gas removal in the UK? Designing equitable policy to fund BECCS and DACCS
Read about four funding options for greenhouse gas removal technologies in the UK, and how they highlight the need for fair policies that distribute costs equitably across different income levels to ensure public support for transitioning to net zero. [Policy Brief - August 2022].
Microdata selection for estimating household consumption-based emissions
Higher-income and high-energy users in the UK contribute the most to total energy footprints, largely due to car and air transportation, and there's a need for policies that address energy demand reduction and promote energy justice by considering social outcomes and impacts on wellbeing. [Paper - February 2022].
Analysis: How can Net National Metabolism be used to measure energy use, help shape social policies and promote sustainability? [Article - August 2021].
Reducing inequality resulting from UK low-carbon policy
Research on the impact of low-carbon policies in the UK on different income households reveals that lower-income households bear disproportionally higher costs. [Paper - June 2020].
Distributional impacts of a carbon tax in the UK
Find out how the UK can implement a carbon tax fairly, ensuring the financial burden does not fall disproportionately on lower-income households as the country moves towards its net-zero emissions goal by 2050. [Policy Report - March 2020].
Why the UK’s carbon footprint is decreasing
Despite a 20-year low in the UK's carbon footprint, including emissions from imported goods, progress in reducing emissions is slow compared to national targets and the Paris Agreement goals, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of the factors driving these changes. [Blog - May 2019].
The UK’s carbon footprint is at its lowest level for 20 years
While the UK's CO2 emissions have fallen to levels last seen in 1888, this figure only counts emissions within the country. The full picture, including emissions from goods the UK imports, shows that the nation's impact on global climate change is still significant. [Blog - April 2019].
A physical supply-use table framework for energy analysis on the energy conversion chain
How physical supply-use tables can be used to assess the impact and efficiency of energy systems, from primary sources through to end-user energy services. [Paper - September 2018].
Untangling the drivers of energy reduction in the UK productive sectors: Efficiency or offshoring?
The UK's reduction in energy use is mainly due to shifting energy-intensive production abroad, not improved energy efficiency, with a notable slow-down in overall energy savings since 2009. [Paper - August 2018].
Funding a Low Carbon Energy System: a fairer approach?
Energy policy costs weigh heaviest on the UK's poorest households, suggesting a switch to general taxation could ease this disparity and align costs more fairly with energy use. [Briefing - March 2018].
Poorest households hit hardest by UK climate change charges despite using least energy
UK's climate change levy hits poorest households hardest, spending more of their income on energy, while wealthier homes consume more but pay less proportionally. A fairer funding model could use income tax, benefiting 70% of households and aligning costs more with ability to pay. [Blog - March 2018].