For the last year Lux Nova has been working on an innovative multi-disciplinary project to enable an increased uptake of energy efficiency projects in the SME sector. The project, called “ESCO-in-a-box” was led by EnergyPro Ltd, with funding from the BEIS “Boosting access for SMEs to energy efficiency (BASEE)” competition. It involved working closely with Low Carbon Hub Oxford and Oxford Brookes University.
Many small businesses (SMEs) want to reduce their energy use and save money but lack the time or resources to unlock the wide range of financial, environmental, and social gains provided by energy efficiency upgrades. ESCO-in-a-box equips organisations that want to offer energy efficiency services to SMEs with the tools to deliver low hassle, financially viable projects for clients who want to implement change. ESCO-in-a-box provides standardised processes and documentation based on international best practice, access to competitive loans and finance opportunities, and support with setup and marketing. For more information see this recent Business Green article.
Lux Nova’s role was working collaboratively with our partners on creating the contractual structures and documentation for the licensing business model and the energy efficiency assessment and project implementation process - recently launched as EP Connect.
Alex Rathmell, MD Consultancy at EnergyPro and project leader, commented “Huge thanks to David Short and Louisa Cilenti of Lux Nova Partners Ltd who have done a fabulous job working with us and our colleagues at Energy Solutions Oxfordshire to create a system of standardised contracts for energy efficiency project implementation. This now forms the heart of our ESCO-in-a-box platform.”
ESCO-in-a-box is being used now by Energy Solutions Oxfordshire to help local businesses, and is available for licence by local authority or community based organisations elsewhere in the UK. It provides everything needed to establish and operate new breed of energy services company, locally-focused, community-based, and able to offer SMEs a clear, easy pathway for energy projects.
