Green Economy

Following the success of Kingston's third Efficient Homes Show earlier in the year, we are hosting a bitesize version at the Guildhall in Kingston Town.

It's free to attend!

It is aimed at:

• Homeowners, renters, landlords, business owners, estate agents and lettings agencies
• People looking for funding to help improve the energy efficiency of their home
• People looking to save on their energy bills
• People looking for training, employment support and jobs in the retrofit and other green economy industries
• People looking to help protect the environment.

Get full details and book your tickets on Eventbrite.

Kingston Council and Kingston University (KU), in partnership with Kingston Chamber of Commerce, invites all businesses in and around the borough, and local residents, to join our event on circular and regenerative economy.

Full details and free tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Returning for a third year, Kingston’s Efficient Homes Show took place on Saturday 10 May, Hollyfield School, Surbiton Hill Road Surbiton KT6 4TU. The information below has been kept as a record of the day for people who would like to contact exhibitors.

Who it's aimed at

Homeowners, renters, landlords, business owners, estate agents and lettings agencies

People looking for funding to help improve the energy efficiency of their home

Anyone interested in training and employment in green industries

People looking to help protect the environment.

What you can find out about

Cutting your energy bills and environmental impact

Products like solar panels, heat pumps, ventilation and insulation (and more!)

Grants and funding opportunities

Sustainable travel options like bikes, cargo bikes and electric bikes

Electric vehicles and electric charging points

Free courses and job opportunities in the ‘green’ sectors.

Key times for the day

10am: Doors open

10.10am - 10.15am: Welcome message from the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Liz Green.

10.15 - 10.20: Opening remarks from Councillor Ian Manders, Portfolio Holder for Climate Action, Biodiversity and Planning Policy.

10.30am - 2pm: 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, Marilyn Mason, Peter Mason and Patrick Manwell from Transition Town Kingston (TTK).

10.30am - 1.30pm: EcoAction Games hosted by CREW Energy. A fun and effective way of helping young people understand key environmental themes and energy-saving. The EcoAction Games contain a fantastic range of different games including giant snakes & ladders, twister, top trumps and 'higher or lower', each themed around a range of different environmental topics relevant to both younger and older audiences.

11.00am - 11.45am: Panel Discussion - "How can I make my home more comfortable while reducing the running costs?" Panellists: Toby Costin (CREW Energy), Liz Crisp (Cave Coop), Lucy Haden (Creating Shelter), Cllr Ian Manders (Kingston Council), Maggie Moore (South Thames Colleges Group). Facilitator: Matthew Goldschmied (RVI Architectural Design).

12.45pm - 1.30pm: Workshop - "How to calculate the costs for my home improvements successfully". Facilitated by Toby Costin (CREW Energy). Please bring one or more gas and electricity bills for more accurate calculations of your energy costs.

2.45 pm - Closing Remarks: Paul Crossman, CEO, Revolve Technology & Kingston Green Business Community Steering Group Member.

The exhibitors

ALDStone: Exhibiting the FUF flooring underlay product, by demonstrating its compatibility and reuse potential with various tiles and floor covering materials in a sustainable way.

CREW Energy: Offering home carbon assessments and innovative technology.

DR Bike: Mechanics will carry out a free standard “M” check of your bike and can fix a range of issues including; adjusting brake levers, indexing gears and lubricating key mechanical parts.

Eco Workforce Partnership: Showcasing a domestic retrofit scheme in Tolworth in the Sunray Community which aims to offer solar and batteries to 100+ Homes.

Isometric Outcomes: Demonstrating a dehumidifying bathroom ventilation device that helps reduce energy costs and carbon emissions while preventing mould.

Joltify Ltd: Joltify specialises in renewable energy solutions, including solar panel installations, EV chargers, and battery storage systems.

Just Clear: A sustainable, carbon efficient clearance service for homes.

Keiba Solutions Ltd: Solar PV, battery and electric vehicle charger installations, energy management and optimisation.

Kingston Green Business Community: A forum for businesses and organisations committed to reducing their environmental impact, promoting sustainability, eco-innovating and thriving.

Kingston University: Showcasing a project which focuses on Market House in the Kingston Market Place. It includes students’ hypothetical proposals for reactivating the building by making small interventions, and Optoppen extensions.

Metropolitan Police Service (Safer Neighbourhoods team): Offering free bike marking & registering with BIKE REGISTER.

National Green Specification ltd: A consultancy providing a variety of services including green building materials and products, a green building encyclopaedia and an ‘ask the expert’ service.

Retrofit Works: A not-for-profit cooperative that unites professionals, suppliers, and community groups with a shared goal: to improve the energy efficiency of homes across the UK.

Sapphire Design and Build: An installer of solar panels, batteries and electric vehicle chargers.

