In early June, delegates from the Highland Community Energy Partnership (HECP) participated in the Heat in the Highlands conference, organised by HeatSource.
This event marked a significant opportunity for many team members to connect in person for the first time, fostering informal networking that proved invaluable for building relationships essential to the project’s success.
The conference showcased a diverse array of businesses and initiatives operating within the Highlands and Islands region. Rather than focusing solely on the technical aspects of decarbonisation, the event aimed to highlight the importance of motivating communities to engage in the transition to net-zero. While the methods for decarbonising homes—such as the fabric-first approach, heat pumps, solar panels, and wind turbines—are well-established, the emphasis was on creating community-driven momentum for change.
Participants expressed a strong sentiment that achieving net-zero should be a collaborative effort involving communities, rather than a top-down initiative. The discussions centred around addressing the energy needs of households, steering the conversation away from abstract concepts like climate change and decarbonisation towards practical implications for residents.
This perspective resonated deeply with HECP members, particularly our community-based Energy Officers, who will act as consistent points of contact for households throughout their retrofit journeys. The team left the conference inspired and ready to engage with their communities, promoting sustainable energy practices, supporting home retrofits, and sharing insights throughout the partnership and beyond.