Leicester Energy Agency (LEA) and the Home Energy Office are part of Leicester City Council. The Council has been at the forefront of the sustainable energy agenda since 1990 and was awarded Beacon Status for Sustainable Energy in 2005/06.

LEA itself was formed in February 1996, with funding from the SAVE programme, and employs 4 full time and 1 part time staff, managing local, regional, national and European projects. The Agency operates on three levels: local/regional, national and European/international.

At a local/regional level, LEA performs surveys and provides energy advice for businesses. This role supports the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (EEAC) - a householder advice service.

Nationally LEA manages the UK HECA Secretariat, which is an affiliation of local Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) Officers.

LEA is also involved in various projects at a European/international level in partnership with other European Cities, including:

• ProBioEnergy. Looking at the development of a biomass supply chain.
• Intelligent Metering. Building on metering in Leicester, looking at improving the management of buildings across Germany, Denmark and Austria.
• EAMS (Environmental Audit and Management Systems) partnered by BEST Network (Nottingham Trent University). Assisting SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) with energy/environmental audits.

The Home Energy Office is part of the Leicester City Council Housing Department, and covers all areas of domestic energy efficiency at a local level. It currently employs 10 staff working on a range of projects to promote energy efficiency and implement "affordable warmth" measures in homes.

The work of the Home Energy Office includes:

• SRB 6 CHESS scheme - focussed on a small geographical area of Leicester city and offering grants to owner-occupiers for the installation of energy efficient measures.
• Health Through Warmth - a scheme for local residents suffering from ill health and at risk from cold or damp housing conditions.
• Energy Sense - provides a range of home energy services tailored to the needs of households in Leicester.
• Safe & Healthy Homes - Funded by the UK Government's Sure Start initiative and providing a risk assessment of homes for families with young children living in two of the most deprived areas of the city.
• Insulation schemes and grants for energy efficient goods and services.