Energ’Ethic
By Marine Cornelis
Energ’EthicOct 21, 2022
E41 - Who Do We Want to Listen to and Trust in the Energy and Climate Transitions? - Jad Mouawad
In this thought-provoking episode of Energ’Ethic, we sit down with Jad Mouawad, a trailblazer in climate communication and a key figure in the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) pivot towards clean energy advocacy. With a career spanning over two decades, Jad has been at the forefront of merging energy policy with climate imperatives, advocating for a future where energy security and sustainability go hand in hand.
Bridging Climate and Energy Policies:
Jad reflects on the evolution of energy coverage, from its initial environmental footprint to its undeniable impact on climate change. He shares his journey from The New York Times, where he championed the integration of energy industry coverage with climate implications, to his pivotal role at the IEA.
The IEA’s Transformation:
We delve into Jad’s experiences during a pivotal era at the IEA under Dr. Fatih Birol’s leadership. Jad discusses the agency’s ambitious mission to lead the clean energy transition, outlining the strategic shifts and the development of influential scenarios, including the net-zero pathway aligned with the Paris Agreement goals.
Mainstreaming Information:
Jad emphasizes moving beyond traditional report-centric approaches to disseminate key messages through a vibrant digital ecosystem. He highlights innovative strategies, from revamping the IEA’s website to leveraging partnerships with Google and Wikipedia and even co-creating the engaging ‘Climate Game’ with the Financial Times.
Combatting Misinformation:
In an era of rampant misinformation, Jad addresses the challenges of maintaining public trust in media and factual information. He provides insights into the IEA’s efforts to offer accessible, transparent data and analysis, fostering informed public discourse on climate and energy.
Competing for Attention:
Acknowledging the difficulty of keeping the climate crisis in the public eye amidst pressing global issues, Jad underscores the need for consistent, compelling communication to ensure environmental concerns remain a priority.
Convincing the Audiences:
Jad shares his perspective on the opportunities and challenges in convincing diverse audiences of the urgency of climate action. He stresses the importance of compelling storytelling and public policy support to drive societal change.
Trust in Science and Accessibility:
With a nod to the robust trust in scientists, Jad discusses the critical role of making scientific messages more accessible to the public, enhancing the impact of scientific findings on society.
The Power of Positive News:
Jad advocates for sharing progress in the energy transition to inspire action. He reflects on the importance of recognizing achievements while acknowledging the distance, instilling hope and determination in the face of a changing climate.
The Power of Information:
With a powerful message on the transformative potential of information, Jad calls for a concerted effort to reshape perceptions through factual storytelling, highlighting the economic and societal shifts already underway.
Join us as we explore these themes with Jad Mouawad, seeking to understand who we should listen to and trust in the journey toward a sustainable and just energy future.
Resources:
- IMF: Public Perceptions of Climate Mitigation Policies: Evidence from Cross-Country Surveys
- Ipsos Earth Day poll (2023)
- Pew Trust in Scientists poll (2022)
- Reuters Digital News Report 2023 (about TikTok and other social networks)
- Rowan Atkinson's (Mr Bean) editorial in the Guardian
- Rebuttal by Simon Evans
- IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2023
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn.
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ’Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E38 - Special Episode: Unveiling the Social Potential of Energy Communities in Italy
This one is a very special episode of Energ'Ethic! While our podcast is usually conducted in English, today, we have something exceptional in store. We're diving into a thought-provoking discussion that stems from a recent webinar held entirely in Italian, shedding light on a crucial aspect of the energy landscape.
In this episode, we unravelled the layers of "Comunità Energetiche ed Energy Sharing: Svelare un Potenziale Sociale Inesplorato," a webinar that took place on 28 September 2023 under the auspices of Rete ASSIST, for the PEnTrEn project.
The conversation with first-class experts Dr Aurore Dudka (University of Trento) and Emmanuele Petruzziello (CEO of KOALA, a start-up dedicated to promoting energy sharing) explored the profound social implications of energy beyond its resource aspect. It's a journey into understanding how energy can be a catalyst for positive social change, with a special focus on Italy.
The webinar's core objective was to peer beyond the technical and theoretical ideals of energy communities within the Italian context. While the technical landscape holds promise, and the stakeholders are poised to leap into action upon the awaited ministerial decree, there's a facet that often remains in the shadows – the social and cultural dimensions of energy communities.
As revealed during the discussion, these communities frequently lack diversity, with a noticeable absence of women, youth, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds among their ranks. This diversity deficit poses a formidable challenge in addressing energy poverty comprehensively.
But what becomes abundantly clear from this engaging conversation is that energy, within the framework of an "energy community," is merely the tip of the iceberg. It serves as a pretext for forging social connections, providing training, fostering local initiatives, and creating value – especially for young people and women in underserved areas.
In an era when climate change is transitioning into a pressing social challenge, constructing new reference points that firmly place people at the centre is paramount. This, in essence, embodies the spirit of #energyjustice.
The video recording of this remarkable webinar is also available on the Rete ASSIST website, allowing you to delve even deeper into the insights shared and watch it with automated subtitles.
A heartfelt thanks to Marina Varvesi, Federica Petraroli, and Federica Ragazzo for their unwavering support. Let us know your thoughts on this special episode!
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E40 - Nurturing Wellness, Power & Wellbeing among change makers - Aryanisha Lawes
In this poignant episode of Energ'ethic, we delve deep into the journey of Aryanisha Lawes—a social justice advocate who transitioned from frontline work addressing energy poverty in marginalized communities to becoming a spiritual wellness coach. She believes in "helping the helpers" and equipping them with tools in leadership, power, and wellbeing to instigate more effective social and environmental reforms.
Highlights
- Aryanisha unpacks the spiritual underpinnings of her work, recounting her ordination as a Buddhist and how it informed her mission.
- The episode uncovers Aryanisha's motivation for launching her own business after years of frontline work, pinpointing the systemic issues and personal stressors that frontline workers face.
- Aryanisha shares a range of approaches in coaching and training, including character personification techniques that allow individuals to confront their challenges effectively.
- The importance of community and human connection to combat feelings of isolation and loneliness in this work is underscored.
Key Takeaways
1. The Dialogue between Vision and Reality: Aryanisha discusses how spirituality and practical action feed into each other, especially when you hold the potential for liberation, compassion, and courage for others.
2. The Physical Toll of Social Justice Work: She speaks candidly about the bodily impact of being a 'changemaker', from stress to burnout, emphasizing the need for well-being to accompany power and leadership.
3. Tools for Transformation: Aryanisha shares her unique coaching techniques like personification to help address behavioral patterns, lending valuable insights into the mechanics of the mind.
4. The Power of Community: Aryanisha reveals the transformative impact of realizing that "you are not alone" and how community-building can infuse social work with new energy and power.
5. Simple Yet Transformative Solutions: The episode highlights the importance of basic practices like proper breathing to manage stress.
6. Beyond Self-care: Aryanisha argues that while self-care is critical, social justice work also requires agency and influencing change, which involves difficult conversations and courageous stances.
7. Importance of Honest Communication: Aryanisha concludes by emphasizing the need for honesty and ongoing communication among changemakers, especially about the emotional and physical states they find themselves in while navigating their work.
Whether you’re a frontline worker or a policy-maker, tune in for a transformative conversation that addresses not just the how, but the why of making the world a better place.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E39 - Eating the Energy Elephant: Tackling the Infrastructure Challenge One Bite at a Time, with Chantel Scheepers, OakTree Power
Today, we're thrilled to introduce Chantel Scheepers, CEO of OakTree Power. With a career spanning over 15 years in clean technology, Chantel is a visionary leader who has been at the forefront of the energy sector's paradigm shift. In this episode, we delve into the concept of energy flexibility, the challenges of modernizing energy infrastructure, and how to "eat the elephant" of energy transition one bite at a time.
Over the last 15 years, Chantel has been a tireless advocate for clean technology and has successfully deployed smart grids and Virtual Power Plants across 17 countries. Her mission is to catalyze a sustainable world for us all, and she does so with a unique blend of passion, intelligence, and a deep sense of duty to future generations.
Key Takeaways
- What is Energy Flexibility?
Chantel explains that energy flexibility is akin to an overbooked flight where passengers are paid to take a later flight. In the energy world, grid operators pay clients to use less electricity during times of network congestion. This approach not only alleviates stress on ageing infrastructure but also offers a more sustainable solution.