Sinnott Services Ltd t/a RVI Architectural Design: Showcasing how to transform homes and communities through retrofit to be comfortable, efficient, resilient and healthy now and for generations to come.

So Go Solar Ltd: High specification solar PV & battery storage systems.

South London Partnership: A collaborative initiative involving: Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, and Sutton. It focuses on promoting the interests of South London's people, places, and businesses.

South Thames College Group: On hand to talk about green skills and short courses.

Surbiton Rotary: A charitable organisation who will be discussing their environmental projects.

Surbiton Windows Ltd: High-performance glazing for residential and commercial windows and doors of all types.

The Cave Co-operative Ltd: The Cave Co-operative is an Architecture practice that specialises in sustainability, natural building materials, energy efficiency & Retrofit.

Your Energy Your Way: A leader in cost-effective bespoke renewable home energy solutions, incorporating solar panels, air source and ground source heat pumps, batteries, car charging and smart energy solutions.

Vegecoopia CIC: We will share experience of growing food in the community by recycling waste and consolidating community resources.

Organisers: Kingston Council, Kingston Green Business Community.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Relove technology

Surbiton Rotary

Eco Workforce Partnership

Just Clear

Thank you to our supporters:

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

South London Partnership

Disclaimer: It is important that before you engage with any business to provide services or products that you undertake your own due diligence to ensure quality of provision.

This event took place at Kingston University's Town House building on 18 November 2024. The information below has been kept as a record of the day and for those looking to reconnect with people they met during the event.

Kingston Council and Kingston University (KU), in partnership with Kingston Chamber of Commerce, invites all businesses in and around the borough, and local residents, to join our event on circular and regenerative economy.

Building on previous Think Green discussions, academic research and successful local case studies, we are bringing together at the Town House, businesses, academics, policy makers, students and residents to show the triple positive impact of shifting to a circular economy: on businesses, the consumers and the planet. The Earth’s resources are limited, the population is growing and commodity prices have increased considerably over the last 20 years. The environmental and financial costs of disposing of waste are substantial. 

The solution is to move from our linear ‘take-make-dispose’ economic model, to a circular economy. An economy where waste is eliminated; a zero-waste, regenerative economy. 

Themes

A. Innovative Partnerships: KU Academics and Businesses Advancing Circular Economy through Research (open to university staff and students only)

10:00 - 10:20 - Welcome by Professor Simon Wortham, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Ioanna Rossi, Green Economy Lead, Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames

10:20 - 10:30 - Keynote: Professor Sankar Sivarajah

10:30 - 11:00 - Successful ‘KU - Business’ partnerships advancing circular economy and collaborative funding opportunities. Chair: Professor Gaelle Vallee-Tourangeau (FBSS). Speakers: Dr Smirti Kutaula (FBSS), Dr Purva Tavri (FECE), Konstantina Tsapakidou (KSA), Dr Mouhamad Khoder (HSSCE), Bernett Thornes and Sahar Mansoori (Partnerships and Business Engagement), Dr
Tania Dias Fonseca, Strategic Academic Lead for Sustainability, Kingston University

11:00 - 11:10 - Coffee Break

11:10 - 11:50 - Leveraging KU's interdisciplinary research for circular economy transition to meet socio-economic and environmental needs. Chair: Professor Gaelle Vallee-Tourangeau (FBSS)

11:50 - 12:10 - Closing Remarks by Professor Sankar Sivarajah/Professor Gaellee Valle-Tourangeau (FBSS).

B. Circular Innovation Exhibition - 13:00 - 18:00 (open to everyone including residents and local schools)

Construction materials

Electronics and electrical equipment

Fashion/garments

Food & single use of cups and containers

Furniture

Cosmetics/Toiletries including containers.

Exhibitors can be found at the end of the programme.

B. Developing Kingston’s Circular Economy: A roadmap for the local communities - 13:30 - 18:00 (open to everyone including residents and local schools)

13:30- 13:40 - Welcome by Dr Martin Davies, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Kingston University & Councillor Ian Manders, Portfolio Holder for Climate Action, Biodiversity and Planning Policy, Kingston Council

13:40 - 13:50 - Keynote, Regenerative Economy: Business perspective. Matthew Johnson, Account Manager Lead - First Mile

13:50 - 14:00 - The Principles of Circular Economy, Samira Gomes, Senior Venture Associate - Sustainable Ventures

14:00 - 14:05 - Recap from the morning session, Dr Smirti Kutaula, Ass. Prof. in Human Resource Management - Kingston University Business School

14:05 - 14:35 - Group Discussion on Kingston’s opportunities to transition to a circular economy and next steps - Facilitated by Amanda Baker, Kingston University

14:35 - 14:50 - Feedback to the Plenary from Group Discussions

14:50 - 15:35 - Coffee break and networking in the exhibition area

15.35 - 15:40 - Consolidation of feedback from the Group Discussions - Forbes Low, CEO, Kingston Chamber

