For 11 years, Essex CC and iChoosr have partnered to drive sustainable energy initiatives that help the local community lower carbon emissions, cut energy bills, and take steps towards a more sustainable future. The partnership is vital to protect and enhance the Essex environment as set out by its Essex Climate Action Commission, and improves quality of life for local residents.
The collaboration encompasses three initiatives: Solar Together – a group-buying solar panel and battery storage scheme, Switch Together - offering access to professional and competitively priced heat pump installations, and Big Community Switch – a collective energy switching scheme to save on bills. Each aims to help residents feel comfortable and confident to make informed decisions in areas they want to act but may otherwise not, without the schemes' support.
Solar Together makes it easy for Essex residents to invest in renewable energy through solar panel and battery storage group-buying. The initiative helps homeowners save on energy bills while contributing to reduced carbon emissions, supporting healthier communities.
Pooling resources and negotiating bulk discounts has made renewable energy more accessible and affordable in Essex. More than 25,220 solar panels have been installed in the county through the scheme, reducing emissions by over 2,000 tonnes each year since its launch – equivalent to taking 1,175 cars off the road in that time. It has seen widespread participation, and residents praise the ease of the process and financial savings made. The scheme's success provides valuable insights into how other local authorities can help residents adopt low-carbon technologies at scale.
Essex CC was the first UK council to implement Switch Together, which provides residents access to professional and competitively priced air source heat pump installations. The council was key in shaping the scheme's design and ensuring it aligned with the local housing stock and residents' needs. By facilitating heat pump adoption, Switch Together helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels, promoting cleaner and more efficient heating solutions. A key technology in the transition to low-carbon heating, heat pumps extract heat from the air or ground and convert it into energy for heating for homes. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions and offers long-term cost savings for homeowners.
By working with trusted installers and offering financial incentives, the scheme helps overcome barriers to participation and encourages households to make the switch.
More than 24,000 Essex residents have collectively switched to more affordable and sustainable energy providers through Big Community Switch. This initiative ensures communities benefit from competitive energy rates while making environmentally conscious choices. By leveraging collective buying power, it negotiates better deals with energy suppliers, resulting in lower energy bills for most participants. It promotes awareness of energy consumption and encourages residents to consider the environmental impact of their energy choices. Through educational campaigns and community engagement, Essex CC aims to foster an eco-conscious culture and helps residents take control of their energy usage.
The partnership's success sets a precedent for other councils, demonstrating that through collaboration and innovation, communities can take strides towards a sustainable future - with local involvement and collective action key to achieve greater impact and drive positive change. It also serves as a model for how local governments and private organisations can work together to address the pressing challenges of climate change and energy transition.
Our latest research found UK domestic solar panel installations increased by 22% in the first half of 2025, highlighting a clear demand for green energy options. Looking ahead, these group initiatives will play a crucial role in the transition to a low-carbon economy and encourage a rapid uptake in renewable energy.
Building on learnings from Essex, there are strong opportunities to work with other UK councils to replicate and tailor these schemes to meet the needs of diverse communities. By continuing to innovate and collaborate with Essex CC, we are proud to be paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future.
George Frost is UK Country Manager at iChoosr