- The Elephant in the Room: Infrastructure Challenges
Chantel discusses the enormous investment needed to upgrade existing energy infrastructure, estimated at up to 21 trillion dollars by 2050. She emphasizes that smart, distributed grids are the future, as upgrading existing networks is neither sustainable nor cost-effective.
- Sustainability and Social Impact
Chantel shares her personal passion for energy sustainability, particularly in Africa, where nearly 700 million people still lack access to electricity. She believes in building a system that benefits not just today's consumers but future generations as well.
- Collaborative Approach
OakTree Power works closely with clients and governing bodies to make knowledge available and find internal champions within organizations. Their solutions promise to offer up to 30% reduction in baseline energy costs, making them both cost-effective and sustainable.
- The Big Picture
Chantel's mission is to take energy flexibility into as many markets as possible. She cites impressive statistics, such as a potential annual saving of 24 million kilowatt-hours if more buildings adopted OakTree Power's program, equivalent to nearly 9,000 tonnes of CO2 saved every year.
The Metaphor: Eating an Elephant
Chantel uses the metaphor of "eating an elephant a bite at a time" to describe the energy transition. While significant strides have been made, there's still a long way to go. The key is to tackle the challenge systematically, making incremental but impactful changes.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E37 - Inclusive Cities, Empowered Communities: Embracing Intersectionality in Urban Environments - Safaa Charafi
Join us for an enlightening episode of Energ'ethic as we dive into inclusive urban development with the incredible Safaa Charafi from Urban Inclusion. Safaa, an architect and urbanist, shares her journey of realizing the unintended consequences of her work and her determination to create cities that cater to everyone, regardless of gender, race, or social status.
In our conversation, Safaa highlights the challenges of achieving inclusivity in urban contexts. We explore deeply ingrained social norms and gender stereotypes that shape urban planning and design worldwide. Safaa emphasizes the importance of representation and participation of marginalized groups in decision-making processes to ensure that cities are designed with diverse needs in mind.
Discover inspiring examples of inclusive urban solutions as Safaa showcases the power of stakeholder collaboration and participatory design. From snow ploughing prioritization in Stockholm to address gender disparities to the comprehensive strategies needed to tackle social class and gentrification, Safaa advocates for a people-centric approach to urban development.
Join us as Safaa calls for meaningful community engagement and the amplification of diverse voices to shape urban policies and processes. Her message goes beyond gender inclusivity, encompassing mental health, children's well-being, and the needs of lower-income communities.
Be inspired by Safaa's vision of creating cities that prioritize equity, inclusivity, and the well-being of all residents.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E36 - Powering Change from Within: How Municipalities Lead the Energy Community Transformation - Sara Giovannini, Energy Cities
In this captivating episode of Energ'ethic, we delve into the world of community energy alongside the remarkable Sara Giovannini from Energy Cities. With an unwavering passion for sustainability, Sara is committed to driving the energy transition forward. As a prominent member of Energy Cities, a vibrant network of local authorities, she actively works towards creating livable and thriving cities for their citizens. Through capacity building and impactful advocacy, Energy Cities empowers local leaders and technicians, ensuring their voices resonate at the European level.
During our engaging conversation, Sara sheds light on the distinctive challenges encountered when establishing community energy projects at the municipal level across Europe. We delve into the scarcity of resources, both financial and human, which hinder the support that local authorities can offer. Additionally, we explore the critical need for clearer legal frameworks, particularly in procurement rules, to enable communities to actively participate in the energy transition. Sara emphasizes municipalities' pivotal role in climate action, drawing from their firsthand experiences and navigating unique challenges. We delve into the fear of exposure that often inhibits municipalities from taking bold action, emphasizing the significance of fostering a supportive environment for innovation.
Discover the transformative power of energy communities as Sara reveals their extraordinary social benefits, transcending environmental sustainability. From combating energy poverty to nurturing energy literacy, these vibrant communities offer holistic solutions beyond green energy. Our discussion also delves into the underrepresentation of women in community energy and the imperative of inclusivity in project planning and execution, fostering equal opportunities for all.
Don't miss out as Sara unveils strategies for engaging a wider range of stakeholders in the energy transition, breaking free from the cycle of the "usual suspects." We delve into the pivotal role of citizen engagement, the importance of mapping local actors, and implementing inclusive practices to ensure the diverse needs of communities are adequately considered.
Join us for this brilliant new episode of Energ'ethic, a must-listen for those passionate about community energy and its profound potential to revolutionize our cities. Sara's expertise and unwavering dedication to empowering local authorities will inspire you, urging you to actively support and champion community-led sustainable initiatives.
Find more about Energy Cities:
- https://energy-cities.eu/grafting-cities-cultivating-our-common-future/
- https://energy-cities.eu/new-community-energy-espresso-training/
- https://soundcloud.com/energy-cities
- https://www.sccale203050.eu/toolkit
- https://energy-communities-repository.ec.europa.eu/index_en
- https://energycommunityplatform.eu/
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E35 - From Darkness to Empowerment: Building Resilient Energy Systems for Sustainable Communities in Colombia (and South Africa) - Juan Pablo Cárdenas
In this episode of Energ'ethic, Juan Pablo Cárdenas, an environmental engineer turned humanities advocate, guides us through the energy transition in Colombia and South Africa. Juan Pablo shares his journey from technical engineering to a multidisciplinary approach, highlighting the importance of building lasting, sustainable solutions. Drawing from his personal experiences with blackouts in Colombia and South Africa, he sheds light on how such events can transform energy systems.
Juan Pablo emphasises the unequal distribution of electricity access in both countries, with South Africa ranking as the most unequal country globally. He discusses the policy responses to address energy poverty, including the free basic electricity allowance in South Africa and Colombia's cross-subsidy mechanism. These initiatives aim to make electricity more affordable and accessible for marginalised communities.
A key focus of the conversation is energy communities and their potential to reshape the energy landscape. Juan Pablo shares insights from a pilot project in Medellin, Colombia, where a middle-income neighbourhood became an energy community. He highlights the importance of community leadership figures in driving such initiatives and building a sense of ownership and participation among residents.
Collaborating with the vertically-integrated utility, EPM, Juan Pablo and his colleagues navigate the regulatory landscape to enable the energy community to thrive. They also engage with policymakers, regulators, and local governments to raise awareness about the transformative potential of energy communities. Juan Pablo discusses how energy communities are gaining prominence in Colombian politics, particularly for remote areas where energy poverty is a pressing concern.
By diversifying the energy mix and promoting local sustainability, energy communities offer a pathway to a more cohesive and resilient energy system. Juan Pablo believes that energy communities represent a unique opportunity to foster community and social cohesion while promoting conscious resource use, which are essential for resilience towards climate change, addressing both mitigation and adaptation challenges.
Tune in to this inspiring conversation with Juan Pablo Cárdenas to learn how energy communities can empower individuals, create a more equitable energy landscape, and drive the transition towards a sustainable future in Colombia and beyond.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E34 - Equity, Innovation, and Carbon Neutrality: Unlocking the Potential of Sustainable Cities - Simone Mangili, CNCA
In this new episode of Energ'ethic, we sit down with Simone Mangili, the passionate advocate driving the energy transition and sustainability efforts, as the Executive Director of the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA). Simone's journey has been fueled by his unique ability to bridge diverse perspectives and create collaborations across sustainability disciplines and geographies.
Simone's deep connection with the natural world has shaped his dedication to environmental sustainability and urban development. He firmly believes that our cities should be seen as integral parts of the natural ecosystem, fostering the growth of natural systems within urban environments. By incorporating nature-based solutions and green infrastructure, cities can simultaneously mitigate climate change and enhance the quality of life for their residents.
As part of the CNCA, a close-knit alliance of leading cities, Simone and his team empower member cities to set ambitious targets for carbon neutrality and pioneer groundbreaking initiatives. Their approach focuses on building capacity within city administrations, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and developing innovative policy solutions. With a keen emphasis on equity and justice, CNCA supports cities in centring the needs of their communities throughout the transition to a climate-neutral future.
Simone shares inspiring examples, such as Sydney's collaboration with indigenous Aboriginal community organizations, highlighting the importance of valuing indigenous knowledge and creating sustainable livelihoods while maintaining and enhancing the carbon potential of landscapes.
Tune in to this episode as Simone Mangili takes us on a captivating journey through the world of sustainable urban development, climate equity, and the limitless opportunities for positive change in our cities. Get ready to be inspired and gain valuable insights from the pioneering work of CNCA and its member cities.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E33 - Energy Transition in India: Empowering Communities with Rachita Misra, SELCO Foundation
In this episode of Energ'Ethic, we are delighted to have Rachita Misra, the dynamic Associate Director (Knowledge and Advocacy) at SELCO Foundation, as our guest. Rachita's remarkable journey spans from being a trained architect to becoming a passionate advocate for local ownership and improving energy access for underserved communities.