15:40 - 16.30 - Panel Discussion: Turning Kingston’s economy into a circular economy. Panellists: Susan Randall, Sustainable Solutions Advisor, rype office; Nishant Parekh, Founder, KAPDAA; Prof Vasileios Argyriou, Kingston University; Dean Carran, Founder, JNDC; Samira Gomes, Senior Venture Associate - Sustainable Ventures. Facilitator: Matthew Essex, Place Director, Kingston Council

16.30 - 16.45 - Two minutes pitches by participants (Students and KU staff). Facilitator: Dr Sahand Hosouli, Senior Lecturer in Renewable Energy, Kingston University. Pitches by: Souri Batebi: Redesign football boots specifically for female players; Sohag Ahmed: Circular Fashion Initiative; Martin Agyemang: Competencies in charitable circular supply chains; Dipanshu Rupeshkumar: Rooftop solar panel cleaning with drones; Manzeela Chowdhury: Optimizing Work Arrangements Using Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM): A Focus on Environmental Sustainability and CO2 Reduction; Nima Roumianfar: Development and Utilization of a Test Bench for Thermochemical Heat Storage Material Testing; Rania Asma Hassani: Application of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model for solar plant location selection; Mastaneh Hosseinzadeh: Optimizing Energy Efficiency in Steel Plants through Pinch Analysis: A Case Study on Heat Recovery and Utility Reduction.

16:45 - 16:55 - Closing Remarks, Forbes Low, CEO, Kingston Chamber of Commerce and Mansoure Aliakbari, a student at Kingston University

16:55 - 18:00 - Drinks (sponsored by Kingston University) and networking in the exhibition area including 2 minutes pitches by participants from 17:15 - 17:30. Facilitator: Dr Sahand Hosouli, Senior Lecturer in Renewable Energy, Kingston University.

Business exhibitors:

ALDStone: ALDStone is a multi-award-winning London based company. They supply a revolutionary, reusable dry fit flooring underlay product which transforms flooring installation and deconstruction. They proudly support the circular economy and sustainability initiatives within the flooring sector.

Genuine Solutions: We are multi-award-winning experts in the recovery and distribution of mobile technology. Reducing the impact that wasteful mobile technology has on planet earth by providing ethical and sustainable choices in recovery and distribution.

Just Clear: Sustainable Clearance Service.

KAPDAA: KAPDAA is a local sustainable company developing an Ai solution for unusable garments which helps local recycling in the UK and stops them from going to landfill or shipped to other countries.

Kingston Council: Waste Reduction' is one of the key actions in Kingston's Climate Action Plan. We have been developing a number of initiatives and campaigns to help Kingston's residents reduce their waste and adopt more circular behaviour.

Limetrack: A pioneering food waste technology start-up, utilises data on food waste deposits to combat food loss and waste. Our SMART IoT-connected wheelie bins collect data effortlessly, helping businesses cut costs, achieve net-zero goals, and minimise food waste.

Real Nappies for London, Wen (Women's Environmental Network): A charity focused on the connections between women, health, equity, and environmental justice. Promoting sustainable solutions to help reduce waste and support families in making healthier choices.

Rype Office: Rype Office supplies high quality, circular economy, furniture remanufactured to as new condition with an 80% reduction in embodied emissions and waste and at lower cost than new furniture.

Save The World Club: Save The World Club's mission is to promote positive environmental action and self-empowerment for local people via surplus food support, re-use of quality second-hand items and local mosaic making.

Surbiton Windows: Distribution and installation of the world's highest-insulating, soundproofing, longest-lasting and most-recyclable glazing from OKNOW VIG.

Team Repair: Team Repair is on a mission to tackle the electronic waste crisis by instilling a repair mindset into the next generation. We enable schools to teach the skill of repair with our circular, curriculum-aligned programme.

Transition Town Kingston: Helping to raise awareness of the climate crisis and encourage the transition to a sustainable low-carbon future. We work to educate about the climate crisis; encourage sustainable consumption: share ideas, skills, information and news.

weekly.shop: We sell your weekly groceries, 100% zero waste.

Your Green Energy Queen: Sourcing green energy supplies for businesses - often cheaper than brown. Solar, EV charging units, air source heat pumps. Free quotes and advice. Recruit others wishing to assist in their spare time.

Exhibitors from Kingston University:

Zoe Almazan - Phosphorescence roads 

Cathy Gale - Tomorrow's News Today: a Future Newspaper for the Eco-Social Imaginary

Mansoureh Aliakbari - Barriers to solar panel and heat pump installation and marketing strategies to overcome: a case study in Kingston Upon Thames.

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!

In January 2024 we ran a mini version of the Efficient Homes Show. Watch the video below for a snapshot of 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.