Fusion21

Become a part of our Retrofit Resident Engagement Focus Groups

With the Climate Change Act (2008), the UK has a legally binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. Energy use of existing homes is responsible for about 27% of the UK’s total carbon emissions – twice that of commercial and public buildings and five times that of industrial buildings. Upgrading existing housing stock with energy efficiency measures is viewed as a key way of reducing carbon emissions and energy bills. However, without resident engagement and support, the Government is unlikely to meet national and international emissions targets.

As part of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between Fusion21 and the University of Salford we are looking to engage with Registered Provider residents. Sharon Chahal the KTP lead for this area, will be looking to hold focus groups with local residents in order to gauge their attitudes and experiences towards retrofit and related technologies, regardless of whether their property has undergone upgrades or not.

Focus groups are groups of people who meet to discuss a particular subject, in this case energy efficiency and the rising cost of fuel bills. The focus groups will be anonymous and informative with an interactive ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ survey. Encouraging residents to be a part of these groups will be a great opportunity for landlords to engage with their tenants and actively involve them in shaping the future retrofit service delivery.

Fusion21’s first tenant focus group event will run alongside Climate Change Week in March. The event organised by Fusion21 in conjunction with the University of Salford will offer local residents the chance to be involved in an interactive and information packed afternoon. It will offer local residents the opportunity to share ideas, learn about energy efficiency measures, how to save money on fuel bills, ask questions and engage in discussions with other residents. The event will include a tour of the innovative Salford University Energy House, a Victorian terraced house constructed within an environmentally controllable laboratory.


If you are a tenant or Registered Provider and would like to become involved in future focus groups around Retrofit, or require any further information please contact Sharon Chahal at Fusion21 on 0151 481 3000 or e-mail Sharon.Chahal@Fusion21.co.uk.