Project Summary
The Jury awarded an honourable mention at Barcelona Design Week 2022 to team ReEnergise as they scored high on the criterion ‘user empowerment’ for their truly community-driven energy-generating service concept.
The global energy crisis is becoming more and more urgent to tackle in the current environmental and geopolitical climate. By aiming to democratise access to alternative energies and to enable anyone - including non-owners - to take agency over their energy sourcing, ReEnergise is truly tackling a burning issue both from an environmental and social standpoint. They have demonstrated how to rethink a fundamental and infrastructure-heavy service with an inclusive lens.
I like how they made you rethink a fundamental infrastructure heavy service through a very inclusive lens that can be scaled broadly.”
Billy, IBM Global Chief Design Officer"
Design Problem
Design for more access and less ownership for a shareable economy in an area of your choice. The Philips Student Service Design Challenge is a global design award that celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of designers. It's open to current students, and is initiated by Philips Experience Design, as part of its mission to involve young designers in finding people-centered and future-oriented services for people and the planet. (https://servicedesignchallenge.com)
CERF - Service Design Solution
CERF (Community Energy Renewable Forest) provides UK fuel-poverty renters and low-income households with an affordable, community-generated energy alternative in the form of a renewable battery and a solar forest integrated around the local community. It aims to counteract the continuing increase in energy prices by providing UK residents with energy independence.
Problem: UK Energy Crisis Prior + During the Russian War 2022
Fuel poverty is a devastating problem that affects millions of households in the UK. Approximately 6.2 million households in the UK are in fuel poverty, with 1 in 4 UK residents in debt to their energy supplier. This means that these families are constantly faced with the difficult choice of either heating their homes or putting food on the table. It’s estimated that over a third of those who cannot pay their energy bills suffer in silence.
