Green Economy

Kingston's Efficient Homes Show returned to The Hollyfield School on 18 May 2024.

The information below is for anyone who missed the show but would like to know what took place, or for anyone looking to reconnect with an organisation they met on the day.

It was a free event and an opportunity to meet experts and organisations who could help with:

• Reducing your energy bills
• Technology like solar panels and heat pumps, as well as insulating roofs, walls and floors
• Staying healthy by managing ventilation, mould and damp
• Electric vehicles and electric charging points
• Sustainable travel options, like bikes, cargo bikes and electric bikes
• Skills and job opportunities in the ‘green’ sectors
• Grants and funding.

378 people signed up to attend!

Key times for the day (exhibitors are below the key times)

• 10am: Doors open
• 10.15am - 10.20am: Opening remarks from Councillor Ian Manders, Portfolio Holder for Climate Action, Biodiversity and Planning Policy
• 10.20 - 10.22: Welcome message from the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Liz Green
• 10.22am - 10.30am: Keynote speaker: Sarah Olney, MP for Richmond Park
• 10.30am - 2.00pm: Short talks led by Transition Town Kingston (TTK) Energy Group (EG). Covering solar energy, batteries at home, heat-waves, ventilation and insulation. One to one discussions will take place in parallel to the other sessions. Speakers and facilitators include; Damon Hart-Davis, Deputy Chair, Transition Town Kingston; Marilyn Mason, Chair, Transition Town Kingston (2022 - 24); Peter Mason, Convener, Transition Town Kingston Energy Group
• 11.00am - 11.45am: Panel Discussion - How can I heat and cool my home and/or business without fossil fuel? Informing residents and businesses about the choices available for heating and cooling homes and properties, and how to find out which is the best option for them. We also want to keep people up to date about this growing industry and the skills and job opportunities available. Panellists include; Rob Falcon, Heat Networks Project Director, Kingston Council; Lucy Haden, Energy Assessor & Retrofit Assessor; Leah Robson, Director, Your Energy Your Way; Margaret Moore, Business Partnership Coordinator, South Thames Colleges Group; Facilitator: Councillor Ian Manders, Portfolio Holder for Climate Action & Sustainable Transport Kingston Council
• 11am - 1pm: School Journey Lab - A unique opportunity for younger people to craft their dream school commute experience, hosted by Urban World Matters and aimed at students in years 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13. This will be of particular interest to students keen on the sciences, geography and planning, although all students are welcome to book a space.
• 12.10pm - 12.30pm: A Short Talk about my Low-Carbon Home by Michael de Podesta, the author of ‘Protons for Breakfast’.
• 13.30pm - 14.15pm: Panel discussion - Future mobility: how will we move around in a greener, healthier and happier city and benefit from new career opportunities? Over the last few years we have witnessed changes in how we travel, and particularly in urban areas, where transport is busiest and space most restricted. These kinds of changes can lead to environmental and public realm improvements, as well as major economic benefits, such as  business opportunities and creation of new jobs. Equally important are the benefits to people’s health and wellbeing. We have brought together a very high calibre of panellists with local and international experience to talk about future mobility, from active travel to cycling, to Electric vehicles and to delivery of goods by drones. What kind of business and job opportunities are these changes bringing about? How are our mental and physical health benefiting? What should our businesses and residents do to capitalise on these opportunities? These are some of the key topics our panellists will discuss. Panellists include; Alex Andrews, Technical Director, Strategic Growth Lead London and East, WSP; Hilary Gander, Kingston Cycling Campaign; Andrew Crudington, Climate Change Associate for the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT); Sue Webster, Kingston Council, Health Protection Policy Lead and Leigh Gravenor, Velocity, Principal Transport Planner. Facilitator: Jim Coleman, WSP, Head of Economics.
• 2.40pm - 2.45pm: Closing Remarks from Forbes Low, CEO Chamber of Commerce