Rachita's mission goes beyond quick fixes, focusing on creating a more equitable system that provides equal opportunities for all. By harnessing the power of sustainable energy, she addresses not only energy access but also its broader impact on livelihoods, health, and well-being.
Navigating India's diverse landscape, Rachita and her team strategically choose geographies to develop scalable models for transforming the energy access system. Their approach involves understanding the unique applications of energy and adapting to local needs, considering the aspirations and diverse lifestyles of different regions.
Democratizing energy systems is at the core of Rachita's vision. She envisions a future where individuals can take ownership of their energy generation, paying for what they need and embracing decentralization. To achieve this, she emphasizes the importance of designing technologies that meet communities' specific requirements while ensuring affordability remains accessible for high-quality solutions.
Rachita's impactful work extends beyond energy access. Collaborating with various departments, from health to agriculture, she advocates for a decentralized narrative. By upgrading health facilities and integrating energy considerations into planning, she envisions a future where transitioning off the grid is celebrated as a positive step.
During the conversation, we also explore the challenges posed by the rising demand for air conditioning, especially in India's rapidly growing market. Rachita advocates for energy-efficient building designs as a means to alleviate the burden on energy affordability and poverty.
Furthermore, Rachita sheds light on the heat stress experienced by impoverished communities living in corrugated metal houses. Often doubling as workplaces, these spaces struggle with heat capture and inadequate ventilation. Understanding and addressing the unique circumstances of these communities are essential for developing sustainable solutions.
Rachita's passion shines through as she emphasizes the need for more human resources in the development sector. Collaborative efforts and dedicated individuals committed to creating sustainable concepts will be the driving force behind meaningful change.
Join us for this enlightening conversation as Rachita Misra shares her expertise, experiences, and vision for a more inclusive and sustainable energy transition in India and beyond.
Find here Rachita's intervention during the 2023 International Energy Poverty Action Week.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E32: Decarbonisation and Solidarity: the Future of Energy Governance - Jean-Michel Glachant, FSR
Today, we are delighted to have the esteemed Dr. Jean-Michel Glachant join us, as he expounds on the pivotal role that digitalisation plays in enabling energy markets to deliver, as well as the significance of placing humans at the heart of energy systems, with all individuals being equal.
Jean-Michel stresses the importance of energy cooperatives, professional aggregators, and the need for consumer involvement, as the era of big players in the energy market draws to a close. He highlights that the recent energy price crisis has demonstrated that our decarbonisation strategies and energy market system work, and we can establish combined responses that place solidarity at the forefront, despite differences in perspectives and policy choices.
Jean-Michel also discusses the fragmented “social media democracies” and the need for change, citing waste management as an example. He notes that it took time for people to start segregating their waste, but it is now deemed normal and a symbol of good citizenship.
Dr. Glachant further acknowledges the enthralling policy and regulation development in India but recognises that too many Indians are too destitute to alter anything. He yearns for India to invent its version of the energy transition and aspires to a world where no one is left behind.
Jean-Michel shares how he draws inspiration from the people he works with, "they are exceptional humans". He dreams of a world where poverty vanishes, and no one recalls him because everything he thinks becomes common knowledge. He emphasises the importance of co-creating knowledge, which involves interacting with lawyers, engineers, civil servants, and practitioners to codify knowledge in "institutional economics".
Tune in to this new episode of Energ'Ethic to gain insights into the cutting-edge developments in energy economics and governance, and be inspired by Dr. Glachant's vast knowledge and experience.
Dr. Jean-Michel Glachant is a renowned energy economist who has been transforming the regulations governing the energy industry. As a Professor at the Florence School of Regulation, Dr. Glachant has been leading the charge in research, training courses, and policy dialogues for over a decade. But that's not all – he's also the President of the International Association for Energy Economics and the Vice-President of the French Association for Energy Economics.
Dr. Glachant's influence extends beyond academia. As an advisor at the European Commission and the French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), he has had a significant impact on the profession of Energy Economics. In fact, his contributions were recognized with the IAEE Career Award in 2018.
With over 170 articles, working papers, books, and reports under his belt, Jean-Michel is a prolific author and a Twitter star. Follow his profile to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in energy policies and regulation.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E31 - Breaking the Fast Lane - Giulio Mattioli, TU Dortmund University & University of Leeds
Giulio Mattioli is an expert in sustainable transport who is making huge strides towards a greener future at TU Dortmund University in Germany and as a visiting research fellow at the University of Leeds in the UK.
In this conversation, we explore the idea of questioning common sense and the role of cars and cheap planes in today's society. Despite declining greenhouse gas emissions in other sectors, mobility remains a challenge. We delve into the safety hazards SUVs pose in urban environments and the impact of air travel on sustainability. We discuss the fact that frequent flyers happen to be opinion-makers and their responsibility in promoting (un)sustainable practices.
One critical point that Giulio makes is that we've built our society around fast modes of transportation like cars and planes. Changing this reliance on personal transport isn't just an individual's responsibility - it requires a collective effort. We also explore the concept of transport poverty and how car dependency can disproportionately affect low-income communities.
Giulio Mattioli is a pioneer in sustainable transport, and I’m thrilled to have him on this episode of Energ'ethic. Be sure to tune in and learn how his research can inspire you to work towards a greener future!
Reach out to Giulio via Twitter @Giulio_Mattioli or LinkedIn
Recent article Who flies but never drives? Highlighting diversity among high emitters for passenger transport in England, Mattioli, G., Büchs, M., & Scheiner, J. (2023). Energy Research & Social Science, 99, 103057.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E30 - Sharing (mobility) is caring - Angelo Meuleman, MPact
Sharing cars, reinventing mobility for the benefit of society? This is the challenge that Angelo Meuleman has taken on since 2007 when he joined mpact, a mobility not-for-profit organisation based in Ghent, Belgium. At the time, no one thought that one day people would want to make their cars available to other people or lend their vehicles to neighbours. If the rise of the shared mobility giants has helped change the game, whether from a perspective of mainstreaming, business models or technological tools, the social issues are still crucial. This is where the DNA of an NGOs project like mpact comes in.
In this fascinating conversation, Angelo reminds us that sustainable mobility is more than a question of infrastructures or electric vehicles. It's about quality of life and the ability to socialise, especially for marginalised groups. Angelo explains how his work reconciles "yellow and green vests", and how he seeks to bring together concrete solutions that can be easily replicated at the local level, involving the public and private sectors, with large-scale, long-term political projects.
To him, the key question local policymakers must ask is, "How can we reduce the number of cars on our streets?" and make our cities more welcoming for everyone? - as the number will not reduce because of electric cars. "It will because of shared cars and cycling" and better mobility (and parking) regulations.
Tune in now to listen to this episode to discover how shared mobility rocks around the globe.
Angelo Meuleman is the director of the Belgian mobility non-profit organisation mpact. Since its inception in 1975, mpact has been revolutionizing shared mobility solutions through carpooling, car- and cargo bike sharing, on-demand transport services for the elderly, a children's bike library, and more. Angelo's journey with Mpact began in 2007, and since then, he has been leading the charge in EU programs for shared transport and accessibility. With a keen focus on inclusive mobility, with projects such as Inclusion, G-Patra, SocialCar, SHARE-North, SMALL, and more, Angelo has been instrumental in promoting sustainable and accessible transportation solutions for all. As a Flemish Sustainable Transport Network board member, Angelo has been pushing for innovative solutions to create a more sustainable and accessible future. He's also a co-founder of the Flemish Mobihub Association and the unconventional symposium Shared Mobility Rocks.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E29 - Shaking Up Energy Efficiency - Julie Kjestrup, Velux, EuroACE, Renovate Europe
Join us for an inspiring episode with Julie Kjestrup, the powerhouse President of EuroACE and Vice-Chair of the Renovate Europe Campaign, who is shaking up the world of policy and thought leadership for VELUX. With an impressive track record in advocacy and stakeholder engagement, Julie has been at the forefront of the energy efficiency movement in Europe.
In this episode, Julie shares her fascinating journey, from working in the pharmaceutical industry to becoming a leading voice in the energy efficiency sector. She explains how she became involved in lobbying and advocacy for energy efficiency, and the challenges she faced in getting policymakers to focus on the existing building stock.
