VCSE Energy Audits & Decarbonisation
London and the UK
Location
Year
2024
Service areas
The Project
Love Design Studio worked with 31 voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across the London and the South of England to reduce energy use and running costs through the VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme, part of the government’s £100 million cost-of-living support package.
This forms part of Love Retrofit, our initiative to help the UK transition its buildings away from fossil fuels through an ethical, people-centred approach.
The Solution
Our role was to deliver independent, site-specific energy assessments and translate findings into clear, practical decarbonisation plans. We worked closely with each organisation to understand how their buildings are used and where change would have the greatest impact.
Recommendations included fabric improvements, heating controls, lighting upgrades, solar PV and ventilation enhancements. For each measure, we set out costs, carbon savings and payback periods, prioritising short term actions alongside longer-term retrofit pathways. This gave organisations the clarity and confidence they needed to plan ahead and apply for future funding.
The Result
The result is lower energy demand across multiple sites, reduced running costs, and more comfortable, climate resilient buildings. The improvements free up resources so VCSE organisations can focus on continuing their day to day work and keeping thse vital community spaces open.
