On Friday 16th January, we were delighted to welcome Emma Fletcher, former Deputy Head Girl of WGGS and Low Carbon Homes Director at Octopus Energy.  Emma returned back to speak to Sixth Form Economics and Geography students about sustainable home and energy.

In the engaging lecture, Emma discussed how the UK’s energy system is transitioning from a fossil-fuel-based model to a smarter, low-carbon, and more flexible energy system with increased use of renewable energy and low carbon technologies, and better management of energy use. One particularly striking example was how electric vehicles can act as mobile energy stores. Emma explained how energy can be stored in an EV battery overnight — when electricity is cheaper and greener — and then used during the daytime, helping households reduce costs while easing pressure on the national grid.

Emma also highlighted Octopus Energy’s “Zero Bills” homes, which combine technologies such as heat pumps, solar panels, batteries, and smart tariffs to dramatically reduce or even eliminate household energy bills. These examples helped students understand how innovation and incentives can be used to reduce our carbon footprints.

During the talk, students also had a chance to explore the wide range of careers available in the energy and sustainability sectors. We are very grateful to Emma for returning to WGGS and inspiring students with her expertise and enthusiasm.