Julie also discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the EU industrial strategy (the Green Deal Industrial Plan). She highlights the need for training and recognition of workers’ qualifications, and the importance of communication and adapting messages to different audiences.
“Whatever we do to our housing or building stocks, it has a huge impact on how we feel and how we perform as humans,” Julie says. Energy efficiency in buildings is a proven solution, good for the planet, people’s well-being and quality of life, the economy, finance, and industry. However, it still suffers from a somewhat austere image, in contrast to the ostentation sought by some policy makers. “Boring should be the new sexy”, she says, arguing for more efforts to raise energy efficiency standards and broader societal acceptance.
Join us as we explore Julie’s impressive career and gain insights into the world of energy efficiency in the construction sector and policymaking. Don’t miss this timely and important conversation!
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ’Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E28 - Businesses' Duty in Ramping Up Energy Literacy - Michael Pinto, Cleanwatts
In this episode of Energ'Ethic, we talk to Michael Pinto, CEO and co-founder of Cleanwatts, a cleantech company that provides intelligent digital tools to monitor, manage, and optimize energy generation, storage, trading, and consumption.
Michael shares his journey from the corporate world to launching Cleanwatts with a deep commitment to sustainability. Cleanwatts has pioneered many energy communities in Portugal and beyond, with a unique model that involves installing solar panels on commercial and office buildings and inviting local stakeholders to join. Through its platform, Cleanwatts can connect virtually all the smart meters of community members and provide access to excess capacity, resulting in a backlog of approximately 40 megawatts of aggregated capacity at the end of 2022. By consuming locally produced electricity in real time, transport and transmission costs are reduced, resulting in lower energy bills.
Michael clarifies that building energy communities is a complex landscape that involves aggregating loads, flexibility services, and the allocation of funds. Cleanwatts works with reputable local companies that already have knowledge of the landscape. Cleanwatts is addressing the urgent trilemma of decarbonizing the grid, bolstering energy security, and reducing the high cost of energy.
By making it easier for local communities to transition to renewable energy, Cleanwatts is contributing to a sustainable future. Michael discusses Cleanwatts' innovative business model, his engagement with local realities and entrepreneurs, and the importance of technical and social innovation in the energy transition. He highlights the role businesses play in increasing energy literacy among citizens.
Join us in this conversation as we explore the crucial role of businesses in ramping up energy literacy and accelerating the energy transition towards a sustainable future. Don't miss this inspiring episode of Energ'Ethic!
Michael Pinto is the co-founder of Cleanwatts, a company that aims to reframe society's relationship with energy by unlocking the benefits of the global transition where it matters most: locally. With over two decades of international experience in industrial settings and financial services, Michael remains driven by curiosity and values of inclusion, integrity, and resilience. He is committed to building a world in which access to affordable clean energy is decentralized, digitalized, and democratized.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
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© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E27 - "There's no shortage of people passionate about improving other people's lives" - Rose Chard, Energy Systems Catapult
"If we design for low-income vulnerable energy consumers, there can be benefits to a whole range of consumers"
Rose Chard, Fair Future Lead at Energy Systems Catapult, shares her expert insights on how to make the net-zero transition work for low-income and vulnerable consumers and how businesses can design products and services that benefit all consumers.
We discuss the challenges of fuel poverty and how the energy and health sectors can collaborate to keep people warm and well in their homes, in particular through the Warm Home Prescription Programme developed with the NHS.
Rose also shares her views on the changing smart and flexible energy system and how it can be translated into consumers' homes.
Throughout the episode, Rose provides valuable advice for businesses looking to create sustainable and inclusive products and services. She emphasizes the importance of thinking differently about how we use energy in our homes, beyond just kilowatt hours, to focus on warmth, hygiene, and comfort.
Dr Rose Chard holds a PhD in social sciences and over 10 years of experience as a Consumer Insight Manager. She is now Fair Future Lead at Energy Systems Catapult. As a specialist in consumer-centred energy products and services, Rose has been helping translate consumer insights into policy, product, and service design to address consumer vulnerability and energy poverty issues.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
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© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E26 - Nobody should have to choose between eating or heating or cooling their homes - Theresa Griffin
Theresa Griffin is probably the European politician who has had the greatest impact on getting policymakers to understand, acknowledge, and act on energy poverty.
From the moment she first met a single mother in Liverpool who had been left without electricity to the point where she managed to bring forward energy efficiency requirements for vulnerable families at the European Parliament, Theresa tells us about her journey to promote energy justice. Although she had to leave her seat at the European Parliament because of Brexit, she is still working to ensure that the social and human dimensions are present in European climate and industrial policies. Theresa is now advocating for fire safety to be included in European legislation and for more girls and young women to be trained in scientific professions.
Theresa will, therefore, naturally open the second edition of the International Energy Poverty Week (20-24 February 2023). We couldn’t dream of a better ambassador.
“I hope that if you and I have this conversation again in five years, we can actually say that energy poverty is being eradicated not just across Europe but across the globe”
Theresa Griffin was a member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2020. She was the 2017 Energy MEP of the Year for her work addressing energy poverty. She has consistently called for greater ambition in European policies for a ‘just transition’ that leaves no worker, community or young person behind.
She worked as a legislator on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and ensured fire safety was included in her remit after the Grenfell disaster in the UK in 2017. Today, Theresa works with many organisations, including FEEDS, the Forum for European Electrical Domestic Safety, of which she is President.
Reach out to Theresa on LinkedIn and Twitter @TheresaEurope .
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
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© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E25 - Driving the transition with EV charging stations - Luka De Bruyckere and Jaap Burger
The future of mobility is electric. But for the technology to really take root in our daily lives, norms and standards must be created. This is exactly what Jaap Burger of the Regulatory Assistance Project and Luka De Bruyckere of ECOS, an international NGO with a network of members and experts advocating for environmentally friendly technical standards, are doing. Together they have published a very informative report for municipalities (Standards for EV smart charging: A guide for local authorities), as it is mainly up to them to develop the infrastructure for people to charge their vehicles.
How can all policies, regulations and EV standards work together for the same social and environmental goals?
In this new episode, Jaap and Luka shed light on the future of mobility, standards, the importance of smart charging, and electric vehicles that could quickly become essential elements to ensure the electrical continuity of supply and well-functioning networks.
Jaap Burger is a senior adviser to RAP's European team, works on intelligent charging of electric cars and regulations that maximise the possibilities for a decarbonized power market and infrastructure. He focuses on EV smart charging and charging infrastructure implementation with grid operators, e-mobility players, and governmental bodies.
Luka De Bruyckere has worked on climate and energy policy for the European Commission, non-governmental organisations, consulting firms, and universities. She serves as the Program Manager for ECOS, an international environmental NGO with a network of members and specialists that advocate for ecologically friendly technical standards and legislation. Luka is now working on the electrical grid and overseeing Ecodesign & Energy Labeling files, which include photovoltaics.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
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© Next Energy Consumer, 2023
E24 - Getting past judgment to build sustainable and impactful businesses - Farid Baddache, Ksapa
Farid Baddache is CEO and co-founder of Ksapa.org, a social purpose organisation developing open-source solutions accelerating climate transition in more inclusive societies. He works with a global network of experts to combine expertise and broaden their impact. For him, satisfying a much broader ecosystem of stakeholders, including the butterflies on the other part of the planet, is necessary for business success - and much more important than simply "serving shareholders". For him, this is where corporate, environmental and social sustainability opportunities intertwin.
In this fascinating conversation with this veteran of corporate sustainability, Farid explains how the duty to act has grown from the commitment of a handful of enthusiasts like himself to regulatory obligations and societal priorities.
He recommends keeping an open and positive attitude on the actions of some and past mistakes, away from judgements and the search for absolute perfection. This is how to involve as many parties as possible, including the companies of the most polluting or controversial sectors. For him, it is mainly through the education of political and economic leaders that genuinely sustainable and fair dynamics for humans and the planet can thrive. The key question is, "Do you want to be part of the solution or be part of the problem?"
Farid has worked with major corporations, charities, universities and consultancies in multiple locations across the world. He has been instrumental in shaping several critical developments to strengthen coordination between public and private actors around environmental and social issues. For example, Farid helped align the business at COP21 around climate positions. He has also launched leading global initiatives, such as B4IG, which enables OECD governments and multinational companies to join forces for more inclusive growth.
Farid speaks French, English, Spanish, German and Portuguese. He holds an M.B.A. from ESSEC, an M.B.A. from the National University of Singapore in Clean Technology, and a PhD in Organizational Sociology from EHESS, the École des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris. Twitter: @Fbaddache
Find Farid on Twitter: @Fbaddache and LinkedIn.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
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© Next Energy Consumer, 2022
E23 - Creating positive impacts on the people and the planet, with Simon Schillebeeckx, Handprint
"When you think about regeneration, you have to think about think global, and act global."
