On Tuesday 12 March, residents from Thame and nearby villages gathered at Thame Town Hall for the “Cosy Streets” event, hosted by Phoenix Energy Community. Those in attendance learned how to make their homes more comfortable, cut energy bills, and reduce their carbon footprint.
Speakers from Phoenix Energy Community, Buckinghamshire Community Energy, Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, Energy My Way, and Oxfordshire County Council shared practical advice on everything from simple DIY fixes to more substantial home upgrades. The event also covered the government’s Warm Homes Plan and other schemes that can help homeowners and tenants access financial support for improving the energy efficiency of their properties.
Thermal imaging and tailored advice
One of the main features of the evening was an extensive thermal imaging survey of over 40 homes across Thame, Haddenham, Long Crendon, and Towersey. The images showed where heat is commonly lost from local homes of different ages and types. This helped people see what is happening in homes like theirs and which measures are likely to have the biggest impact, such as better insulation, draught proofing, or more efficient heating controls.
Experts then talked through intervention options by property type, along with the grants and support available. Attendees were encouraged to think about both “quick wins” they can do themselves and longer-term retrofit plans that can be phased in over time.
DIY home energy hacks you can start today
A popular part of the evening was a set of “DIY Home Energy Hacks”. These are low-cost or no-cost actions that households can implement straight away. For example:
Get in control of your heating:
Use a smart meter to better understand your energy use; check and, if needed, change your tariff; set your thermostat between 18-21 degrees and try turning it down by one degree; use heating timers so you’re not heating your home when no one is in; and take the Money Saving Boiler Challenge to reduce boiler flow temperatures.
Kitchen and utility savings:
Keep lids on pans, only boil the water you need, and make use of air fryers or microwaves where appropriate, as they often use less energy than an oven. Fill appliances such as the washing machine and dishwasher before running them, use eco or shorter cycles at lower temperatures, and dry clothes outside when possible.
Power down and switch off:
Switch off lights in empty rooms and move to LED bulbs. Turn off “vampire” devices at the plug when not in use, such as televisions on standby and microwaves, and unplug laptops and phones once they are charged. Using eco-settings and low-energy modes on devices can also help.
Be a draught detective:
Use draught-proofing tape around doors, windows and loft hatches; add draught excluders under doors; cover keyholes and letterboxes; use rugs or gap filler around floorboards and skirting; and consider a product like a “Chimney Sheep” or chimney balloon in unused fireplaces. At the same time, maintain good ventilation to reduce condensation, damp and mould, and use thermal blinds or curtains to keep heat in during winter.
Simple insulation measures:
Insulate hot water cylinders and exposed pipes, particularly in lofts, and consider radiator reflector foil on external walls. Setting fridges and freezers to sensible temperatures (fridges between 3-5°C/freezers at -18°C) and defrosting them regularly helps them run more efficiently.
These kinds of measures are often quick to do, low cost and can add up to meaningful savings over the year, while also cutting emissions and reducing pressure on the electricity grid.
Further support
The Cosy Streets event also signposted local and national sources of advice and support, including Better Housing Better Health, Citizens Advice, and local authority retrofit resources, along with online guides for saving energy at home. Attendees were invited to share feedback to help shape future events and projects, and to send in their own favourite energy-saving tips.
Cosy Streets is part of a wider programme of “powering down” work supported by Phoenix Energy Community and its partners. Together with “powering up” projects such as community-owned renewable energy, these initiatives support a fairer, more resilient local energy future.
