A dedicated framework to engage citizens in an energy project
At TwinERGY, communities play a key role in developing and implementing project’s emergent technologies and energy efficiency programmes. In order to involve them in the process and represent their main concerns, we have created an ad-hoc citizen engagement framework to ensure that consumers are placed at the centre.
Core values
Collaboration:
Involving ordinary people and addressing their concerns in relation to their everyday energy management.
Multiple voices:
Everyone’s interests and expectations should be represented at any stage of the project, so addressing inclusion and diversity is key. Involvement in technology projects can help tackle structural inequalities.
Power:
Challenging traditional hierarchies by changing the tone to design a more egalitarian space is at the heart of TwinERGY.
Experimental and Collective:
Experimental ethos to collective learning and doing, following the idea that everyone's an ‘expert’ in their own way.
THE METHODOLOGY
An adapted version of the Bristol Approach has been developed to include elements specific to a Demand Response energy project. The framework is structured into 5 iterative steps:
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Identify the community
Mapping local groups and taking into account cultural context, needs and concerns of the community we aim to engage over the course of the project.
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Co-Design Technologies and Incentives
Getting feedback from participants is important in the design of TwinERGY technologies and the tools that can encourage people to change their energy behaviours.
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Deploy Technologies and Skills
Installing and setting up technologies at people’s home and community centres, as well as activities to deploy skills among pilot participants so that they are able to use the devices. Once tested, there may be the opportunity to optimise the technological tools with direct input from consumers.
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Measure Changes
In order to foster more sustainable energy consumption and bring positive advances to participants’ lives, we organised a series of activities to make citizens aware of the processes related to smart plugs and contracts. By following a co-assessment approach, we get participants’ inputs on the potential changes.
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Reflect on Outcomes
Reflection on the results to iterate the next phase and improve engagement and delivery.
Co-designing with communities
Workshops to understand the strengths and pitfalls of engagement strategies within the four pilot sites through Miro sessions, tools such as the EDI matrix, persona cards or scenario cards are some of the dynamics that have been done so far to involve consumers in the project and achieve a better commitment.
