Audience research and rapid problem solving for a multi-award-winning home energy project
Case study: Energy Saver App Focus Groups
Ensuring the Energy Saver App was grounded in the reality of resident needs through multiple stages of qualitative research, often conducted under intense time pressure
The Challenge - Strategic Problem Solving At Pace
As the research, marketing and engagement leads within a multi-party collaboration, we played a core role in taking the Energy Saver App from a new concept to a double-award-winning national success.
The project was defined by immense urgency and the need to scale rapidly. Our role was to provide the brand identity - including naming the app - the marketing strategy and the execution through launch and beyond. Most importantly, we were responsible for ensuring the tool was grounded in the reality of resident needs through multiple stages of qualitative research, often conducted under intense time pressure.
Our Approach: Agile Research and Resident Advocacy
While the technical partners focused on the build, we focused on the people. We acted as the bridge between the digital tool and the diverse needs of homeowners and.
- Facilitating Inclusive Focus Groups: We designed and led a series of online focus groups and one-to-one sessions. This was not just a box-ticking exercise; it was a deep dive into the barriers that prevent people from engaging with retrofit measures in general and this app in particular.
- Engaging Hard-to-Reach Groups: A core priority was ensuring the app served those often left behind. We specialised in bringing overlooked voices to the table, including low-income households and those at risk of fuel poverty. By facilitating these conversations, we identified specific trust and clarity issues that were vital for the partnership to resolve.
- Real-Time Ad Hoc Problem Solving: Not all research could be planned in advance. As the project evolved, we devised and executed ad hoc research cycles to address specific roadblocks as they arose. This ability to deliver meaningful, high-quality work in real time allowed the partnership to make evidence-based decisions without stalling the timeline.
The Results: Record Uptake andNational Recognition for the Project
The collaborative effort resulted in the Energy Saver App scaling from zero to over 8,000 sign-ups in just five months. This rapid adoption and the inclusive approach to resident engagement led to the project winning two prestigious national awards (links included for more information on the Energy Saver App website):
- Smart Systems and Flexibility Project of the Year at the prestigious edie Net Zero Awards 2025 - recognising the app’s success in helping thousands of residents across Oxfordshire save money and reduce their carbon footprint.
- Net Zero Engagement Award at the 2025 Utility Week Awards Energy Efficiency Awards 2024. The judges highlighted the project’s success in simplifying complex retrofit journeys, a result of the naming, branding, and qualitative insights we provided.
Why this experience is vital for your Retrofit Tool
For your interactive retrofit tool, you need a research partner who can navigate the complexities of resident engagement while keeping pace with development.
- Expertise with Diverse Groups: We have a proven track record of recruiting and facilitating sessions with hard-to-reach and vulnerable residents, ensuring your tool is inclusive from the outset.
- Agility Under Pressure: We understand that retrofit projects face shifting deadlines and unexpected hurdles. We are experts at delivering meaningful qualitative insights under immense urgency and can adapt our research to solve problems as they appear.
- Evidence-Based Decision Making: We don’t just report what people say; we propose solutions. Our work on the Energy Saver App proves that when you listen to residents and solve their specific problems, the resulting tool can achieve both mass adoption and national acclaim.