Simon Schillebeeckx, Professor Planet to some, is an entrepreneur and academic, constantly looking for the best ways to match sustainability theory with practice - in this case, the impact that business can have on the environment and the means to restore it. His initial work with the Global Mangrove Trust aimed to improve the transparency of climate financing and to develop tools to monitor reforestation projects. Now, Handprint, a Singapore-Bangkok-based company, aims to facilitate corporate projects to protect and restore nature and support people across the Sustainable Development Goals.
In this inspiring conversation, Simon shares his experiences of how sustainability and climate change mitigation are perceived in other cultural contexts and how to stimulate commitment and positive action. He also talks about the necessity to engage at the local level while thinking globally and the dangers of adopting a tunnel vision, which would only look at one parameter (e.g. CO2 emissions).
Dr. Simon J.D. Schillebeeckx is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Handprint, a Regeneration-as-a-Service platform that helps companies grow with the planet by integrating and automating regeneration into their daily business processes. Simon also co-founded the Global Mangrove Trust, a non-profit working on large-scale mangrove restoration and conservation. Simon is also Assistant Professor of Strategic Management at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business of the Singapore Management University. Before his move to Singapore in 2015, Simon obtained a PhD in Management from Imperial College London, he worked in sustainable innovation consulting and read Corporate Social Responsibility at Nottingham University and Commercial Engineering at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.
- William McDonough: Cradle to Cradle book (2003) and Ted Talk
- Find Simon Schillebeeckx on LinkedIn
- Handprint on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HandprintTech
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
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© Next Energy Consumer, 2022
E22 - Why you should use electricity at the right time, with Adrien de Vriendt, Adapt.sh
Adrien de Vriendt launched Adapt when he realised that people around him were unaware that electricity could not be green all day and that the use time was as important as other eco-friendly habits.
Adapt is now a mainstream website and App designed to identify when the electricity comes from renewable sources. It, therefore, allows everyday people and those who are usually not interested in energy to plan their energy consumption. It helps them decarbonise their daily lives and respond to the current energy crisis and climate emergency. Before founding Adapt, Adrien had spent ten years working with large companies to help them reduce their energy consumption and CO2 emissions - but as he noticed, much more had to be done for small consumers, such as households.
In this insightful conversation, Adrien offers many energy-saving tips to apply urgently. He also explains why the peak/off-peak (or day/night) tariff, promoted by energy suppliers since the 1960s, has now become economic and ecological nonsense.
Adrien hopes that this user-friendly, free, and open platform will trigger the awareness of millions of Europeans and successfully aggregate enough actions to "accelerate the shutdown of the most polluting fossil fuel power plants" and make the energy sector genuinely green.
Please also take the time to watch Adapt's "Winter is Coming" competition on their social media!
Further resources:
- The Grid, The Fraying Wires Between Americans and Our Energy Future, by Gretchen Bakke, a must-read for everyone willing to understand our relationship with "the (invisible) grid" and its implication for the energy transition
- To download ADAPT on your smartphone: www.adapt.sh/download
- ADAPT web app: www.adapt.sh
- You can follow Adrien on LinkedIn or Twitter
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory
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E21 - The rule of law, right development and climate change are the same fight, Monica Frassoni - EU Alliance for energy savings
Democratic tools are essential for the implementation of better energy systems and the respect of people and the planet, says Monica Frassoni, president of the European Alliance to Save Energy. In this riveting interview, she talks about her doubts and fears for the future of European energy and environmental policies and the Italian context. She also explains her battles and hopes, and talks about the importance of cooperation between interests that might appear divergent at first glance. She explains how citizens need to take ownership of the global climate challenges and ask European and national politicians for greater ambitions for climate justice.
Monica Frassoni is an Italian politician, and an environmental and democracy activist. She is a former Member and Co-President of the Green Group in the European Parliament, where she sat from 1999 to 2009. Until November 2019 was also the Co-Chair of the European Green Party. Ms Frassoni has been the President of the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE), an organisation dedicated to promoting energy efficiency across Europe, for the past decade.
Reach out to Monica on LinkedIn and Twitter @monicafrassoni
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
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© Next Energy Consumer, 2022
E20 - From Coal Hub to Carbon Neutral: Nottingham - with Wayne Bexton
How will the city of Nottingham, a former industrial and major coal hub, be climate neutral by 2028?
In practice, this means cutting emissions by 20% a year between now and then!
Wayne Bexton, the Director of Carbon Reduction, Energy and Sustainability of the Nottingham City Council, explains how the city reconciles environmental sustainability objectives with social and economic ones through integrated work programmes involving all local stakeholders. Wayne explains how Nottingham has succeeded in creating a new 'industrial revolution' that is transforming the perception of residents, including former miners, of their city and accompanying the net-zero transition. The city is carrying out ambitious regeneration programmes to actively address energy poverty, which include crucial public health aspects - reinforced by the improvement of air quality at the regional level.
Wayne also talks about the regulatory challenges that the city faces. He outlines his hopes for decentralised technologies and energy communities "to produce locally, use locally and then that should better reduce rates, reduce tariffs" to increase the uptake of renewable energy and further reduce emissions.
Find here Nottingham's Carbon Neutral Action Plan.
Wayne Bexton is the Director of Carbon Reduction, Energy and Sustainability at Nottingham City Council. He has worked in public sector energy and sustainability for over 15 years. Find Wayne on Twitter @ClimateBex
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2022
E19 - The Hottest Way to Warm Up - Mike Fell, UCL
Are heat pumps the George Clooney of the energy sector?
By confronting his research interest in people's electricity usage patterns with his personal experience, Mike Fell realised that heat pumps suffered from an image deficit leading to slow adoption. A few sexy makeovers and an augmented reality app later, Heat Pump Chic was born. This app gives a better idea of what a heat pump is like in the home environment (including noise) and is intended to familiarise future users with this technology. And perhaps make heat pumps desirable!
Mike uses humour and everyday habits to raise awareness of wider energy and climate issues, such as the need for household flexibility and demand-side response to boost sustainability in the sector. For example, he developed the Should I Bake? website to nudge foodies into using their appliances when most of the UK's grid electricity comes from renewable sources.
Humour, glamour, advertising and nudging, and adapting habits such as baking bread at the best times of the day... listen to this new episode.
By the way, if anybody has George Clooney's contact, please get in touch with Mike, because that could make a difference :-)
Dr Michael Fell is a research associate at UCL Energy Institute. Mike focuses on the social aspects of energy demand flexibility and systematic review methods in energy demand research. Also, check heat pump chic on social media for your daily dose of British humour.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
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© Next Energy Consumer, 2022
E18 - Heating oil in the USA - Thomas Butcher, NORA
The US and EU energy landscapes still look very different. The US grid remains highly dependent on fossil fuels, with more than 60% of electricity generation coming from coal, gas or petroleum products. Besides, 5 million people still use liquid fuels for heating, mostly low-income people residing in mountainous or rural areas where no alternatives are possible. The housing stock and energy efficiency requirements are also very different from the ones in Europe - leading to a whole different dataset.
How do we reconcile social, economic and environmental issues in the context of the US heating oil industry?
In this episode, Dr Thomas Butcher (NORA) explains how the US heating oil industry has come to acknowledge that it needs to move towards decarbonisation while promoting energy efficiency and broader savings. Tom details how the liquid fuel industry is moving to biofuels, coming from crop residues and even yoghurt processing, while investing in continued affordability and environmental sustainability.
Tom is the Technical Director of the United States National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA). Tom leads a group providing research on liquid fuels and the technical support needed to develop a more efficient future for his industry. Tom has been investigating energy systems, air pollutant emissions, and the use of biofuels in boilers and furnaces for decades.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2022
E17 - We need lawyers in the room - Tedd Moya Mose, University of Oxford
"We all live under the same sun"
In this fascinating discussion, Tedd Moya Mose, a lawyer, academic, and consultant at the University of Oxford, looks at the power of law to broaden access to electricity worldwide. From his experience as a lawyer in Kenya to British universities, he has come to understand that “if we get the legal framework or policy or regulation wrong, it is very, very difficult to have effective energy systems, and it's very difficult to have modern life as we know it in a sustainable way.“
He looks at the principles needed for energy justice to be truly implemented, the power of information sharing, and the need to ensure that the law is applied in a fair and equitable manner. “Even the best-written laws need people who understand them to apply them. But the community also needs to be aware that these laws exist and need to know what rights there are to enforce them.”
