The CHEESE Project says an emotional farewell as Mike leaves the Cold Homes Energy Efficiency Survey Experts with over 1,200 surveys completed and scores of 5* customer reviews, ready to continue to serve Bristol and surrounds

Mike Andrews founded The CHEESE Project (Cold Homes Energy Efficiency Survey Experts) in 2014 with funding from Bristol Green Capital 2015 as a non-profit with a mission of using technology to reveal the serious impact of thermally inefficient homes on our energy bills, our health and our carbon footprints.

The Community Interest Company uses custom-designed thermal imaging hardware and software, plus blower door depressurisation, to take households on a guided survey of their home. With this method, trained surveyors reveal cold spots and heat leaks in every nook and cranny, enabling people to make targeted and low cost improvements, with the potential to improve heat loss by as much as 30%.

Before embarking on his energy efficiency mission with The CHEESE Project, Mike enjoyed a successful and award-winning career as a BBC TV director and executive producer of science, natural history and environmental programmes. He has been involved in diverse project such as the development The Eden Project, and other international-scale environmental exhibitions, and also served as Vice Chair of the SS Great Britain during its celebrated renovation.

Mike gave his thoughts on the last decade:

“When we began, few people were taking energy-loss from homes seriously. Now it is an essential part of the government’s climate change targets. By working from communities-up we have enabled hundreds of householders to make significant carbon savings at very low cost to make a real contribution to slowing climate disruption. By developing our own training and unique software and hardware we have established a core of local expertise that can be expanded far beyond Bristol.”

Business Manager Willow Merewood will lead The CHEESE Project as it continues to bring low-cost and grant-funded free surveys to the South West.

“I joined The CHEESE Project in 2024 and I am so grateful to Mike for welcoming me aboard in this unique cause and to this wonderful team of people. His dedication and knowledge have left us with a clear and sustainable vision to deliver.”

Co-founder and developer behind the Heatview® technology exclusively used by The CHEESE Project, Jeremy Birch, shared his well wishes:

“Mike and I founded what became CHEESE in 2014. Since then he has led its expansion to a nationally recognised pioneering grassroots organisation that has helped hundreds of households to save money on their heating bills and to live in warmer, healthier homes. He has helped put climate change on the political agenda while building our local organisation. He deserves a long and happy retirement.”

Mike leaves The CHEESE Project on a high, with the CIC having recently scooped the Community Energy England Award for Community Energy Organisation of the Year (S/M), and with a 2-year grant secured for development, workshops and free surveys for the community.