Combatting Energy Poverty Engagement and Evaluation

The City of Melbourne (Council) received a grant from the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance to understand and address the systemic causes of energy hardship and its intersection with building typologies and climate-related vulnerability. Most City of Melbourne residents live in medium- or high-density dwellings (over 85%).

Recognising the importance of lived experience in shaping effective initiatives, Council engaged Capire to design and deliver a community engagement program and a rapid evaluation of Council’s existing energy-saving products and advice.

Approach
Capire worked collaboratively with Council to develop a ‘theory of change’ to guide project activities and the evaluation. The engagement program consisted of two community conversations and a full-day co-design workshop with 17 diverse residents experiencing energy hardship. We engaged with renters, older adults and culturally diverse communities to ensure their insights informed practical and inclusive solutions.

Workshop participants were provided with energy-saving products and advice from Council. Capire conducted a rapid evaluation of the take-up and short-term impact of this intervention, as well as feedback on the engagement. The evaluation included a pre- and post-workshop survey, interviews with participants, and a ‘stories of change’ focus group, where participants were invited to share their most significant change since participating in the project.

Outcomes
The engagement provided Council with key insights into the types of initiatives they could deliver alongside community to help combat energy poverty, as well as preferred communications approaches for different groups.

The evaluation found that Council’s energy-saving products and advice were highly valued, particularly those that addressed immediate needs – for example, providing heated throw blankets during a cold snap. The co-design workshop fostered a strong sense of connection, motivation and practical knowledge about energy efficiency and adaptive capacity. Many participants were eager to share what they had learned beyond the project itself. Overall, the evaluation emphasised that strengthening community capacity, trust and connection are essential foundations for successful energy-saving and resilience-building initiatives.

Capire worked with Council to graphically design the final report and deliver a ‘community of practice’ session with other councils and key stakeholders. The purpose of this session was to share the findings and explore how Victorian councils can work together to combat energy poverty across the state.