Bristol City Leap is pleased to announce its commitment to support the Centre for Sustainable Energy’s (CSE) free energy advice helpline. Ameresco, through the Bristol City Leap partnership, will provide £20,000 per year for the next four years to ensure local residents can continue getting expert help with lowering their energy bills and making their homes warmer and more energy efficient.

CSE supports thousands of people a year to reduce their bills and make their homes more energy efficient. The CSE energy advice line offers expert help to local people dealing with all sorts of home energy problems. CSE’s friendly advisors give free, personalised advice over the phone on things like:

  • Making cold, damp, or draughty homes warmer and more comfortable
  • Getting the most out of your heating system and fixing broken ones
  • Cutting down on gas and electricity bills
  • Understanding what grants and financial help you might be able to get

This service is especially important for people who are having trouble paying their energy bills or living in cold, damp homes.

Bristol City Leap is an initiative with social value at its heart. We have committed to deliver a minimum of £61.5 million of social value to the city over our first five years, including over 1,000 new jobs, apprenticeships, and work placements. Additionally, our new £1.5 million Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund is delivering grants and loans to support community energy projects all over the city. Furthermore, Bristol City Leap ensures that its staff and any sub-contractors within our supply chain are paid at least the Real Living Wage.

Supporting initiatives like CSE’s energy advice helpline not only aligns with our commitment to social value but is also vital in ensuring Bristol residents have access to the resources they need to reduce their energy bills and their impact on the climate. This effort contributes to making Bristol a cleaner, healthier, and better place to live.

Bristol City Leap Managing Director Mark Apsey said: “Bristol City Leap is dedicated to making a tangible difference by supporting initiatives that provide direct and impactful benefits to residents. By supporting to fund the Centre for Sustainable Energy’s free energy advice helpline, we are ensuring that more individuals and families have access to essential guidance on managing their energy consumption. Our commitment of £20,000 per year over the next four years underscores our dedication to social value and sustainability. We believe that empowering residents with the knowledge and resources to make their homes more energy-efficient is a significant step towards a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable Bristol.“

Janine Michael, Deputy Chief Executive at CSE said: “We’re seeing a significant increase in calls to our advice line each year, reflecting the growing challenges posed by rising living costs and soaring energy prices. Many local people are struggling to keep their homes warm. This funding contribution from Bristol City Leap is crucial. It enables CSE to continue providing clear, practical advice to local people, empowering them to make informed decisions about energy use and energy-saving home improvements. Together, we’re helping Bristol residents create warmer homes, reduce bills, and contribute to a more sustainable city.“

For more information about the funding and the services provided by CSE’s energy advice helpline, please head to: https://www.cse.org.uk/my-home/how-we-help-you/