CSE overview
The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) is an independent national charity, established in 1979 to advance sustainable energy policy and practice. We share our knowledge and practical experience to enable people to change the way they think and act about energy.

We do this by giving advice, managing innovative energy projects, training others to act, and undertaking research and policy analysis.

At any one time we have between 50 and 60 different and separately funded projects under way. All of these are helping people and communities to meet real needs for both environmentally sound and affordable energy services.

We are based in Bristol although much of our work has relevance and impact across the UK. Our clients and funders include national, regional and local government and associated agencies, energy companies and charitable sources. We are also a founder member of the charity-owned joint venture, Energy Advice South West Ltd, which manages the South West Energy Saving Trust advice centre.

Work is delivered in partnership with national and local government and associated agencies, the energy industry, business, community groups, schools and the general public on a range of initiatives that include:

the development of pilot projects identifying new ideas and approaches to dealing with the constraints facing sustainable energy development
• the delivery of a range of community based energy projects encouraging greater local awareness of, and engagement with, the issues relating to energy including health, comfort, housing, fuel poverty, and the environment
• the delivery of both telephone and face-to-face energy advice to householders and community groups, both as part of the national network of Energy Saving Trust Advice Centres and through other projects
• education work with schools and colleges that emphasises the role of the pupil/student as an environmental decision maker
• the delivery of energy awareness training projects aimed at the energy industry, local authorities and the wider business sector
• technical consultancy services which help clients understand and implement low carbon solutions appropriate to their energy needs
• action orientated research work that develops understanding of energy and environmental issues and fuel poverty
• data analysis to reveal the opportunities, costs, and distributional impacts of interventions to cut carbon emissions and/or address fuel poverty
• influencing policy makers locally, regionally and nationally with the experience and results gained from delivering practical projects.

• Target audience: CSE works with individuals and organisations from public, private and voluntary sectors on a wide range of initiatives at local, regional and national level.