Building energy efficiency support service for community groups
We are working with Arthian Ltd to provide a support service for community groups and not for profit organisations on how to make buildings more energy efficient and, in the long term, help to reduce energy bills. This is geared to those organisations that are looking for advice on where to start, rather than those that have a clear understanding of the options available.
The Support Service
The support service will be broken down into four stages:
Stage 1. Pre Visit Preparation
Before a site visit, Arthian will aim to gather information to ensure the assessments are efficient, accurate and aligned with organisational needs. An initial call will be undertaken via telephone or a virtual meeting, depending on what suits the organisation best. This initial conversation will be used to evaluate the level of support required and adapt the approach accordingly depending on this. An online form will also be filled out by the organisation to capture information around energy use and management practices.
Stage 2. Site Visit
An onsite assessment will be undertaken by Arthian. This is designed as a walkthrough audit, tailored to each organisation’s needs. Here they will be able to meet with you to confirm the scope of assessment and give you the opportunity to ask any further questions. Once the walk around is complete some initial feedback will be provided where quick wins are identified. The information gathered from this site visit will feed into stage three.
Stage 3. Tailored reports and action plans
The information gathered from the site visit and other collected data will be analysed and put into a tailored report which provides recommendations and actions on opportunities to make the building more energy efficient. These recommendations will be grouped into potential short (0–6 months), medium-term (6–24 months), and long-term (24+ months) actions.
Stage 4. Support and follow up
Follow up support will be available once the report has been delivered. This will include a Q&A session with each group to review the findings, answer queries, and clarify next steps. They will also be able to provide clear signposting to funding opportunities, contractor directories, and further technical resources to help organisations move from recommendations to action.
Next Steps
If you are interested in this support, then get in touch at climatechange@testvalley.gov.uk. We will then be able to put you in touch with Arthian if you are eligible for the support. The support will be running up until the middle of March 2026.
If you do not need this service, the climate change grant remains available to apply for until 31st December 2025 for those who have already identified a projects link to energy efficiency. This grant is only available to community groups and not for profit organisations. More information on eligibility and how to apply can be found at Climate Change Grant | Test Valley Borough Council.