Lambeth Council announces new innovation partnerships to tackle energy efficiency, damp and mould, and food waste
Net Zero Innovation Challenge pitch day at Lambeth Town Hall
Lambeth Council is at the heart of driving innovation in the clean tech sector, and looking at its own estates and service areas in the process. Our 3rd flagship innovation challenge is underway, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered by Sustainable Ventures – Europe’s largest climate technology cluster and leading growth partner. The programme pairs council service teams with climate innovators to test practical solutions that can reduce costs, cut over 1 tonne of carbon and improve services for residents.
Following a successful Pitch Day, three partnerships will now move into co-design and pilot phases.
Challenge 1: Boosting energy efficiency in Grade 2 Listed leisure buildings
The Leisure Service will work with CosySense and Window Insulation Ltd to trial low-disruption energy-saving technologies at the iconic Brixton Recreation Centre, with potential to scale across the council’s wider estate. CosySense will deploy AI-driven HVAC optimisation, while Window Insulation Ltd will apply its thermal window coating to enhance heat retention in winter and overheating in the summer. Together, the pilots aim to reduce energy bills and carbon emissions in the listed building while maintaining high service standards.
Challenge 2: Reducing damp and mould in council homes
The Responsive Repairs and Voids Service will partner with Airex and Window Insulation Ltd to test an integrated approach to tackling damp and mould in both occupied and void properties. Airex’s smart air-brick system will improve passive ventilation, while Window Insulation’s coating will help reduce condensation and improve thermal performance. The pilot will explore how combined retrofit measures can reduce repair callouts, improve resident comfort and lower long-term costs.
Challenge 3: Improving food-waste recycling on estates
The Waste Services team will work with Limetrack to pilot its smart food-waste bin technology on an estate where participation is currently low. Limetrack’s bins track food waste using access cards, providing reliable data to improve recycling habits and reduce disposal costs. The pilot will help the council assess scalable solutions ahead of upcoming national recycling changes.
Driving innovation for a fairer, greener Lambeth
The Lambeth Services Innovation Challenge is designed to help council teams work differently, supporting practical experimentation, reducing risk and enabling faster adoption of climate-positive solutions. Each partnership will now enter a co-design phase before testing their innovations in real-world settings.
Cllr Marcia Cameron, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, said:
- These partnerships show how innovation can help us deliver better, more efficient services while also tackling the climate crisis. By working with Sustainable Ventures and ambitious SMEs to test new approaches directly within frontline services, we’re building a stronger, greener and more resilient Lambeth.
Further updates on the pilot will be shared throughout 2026