The law is also instrumental in creating a level playing field and reconciling often conflicting objectives. This is what he calls the “energy trilemma”, opposing three equally strong interests: financial, environmental and political. The “law should come and be almost like the pivot; it should be at the centre of this dilemma and try to balance these interests”.
Finally, he provides an expert view of international treaties and agendas such as the 7th Sustainable Development Goal and the newly recognised UN right to a “clean and healthy environment”. “The law establishes rules, regulations and standards that have to be followed. (…) We need to have the same legal aims and principles. And once those legal aims and principles are well known and documented, they can infuse any legal system. So instead of looking at changing legal systems, what we need to do is to continually develop and accept and adopt and pass laws that carry certain legal standards and legal principles and legal aims that then will lead to action.”
Tedd Moya Mose is a lawyer, academic, and consultant Researcher and Fellow at the University of Oxford focused on mitigating climate change through the transition to a low carbon economy. In his work, he investigates the impact of law on various energy technologies and projects in sub-Saharan Africa, the UK, and the Middle East. Find him on Twitter @Contentedd or LinkedIn
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory
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© Next Energy Consumer, 2022
E16 - Mainstreaming Solar Power with Andrea Scognamiglio, ENEL X
How can solar electricity be made more attractive and affordable to households? What role can an energy giant play for the most vulnerable households?
Increasing the amount of renewable energy, especially solar, in the energy mix has become a priority to create a just transition and make our societies more sustainable. ENEL X, the Enel Company for new and innovative businesses, has been developing solutions for households for several years. Andrea Scognamiglio, the head of Global e-home at Enel X since the end of 2017, is working to make these solutions known and accessible to as many people as possible because people "need to find convenient to move towards sustainability". Between the increase in energy prices in recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic and the generalisation of teleworking, which has increased the time spent at home (and therefore the domestic energy consumption), these solutions respond to concrete needs.
However, the proposed solutions often do not respond to real situations. Therefore, many people live in flats and are excluded from rooftop solar projects. ENEL X is offering in Italy (and soon in Spain and Romania) solar panels for apartments (“Solare da Appartamento”) to hang on window or balcony railings and plug directly into the domestic grid. Andrea calculated that this "very easy solution can help you save twenty-five per cent of the electricity, which at this point in time, it's quite big". Therefore, "these panels can make a big difference saving money, saving the environment and reducing the import of gas."
Andrea points out that even though many instruments make these tools affordable from a financial point of view, many people still risk being left out. Therefore, ENEL X is launching with Legambiente, the main Italian environmental association, the crowdfunding campaign #UnPanelloInPiù, which will allow households in energy poverty to receive one of these panels for free.
Andrea would like everyone to become aware of their potential to generate their own energy because, in the end, "people make the difference".
Find here the crowdfunding platform for the initiative #UnPanelloInPiù with Legambiente: http://sostieni.legambiente.it/unpannelloinpiu
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2022
E15 - Make sustainability sexy for consumers, with Monique Goyens BEUC
How do we put people at the centre of the conversation when high energy prices, rampant inflation, and lack of control over personal data undermine the foundations of our democracies and, more generally, our well-being? What is sustainability from a consumer perspective?
We explored these issues in this precious conversation with Monique Goyens, Director General of BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation. Monique's association is the voice of consumers in Brussels, representing 43 independent national consumer associations in 32 European countries.
Over the years, Monique has managed to ensure that consumer interests are given weight in developing policies. Monique talks about energy efficiency, especially for the most vulnerable populations. She reports that consumer protection organisations are concerned about the products circulating on marketplaces, inflation, and the impact on households and small businesses. Monique reminds us that "the way information is brought to you can be very much unfair and manipulated" and that the EU must develop its own extremely high data protection standards. Indeed, she says, "If we are manipulated as consumers, we will also be manipulated as citizens".
Monique also stresses that to empower consumers, politicians must make the most sustainable options easily accessible, attractive and affordable. This includes adapting the price signal and taxes. Finally, she reminds us of the importance of intermediaries such as BEUC to provide feedback and information and creates confidence in consumer goods and services and politics.
Follow @MoniqueGoyens on Twitter
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
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© Next Energy Consumer, 2022
E14 - "There is no time left to miss opportunities" for the people and the climate, with Yamina Saheb, OpenExp
Now is the time to break silos and adopt interdisciplinary approaches as "there is no time left to miss opportunities" for the people and the climate, says Yamina Saheb, OpenExp.
Born and raised in Algiers, Yamina has been working for the past twenty years at "pushing and continue pushing" policy boundaries, for instance, on the impact of global warming, summer, and mobility poverty on the well-being of the people in European policymaking. To this aim, she developed an energy and mobility index looking at the causes of energy and mobility poverty and seeing how countries have progressed over time.
Yamina explains how the Yellow vests movement was brought up by inadequate housing, energy, and mobility policies that sold an unsustainable dream, the dream of an individual house in the suburbs where you would never hear your neighbour. This model creates a dependency on personal cars and makes investments in thermal comfort in housing critical but often unaffordable. The risk is, by expanding the emission trading system (ETS) to housing and mobility, it might "expand the Yellow vest movement from France to the rest of Europe". She also denounces that the lack of ambition in Minimum energy performance standards will "lock low income in energy poverty" and worse-performing buildings.
She also calls against the Energy Charter Treaty, an international treaty signed in the 1990s to protect investment in fossil fuels. This treaty is now being turned against policies to decarbonise energy. One tool, in particular, the investor-state dispute settlement, prevents billions of euros from being invested in net-zero transition, as they make the country pay "not just compensation for the investment that was made, but also for the profits, the potential profit that they would have made if you would not have changed your policies". As a result, the treaty allows "foreign investors to put in place the policies they want in your country". Yamina calls on the European Union countries to collectively withdraw from this treaty to avoid fines and create the essential conditions for Europe's energy independence from Russian gas and real transition to net-zero.
Yamina Saheb (@ysaheb) is a lead author of the upcoming Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. She holds a Ph.D in Energy Engineering and you can now find her lecturing at Sciences Po Paris. Prior to this, she worked for the Universities of Münster and Lausanne, the Energy Charter Secretariat, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, and the International Energy Agency.
Find here Yamina's work on the European Energy Poverty Index (EEPI) and here more information about the Energy Charter Treaty.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2022
E13 - Shedding a different light on energy news, with Anna Gumbau, Energy Journalist
The current energy crisis is “really the moment of truth.” It sheds light on many issues: the functioning of the market, dependence on fossil fuels, geopolitical impact, energy justice, energy poverty and affordability, and future energy choices and political and corporate strategies. Journalists and newspapers play a fundamental role in clarifying these issues and putting them into perspective for a broader audience. “We should strengthen our ambition in all fronts, and the energy crisis is exposing this”.
Anna Gumbau is a freelance journalist specialising in energy issues. She talks about the importance of using the right wording to make complex topics accessible to those around her and countering the dangers of populism and oversimplification.
She also discusses the importance of diversifying voices and perspectives so that the subject matter is more relevant to people’s experiences. We also talk about women’s representation, the role of men as allies against all-men panels, and her desire to share with her peers and create a caring community. She tells us how being mansplained and belittled in professional settings gave her the grit to start a coaching business and empower women professionals in climate and energy. This coaching activity, called the Green Light, wants to provide coaching and mentoring services and practical tools for women to thrive in these sectors.
Anna Gumbau is a freelance energy and climate journalist based in Brussels. She is usually busy covering the European Green Deal and its impact on central and eastern Europe. Her work’s been published on Euractiv, Energy Monitor, FORESIGHT Climate & Energy, Euranet Plus, and El País. Before going freelance, she was Carbon Pulse’s Brussels correspondent, covering the EU ETS and the Fit for 55 packages, and an energy reporter with Interfax Global Energy Services in London before that. She is a native of Barcelona, where she graduated in Journalism and International Relations.
Reach out to Anna via Twitter @AnnaGumbau or LinkedIn
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
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© Next Energy Consumer, 2022
E12 - Developing decentralised, decarbonised and smart electricity access in Africa - Nicolas Saincy, Nanoé
A fascination for the African continent coupled with a background in electrical engineering led Nicolas Saincy to co-found Nanoé in Madagascar in 2017. Nanoé’s ambition is to offer a third way in the electrification landscape in rural Africa by providing a solution combining respect for the environment and sustainable development, digital technologies, and social entrepreneurship.
