Brighton and Rosefield Energy Efficient Homes Association - Neighbourhood Support

Nestled in the community-minded suburb of Portobello, residents in a group of neighbouring streets have formed the Brighton & Rosefield Energy Efficient Homes Association (BREEHA). An ‘interest group’ started in 2022 with Jane Lewis, Chris Booth, Rachel Harrison and Kirsty Knott, sharing concerns about home energy and sustainability during friendly conversations with neighbours over tea and coffee in each other’s kitchens. 

This soon progressed to engagement with two other relevant organisations at a Portobello ‘Heat Fair’ in November 2022. The event was put on by Porty Community Energy (PCE) and was also attended by the EdinBRIC team. From there PCE helped them organise their first event, in a local bookshop, attended by over 40 people. This event included a conversation facilitated by EdinBRIC representatives, whose guidance led to positive discussions about actions, and the emergence of the core group that makes up BREEHA today.

The group went on to form a Residents’ Association using a slightly modified version of the template Owners’ Association constitution from Under One Roof, and then held meetings in various forms to continue developing their engagement with residents in this clearly defined neighbourhood area. Things finally came together in a meeting at Portobello library, where EdinBRIC helped them agree to proceed with surveys and phased plans to twenty of their homes using the professional services of EdinBRIC partner, non-profit EALA Impacts CIC. The process of collective purchasing resulted in much lower costs than if they had done so individually. 

During 2024 those surveys are being carried out and plans prepared, after which BREEHA will be able to develop group plans for buying materials, employing contractors and getting additional consultancy on other needs like designing improvements, project management, and communal energy systems. As a constituted organisation they can go on to apply for grants and loans not available to un-constituted groups, and in the future they can control their own energy generation.

In a relatively short period, BREEHA has already made fantastic progress with community plans, group purchasing, community retrofit and district energy schemes. They know there’s more to do and are still keen to work with more people in their local area and learn from other similar associations in Edinburgh. But by collaborating with EdinBRIC and Porty Community Energy, and using their collective time and money together wisely, the group are building community, sharing knowledge and supporting each other to achieve more energy efficient homes.