What We’re Learning

Reflections from the work so far and where it’s pointing us next.

We’re here to redesign energy systems that actually work for people, place and planet. Not just technically. But socially, emotionally and ecologically too. That means listening closely, learning fast, and naming what needs to shift in how things are designed, delivered and experienced.

Here are seven things that are shaping the way we work:

1. Start with what really needs fixing

Most briefs aren’t asking the real question. Behind the decarbonisation target, there’s usually a deeper challenge: broken systems, rising costs, low trust. We start there, with the truth on the ground and build from it.

2. Heat is never just heat

Energy systems shape how people feel, how places work, and how the future gets made. Done well, they reduce stress, restore trust, and open up new possibilities. They’re not just technical fixes, they’re levers for care, connection and change.

3. Make it something people can feel

If people can’t see it, touch it, or understand it, they won’t believe in it. So we make systems visible, intuitive, and part of daily life. Clear language, open data, shared ownership. Infrastructure that feels alive, not abstract.

4. Delivery is the design

You can’t get new outcomes with old delivery models. We rethink how projects are shaped, funded, phased and owned, so they support long-term value, not short-term patch-ups. We’re not here to slot into business-as-usual. We’re here to build something better.

5. Fit the system to the place

Every place has its own rhythm, needs and constraints. So we listen, walk the ground and design systems that respond culturally, ecologically and practically. This isn’t about rolling out templates. It’s about tuning into what’s already there.

6. Show signs of life early

People lose faith when they can’t see progress. We create quick wins, working pilots and tangible signals of change. Small things that shift belief and momentum. No big promises, just visible movement in the right direction.

7. Speak like people, not systems

We don’t hide behind jargon or polished pitch decks. We speak plainly, listen deeply and build trust through honesty. That’s how change spreads, not through spin, but through language that lands and actions that follow through.

What We’re Learning at Generation 7

Seven shifts we’re leaning into as we rethink how energy systems can serve people, place and planet.

1. Start with the real story

Every brief hides a deeper question. Behind the retrofit target or decarbonisation plan, there’s usually something bigger going on: unaffordable bills, poor air quality, fragmented systems, broken trust. Before we talk tech, we ask: what’s not working for people here, and what kind of shift is really needed?

2. See heat as more than heat

Energy systems don’t just move kilowatts, they shape lives. A good system makes things work better for people. It can reduce stress, build resilience, spark local enterprise and unlock wider social and environmental value. If we get this right, heating becomes a lever for dignity, connection and care.

3. Make it feel human

People need to understand the systems they live inside. If it’s invisible, abstract or confusing, trust breaks down. So we design with clarity. We make things tangible, show how they work and bring people into the story through shared ownership, community pilots, visible assets and simple, smart language.

4. Don’t just redesign the system, redesign how it gets built

The old delivery models can’t carry the weight of the future we need. We’re building new ways of working: early collaboration, phased delivery, creative procurement and long-term stewardship. If the process stays broken, the outcome won’t matter. Delivery is the design.

5. Work with the grain of place

No two places are the same. We tune each system to its surroundings: physically, culturally and ecologically. That means listening more, pushing less and building systems that fit the people, rhythms and resources already there. Energy should feel like it belongs, not like it was dropped in.

6. Go early, go visible

If people can’t see or feel change, it’s easy to lose momentum. So we create early signals of progress: working prototypes, quick wins, visible infrastructure, pilots that show what’s possible. We don’t wait for perfect. We build belief by doing.

7. Speak like a human

We don’t do jargon. We don’t pretend to have all the answers. But we do speak clearly, honestly and with purpose. This work matters and people need to feel that. If our language is clear and grounded, our ideas can travel further and land deeper.