Good Practice Case Study: Prison Energy Project, UK

Website: www.swea.co.uk/proj_Prisons.shtml

Case Study (57 Kb PDF)

Summary

The Prison Energy Project was delivered in South West England and Wales in partnership with the Prison Service, Energy Saving Trust and Local Energy Agencies, led by Severn Wye Energy Agency. Funding was provided for the project by the Prison Service, Energy Saving Trust and Local Authorities. The project sought to engage the prison service and its communities in a holistic approach, delivering energy surveys to prisons, offender education, staff training and advice and support to offenders' families. The project engaged more than 2000 offender families, trained 200 prison staff and more than 50 prisoners received accredited training in sustainable energy which has now been integrated into mainstream training services. The holistic approach of this project in engaging with the whole prison community at the appropriate level is the best route to success in reducing overall emissions within and around the prison. The findings of this project show there is a very good opportunity for many aspects to be replicated in other locations.

Results

• New partnerships have been developed with local authorities, local EEACs and local prisons not only during the term of this project, but also beyond it through the dissemination programme.
• Partnerships have been developed between local EEACs and subcontracted training organisations to the prison service, offering the potential for new training development opportunities beyond prisons, for example improved basic skills in other sectors
• Welsh sites have achieved a reduction of CO₂ emissions in the region of 257 tCO₂ that can be attributed to the project action
• Energy management committees are established and engaged in taking forward survey recommendations across all the prison sites
• 97 HMPS staff have received training on relevant energy issues; 100% state that it will positively affect their future actions and 49% of these that it will make a significant difference to their future actions
• 46% have been put in touch with EEAC services furthering the impact of the project on the domestic sector
• A new qualification for the energy sector, accredited and available through City and Guilds; two colleges and nineteen tutors fully prepared to deliver the course
• In two months of pilot delivery at five establishments, 50 candidates have gained the qualification; a further 672 candidates estimated for the coming year.
• 164 energy surgeries implemented leading to 2602 people engaged with EEAC services and 1164 completed Home Energy Checks, with 97 referrals to schemes and 28 measures installed

Lessons learned and repeatability

1. The holistic approach of this project in engaging with the whole prison community at the appropriate level is the best route to success in reducing overall emissions within and around the prison, however there is some benefit to replicating separate aspects of the project.
2. A multi-faceted project such as this requires a large number of key contacts in each area. As responsibilities for energy management and awareness raising are usually not distinctly defined in peoples€ job roles, a great deal of groundwork needs to be done in order to achieve the contacts needed for instigating the work.
3. Support from senior management, not only on each site but from regional and national managers also, plays a significant role in encouraging others to be proactive around the project work.
4. Whilst energy surveys produced many significant actions and were very successful in generating understanding of the energy needs at each site, it is felt that that the recommendations made are in many cases difficult to implement and would benefit from a more sustained period of follow up advice and support.
5. There is an area of missed opportunity with regards to follow up support that is provided through the EEACs to those individuals that were engaged through the energy surgeries. Whilst the number of home energy checks completed was high, the number of actual referrals made to schemes, and the measures installed was not very high. The onus lies with the home occupier to identify the specific opportunities for themselves and then make an application for measures to be installed in their homes.
6. Staff training is a very successful way to promote energy efficient practices at home and at work but this needs to be carefully constructed in order to motivate what are often reluctant audiences.
7. Accredited training in this area is in demand but the implementation of such a thing relies on a very cohesive approach from a number of different key actors, in this instance, the colleges, City and Guilds, Heads of Learning and skills, tutors and the course developers.

To find similar reports, click on a keyword below:
National Energy Agencies : Local Energy Agencies : Appliances : Buildings : Citizens : Cooling : Decision Makers : EEAC - UK : Education : Energy Efficiency : Energy Management : Heat/Heating : Households : Industry : Information Dissemination : Lighting : Local Government : ManagEnergy : Renewable Energy Sources & Systems : Sustainable Communities : Sustainable Energy : Training : User behaviour

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