Meet the exhibitors

• A Greener London Ltd: Specialising in Green Infrastructure, such as living walls (internal & external) as well as green roofs
• Climate Action Team - Kingston Council: Showcasing the council's work to tackle climate change across the borough.
• CREW Energy: Showcasing their retrofit service, including two innovative solutions: 1) IR heating solution 2) a heat transfer solution. Business energy savings consulting.
• Crystalisr Co-operative Society Limited with Eco Workforce Partnership: Financial enablers to retrofit and information about green careers for people without construction skills.
• Dai the Crank: A mobile bicycle repair business that travels by cargo bike an undertakes all types of servicing and repairs for bikes.
• Econic Energy: Heat pump installation specialists.
• EcoSolutions Consulting Limited t/a Auditel: A network of carbon and procurement specialists helping organisations manage, reduce and report carbon in a measurable, meaningful and potentially self-funding way.
• Ecowelle Limited: Offering smart construction and retrofit services for resident and commercial buildings.
• Energy Advice London: Promoting the Energy Advice London service with leaflets, factsheets and offering personalised energy advice.
• Joltify LTD: Showcasing solar panels, battery story and electric vehicle chargers.
• Just Clear: A sustainable, carbon efficient clearance service for homes.
• Keiba Solutions Ltd: Offering Solar PV, Battery Storage and EV charging installation, and energy management solutions for domestic and commercial spaces.
• Kingston Cycling Campaign: Information about their efforts to to improve cycling infrastructure, and help and signposting on all cycling issues.
• Kingston University: Showcasing their response to sustainability in relation to teaching, learning, knowledge exchange and research, as well as the University’s Future Skills campaign
• Kingston University - Department of Architecture and Landscape: Undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Architecture, Historic Building Conservation and postgraduate courses in Landscape and Urban Design.
• Lanka Property Services Limited: Renewable products, energy efficiency, renewable technology integration into properties and knowledge sharing of best practices.
• LSBU Energy Advice Centre: Offering free advice, helping communities improve the energy efficiency of their homes or businesses and lower their energy bills.
• Metropolitan Police Service: The Safer Neighbourhoods team will be on hand to offer free bike security marking & registering with BIKE REGISTER.
• Parity Projects Ltd (Ecofurb): Try out the free Ecofurb Options online tool and talk to experts about the next steps to a warmer, cheaper and less wasteful home.
• Radiant Teck UK: Showcasing ESG, circular economy & sustainable products & services.
• RBK / Green Economy / KGBC: Vision and key objectives aiming to transition Kingston's economy to a green economy; Actions and good practice case studies; information about KGBC.
• Sapphire Design and Build Ltd: Showcasing solar and electric vehicle charger technology.
• Save The World Club: Promoting positive environmental action and self-empowerment locally.
• Sustainable Transport Team - Kingston Council: Free Dr BIKE + Police Bike Security Marking. Ten minute cycle check by Independent Experienced Mechanics.
• SogoSolar Ltd: A long established go to installer for high quality solar and battery systems.
• South Thames College Group: On hand to talk about green skills and short courses
• Stay Nimble: Showcasing a programme to help people learn more about jobs in the green economy and to explore options with a career coach
• SunrayRecycle: Help and advice on the best way to recycle things locally
• Surbiton Windows Ltd: Showcasing the highest performing thermal and sound proofing glazing
• The Cave Co-operative Ltd: Exhibiting their architectural practice that specialises in sustainable architecture, retrofit and the use of natural materials.
• Torque Electric: Showcasing electric Bikes
• Vegecoopia C.I.C: Sharing experience of growing food in the community by recycling waste and consolidating community resources, so as to increase local food access, practise soil care and boost biodiversity.
• Velocity: A specialist transport planning consultancy, serving both public and private sector property development clients.
• Your Energy Your Way: Bespoke Renewable Energy Solutions. Designing and installing whole house renewable energy solutions in the local area.

Refreshments were available from Argonaught Coffee and The Cheeky Pea - thank you!

Additional information

In January 2024 we ran a mini version of the Efficient Homes Show, watch the video below to get a flavour of what to expect on the day.

During the evening author Michael De Podesta gave a presentation about the steps he's taken to improve the energy efficiency of his home. You can watch it below.

You can also read about the 2023 show in a blog piece written for London Councils.