Nicolas denounces the environmental impact of cheap solar kits, which he says “are transferring to the final user a lot of risks that has usually taken by the energy provider like material service breakdowns”.
Instead, he proposes a vision of “lateral” electrification, consolidating access to electricity through the interconnection of nanogrids (connecting a few houses), in areas where the primary grid will probably never arrive. In short, Nanoé’s model enables the “progressive building of decentralised, decarbonised and smart power infrastructures that are able to support the economic and social development of the continent”.
To do this, Nicolas relies on networks of entrepreneurs trained by his teams, often young people lacking professional opportunities. Nicolas talks about his difficulty recruiting women entrepreneurs, even though women make up half of the management team.
Nanoé is a member of the EURICA project, a member of LEAP-RE, the Long-Term Joint European Union - African Union Research and Innovation Partnership on Renewable Energy, an EU-supported programme to improve access to electricity in Africa.
Reach out to Nicolas on LinkedIn or through Nanoé's website.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
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© Next Energy Consumer, 2022
E11 - Creating a world where disabled people can thrive - Lucie Middlemiss, University of Leeds
Why is energy poverty unsustainable?
How do disabled people navigate the transition to net-zero?
The “just transition” could be the right framework to rethink the way our societies are designed, and make sure disabled people are taking ownership of the opportunities presented. But first, we need to acknowledge that “The current distribution of energy is unfair to disabled people in the sense that they do not have as much access to energy."
Prof. Lucie Middlemiss is Professor of Environment and Society in the Sustainability Research Institute, at the University of Leeds in the UK. She wrote the first textbook on Sustainable Consumption, and has research interests in sustainable consumption, energy poverty and participation in sustainable development. Her research bridges the gaps between energy consumption in daily life, planning, measuring, monitoring and decision-making.
Read here Lucie's most recent paper, Characterizing the energy use of disabled people in the European Union towards inclusion in the energy transition, with Diana Ivanova.
Lucie's on Twitter: @LucieMiddlemiss
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
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© Next Energy Consumer, 2022
E10 - Overcome energy poverty with better investment subsidies, with Audrey Dobbins, IER
How can public investment subsidies be better designed to have a greater impact on those who need them most?
What can the business community do to involve people in vulnerable circumstances in the energy transition?
Audrey Dobbins is a researcher at the Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use (IER) in Germany at the University of Stuttgart. Audrey has built her career between South Africa, Germany and the United States and has worked and studied chemistry, political science and economics. These experiences give her a unique perspective on addressing energy poverty. She is particularly interested in the different capacities of individuals to participate in the energy transition and in the various forms of support and subsidies that could impact the long term. She's a very committed scientist who is passionate about educating policymakers and the business community about the multi-dimensionality of energy poverty and the solutions they can provide. She has demonstrated that better-targeted subsidies around support measures for the energy and climate transition can have a more significant overall impact.
"It's really about trying to find ways or explore and open the debate about how governments want to spend their money and what kind of future you want to pay for".
Find ENGAGER’s toolkit on building a transition with the people.
Audrey Dobbins’ research focuses on analysing the significance of energy poverty on the energy system by applying an energy-economics model. She will soon present a PhD thesis focusing on improving the energy welfare of vulnerable households and the overall energy planning while achieving the energy and social objectives of the energy transition in the German context.
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2021
E09 - Access to justice for vulnerable people, with Naomi Creutzfeldt and Chris Gill - ESRC Just Energy
How do vulnerable energy consumers access justice? What role do local intermediaries play? What could Ombudsmen do to fill the gaps between citizens and energy companies? How could their services become more accessible?
Dr Naomi Creutzfeldt and Dr Chris Gill are both experts of consumer dispute resolution and the different forms of redress, such as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and the Ombudsman model. Over the last four years, together with yours truly, we have investigated access to justice for vulnerable and energy-poor people in five European countries and regions (UK, France, Italy, Bulgaria and Catalonia - Spain).
In this episode, we explore the genesis of the Just Energy project, the choice of the energy sector as a case study and the baseline on which we started the research. We discuss the potential of complaints for companies and regulatory authorities to build trust in energy markets. We reflect on several key findings, such as the fact that complaining to an Ombudsman can be very intimidating: for many, complaint procedures are neither straightforward nor easy, and ADR schemes are very distant concepts. Local initiatives seem the key intermediaries between (vulnerable) people and formal justice processes, whatever the country. However, even among local actors, the role and function of the Ombudsmen might be unknown. Hence, close cooperation among stakeholders is absolutely critical to make a difference for the people in need. "It's very important to have lots of different avenues available for people to to access justice in different forms".
Dr Naomi Creutzfeldt is a professor of socio-legal studies at the University of Westminster and Dr Chris Gill is a Senior Lecturer in Public Law at the University of Glasgow.
Order your copy of Access to Justice for Vulnerable and Energy-Poor Consumers: Just Energy? - Hart Publishing (2021)
Find all the information about the ESRC Just Energy Project, toolkit and Final Webinar (September 9, 2021 at 12:30 BST)
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2021
E08 - Becoming an agent of change for sustainable energy and women empowerment - Ilaria Marini - A2A Calore e Servizi
What is district heating, and why is it relevant in the sustainable energy transition? How can more young women be attracted to careers in science and technology?
In this episode, Ilaria Marini describes district heating systems and their role in the energy transition. She gets back on the projects she is working on for A2A Calore e Servizi in Brescia and Milan. She tells us about her passion for science and technology and how it motivated her to build her own path when she lacked role models to show her the way. She shares her experience of how, with the support of her company, she seeks to be an agent of change, create awareness around unconscious bias, encourage gender diversity and inspire other young women to embark on scientific careers.
"It is important to think big if you want to change something, it is important to be proactive and start doing something"
Ilaria Marini is an engineer at the Italian utility A2A Calore e Servizi. At first, in 2017, she focused on the maintenance and optimization of district heating networks. She then became project manager of a demo project site in Brescia in Lombardy. Since last year, she has been involved in the REWARDHeat project, a district heating project using the groundwater wells in the city of Milan.
Reach out to Ilaria Marini on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariniilaria/
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2021
E07 - Technology to make aviation more sustainable - Jean Paquin, SAF+
Global aviation accounts for about 2% of greenhouse gas emissions, and many scientists are denouncing its impact and even encouraging people to stop flying. The restrictions on travel and the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 lockdowns have totally reshuffled the deck: many of us have not traveled in the last year and a half. To survive, aviation must therefore reinvent itself, and one of the avenues is fuel. Jean Paquin is the CEO of SAF+ Consortium, a Canadian company making synthetic fuels from captured CO2 emission from large industries.
Can fuels really be sustainable? How do we convince airlines to decarbonise? How do we make consumers aware of the real price of their plane tickets?
In this episode, Jean talks about his vision of the evolution of the airline industry and how, out of a sense of duty to the planet and to his children, he managed to convince airlines to support and grow his project. He reminds us that moving away from fossil fuels is a difficult journey and that synthetic fuels are only a temporary solution before fully energy efficient solutions are developed.
"We need to change clearly the paradigm and look at the way we sustainably survive, we need to embrace new technology that will move us away from fossil fuels and away from the need to consume more and more new resources without making efficient use of the ones we've used already"
Jean Paquin is the co-founder of the SAF+ consortium (“SAF+”) and the Carbon Consult Group. Jean is an engineer with over 25 years of experience in carbon management and the development of renewable energy projects worldwide. He has a wide range of expertise in engineering, management, project finance, Hydro, wind and solar generation.
Reach out to Jean Paquin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanpaquin/
SAF+ Consortium: https://safplusconsortium.com
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
© Next Energy Consumer, 2021
E06 - Fairness means listening to the experiences of all communities - Elizabeth Blakelock
"We cannot afford to exclude any community from this transition"
What is energy justice and how can it be developed?
In this episode, Dr Elizabeth Blakelock shares her experience as a fierce advocate for citizens' rights to fair treatment in the energy market. She tells us how she opened her eyes to the intersectionality of race and vulnerability in the sector, and how she is now fighting for energy policies to become explicitly anti-racist. She shares her advice on how to create strategies that put the lived experiences of citizens at the centre, in order to create services, products, programmes and strategies that are truly inclusive by design. Eventually, she addresses the opportunities that the energy transition represents for creating fairer societies
"There is so much more to the energy system than technical decisions about moving electrons along a wire"
Dr Elizabeth Blakelock is a champion of the rights of everyone to have access to a warm and safe home. She is passionate about tracking the impacts that firms' decision-making has on people's lives. Then she uses that data to help design essential service markets that are inclusive by design. Elizabeth has been working in the corporate world, as an academic, the charity sector and an energy regulator. As an academic, Elizabeth co-authored the report “Fairness in UK Energy Markets” and in 2020 she finished her Ph.D. on how powerful ideas influence the rules of the energy market to undermine processes that were supposed to ensure inclusive policymaking.
Reports mentioned:
- Inclusive design in essential services https://fairbydesign.com/inclusive-design/
- Diversifying Power: Why We Need Antiracist, Feminist Leadership on Climate and Energy. Stephens, Jennie https://islandpress.org/books/diversifying-power
- Powerful women: https://powerfulwomen.org.uk/board-statistics-by-company-2021/
Find Dr Elizabeth Blakelock’s work on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethblakelock/
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
(c) Next Energy Consumer, 2021
E05 - Smart cities start with inclusive infrastructures - Pedro Homem de Gouveia
"The built environment is a source of opportunities or obstacles"
Why are infrastructures a question of social justice? How can urban spaces be reinvented to become accessible to the greatest number?
In this fascinating discussion, Pedro Homem de Gouveia explains how he came to understand that infrastructure and mobility create barriers or opportunities in people's lives. Pedro underlines why it is necessary to be vigilant against cultural prejudices and why mobility issues require above all an understanding of the users' habits. He informs us about gender and safety issues in public transport, arguing that these issues are not externalities but must be put at the heart of urban network development policies.
Pedro demonstrates that when it comes to mobility and experiencing city life, solutions are often within reach, but they often require a different perspective. Therefore, Pedro encourages professionals from other sectors, from psychology to marketing, to take an interest in transport and infrastructure issues in order to better meet users' needs.
Pedro illustrates his remarks with examples that he has noted over the course of time and his discoveries, as an architect and advisor to the city of Lisbon or as senior policy and project manager at the POLIS, the network of cities and regions for transport innovation.
"Public transport is the backbone of urban mobility (...) but you just don't go walking around with a backbone: you need legs, and feet, and fingers. And if you're going to do something, you also need arms, and hands, and fingers. (...) If we want people to shift away from their private cars into sustainable mobility, we really have to foster the emergence of an alternative ecosystem of modes that work together".
Since 2019, Pedro Homem de Gouveia coordinates POLIS' Working Group for Governance & Integration, which is focused on policymaking for innovation and public participation. He also coordinates the Working Group for Safety and Security, aiming to make city streets safe and transport systems secure. Before joining POLIS, Pedro worked for more than 20 years for the city of Lisbon, in Portugal, as a strategist and advisor.
Find Pedro Homem de Gouveia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-homem-de-gouveia-304ab010/
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
(c) Next Energy Consumer, 2021
E04 - Making energy feminist, with Mariëlle Feenstra
What is missing to build a truly just, intersectional and inclusive transition? How can academic research be linked with almost 15 years of experience in the public and private sectors?
In this fascinating and personal conversation, Marielle Feenstra tells us how she learns and shares about gender and inclusivity in the energy and climate transition daily. She talks about her ability to create links between the academic world, her work as a consultant, and an advisor to public bodies.
She explains why gender issues continue to be neglected in energy policies (hint: there is a lack of disaggregated data!) and why using the notion of “household” is so far removed from reality that it can hardly yield tangible results. Finally, she talks about the importance of role-playing to create empathy among decision-makers and why gender differences are an excellent way to raise awareness of social justice and diversity. Gender and transitions are a dynamic concept that will evolve, and that decision-makers, companies and policymakers will have to take into consideration
“We bring in our genders, we bring in our social background, we bring in our educational backgrounds, our age, so taking an intersectional approach towards the actors in the energy system reveals their different motives, different knowledge, different understanding and different resources to act upon and make a change.”
Mariëlle Feenstra, “the energy feminist”, has been working on gender and energy policies since 2000. She is currently a PhD researcher at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. She will defend her PhD thesis “Gender Just Energy Policy: engendering the energy transition in Europe” this summer. Together with her supervisor Prof. Dr Joy Clancy, she has written two studies for the FEMM Committee of the European Parliament. Both studies are the first publications in the EU on gender and energy policy. Mariëlle is an active member of the ENGAGER network of energy poverty researchers in Europe. She is also a member of the Board of Advisors for the Dutch community 75InQ, promoting more visibility for diversity in the energy transition.
Find Marielle Feenstra on Twitter @EnergyFeminist and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariellefeenstra/
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
(c) Next Energy Consumer, 2021
E03 - Level the European playing field and making finance serve society and the planet - Kęstutis Kupšys, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee
How can we successfully level the political playing field and bring in the voices of civil society, including those of small countries? How can we ensure that finance benefits citizens and works to repair the planet?
"We only have our voice, but with that voice, if you talk about important things, and if you commit to what you say and what you do, your voice becomes a real weapon to achieve your goals."
Kęstutis Kupšys is a Member of the European Economic and Social Committee and a key expert on sustainable finance issues. He explains how he has learned to embrace climate change as an opportunity to transform the economic system we live in. He describes the functioning of the European Economic and Social Committee, an advisory body that informs the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council. Kęstutis expands on the power of finance for the future of the planet and how, today, cryptocurrencies are undermining climate goals.
Finally, he tells us how coming from a small country, Lithuania, is rather an asset when it comes to building consensus, and bridging widely divergent interests.
"The Economic and Social Committee is one of those forums where you can make your voice heard, even if you come from a small country, a small organisation or if you represent a specific group of people with specific problems".
"We no longer have the luxury of choosing what should be sustainable and what should remain business as usual, the whole system has to be changed."
Kęstutis Kupšys is a Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (Group III - Diversity Europe Group), the vice-president of the Lithuanian consumer alliance (member of BEUC) and the director of the Association for Honesty in banking. In his own words, Kęstutis is a sustainable finance, clean mobility and renewable energy enthusiast devoted to unified Europe.
Contact Kęstutis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kestutis-kupsys/
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory (c)
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
Next Energy Consumer, 2021
E02 - Housing policies should focus on the people who live in them - Stefan Bouzarovski and Manon Burbidge, ENPOR project
Is the Renovation Wave on track to address the complexity of fuel poverty?
European policies seem to be getting a better grasp of the phenomenon. Still, even today, although energy poverty and vulnerability are getting more and more attention from European policymakers, many factors remain entirely unexplored. This is particularly the case for the private rented sector.
In this episode, we will discuss this issue with Manon Burbidge and Professor Stefan Bouzarovski.
Stefan Bouzarovski is one of the most influential voices in the energy vulnerability field. Stefan is a professor at the University of Manchester and the head of the ENGAGER network. Manon is a very committed ecologist and a research associate at the University of Manchester.
We will be explaining the findings of their Report on energy poverty in the private rented sector as part of the Horizon 2020 ENPOR project. This report highlights the scale of energy poverty. It presents some solutions on how to address it in the private rented sector.
Why has been energy poverty in the rented sector overlooked so far? How is it possible to reconcile the viewpoints of stakeholders with apparently diverging interests?
Stefan and Manon will talk with us about some solutions and share with us their doubts regarding certain policies and programmes that fail to adopt an intersectional approach that would put residents' needs at the centre, rather than technical and technological responses to the energy inefficiency of buildings.
ENPOR project link: https://www.enpor.eu/
Contact Stefan on Twitter @StefanBuzar and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanbuzar/
Contact Manon on Twitter @Manon_Burbidge and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/manon-burbidge-ab64a9108/
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
(c) Next Energy Consumer, 2021
E01 - Using citizens' experience to build a just energy transition - Marta Garcia Paris, Ecoserveis
"Citizens are the experts, and we are only translating this expertise into projects and initiatives"
In this episode, Marine Cornelis meets Marta Garcia Paris, the CEO of Ecoserveis.
Ecoserveis has undoubtedly transformed how energy poverty and consumer experience, in general, are taken into consideration in Barcelona and Europe.
Marta talks about engaging people in the energy transition while protecting them against climate change; the impact of COVID on vulnerable populations; the importance of providing information through trusted parties to empower citizens; and that European projects enable her to learn and keep her mind open to new ideas.
See all Ecoserveis' ongoing and past projects: https://www.ecoserveis.net/en/what-we-do/projects/
Reach out to Marta on Twitter @Martutis6 or Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-garc%C3%ADa-par%C3%ADs/
Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis
Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius
Edition: Podcast Media Factory
Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic
(c) Next Energy Consumer, 2021