Adra has been shortlisted for a Northern Housing Award, marking its commitment to achieving a net-zero housing portfolio by 2030.
The North Wales-based affordable homes provider, which launched its decarbonisation strategy alongside Welsh Housing Minister Julie James, has been shortlisted in the Best Carbon Reduction Scheme category for the Awards, with winners to be announced on 13 May.
Adra has been working proactively with the Welsh government, placing it among the first housing associations in the UK to commit to decarbonising its homes by pooling best practice as part of the North Wales Collaboration Group to support the green economic recovery and delivering a real and lasting impact on the climate emergency Agenda.
With support from the Welsh Government’s Optimised Retrofit Fund, Adra has started its initial pilot to retrofit 80 homes, developing a passport to net-zero for each home and tailoring its approach to deliver a bespoke passport to decarbonisation.
The gap in funding for the deep retrofitting of Adra’s total stock is estimated at £120m, with work commencing over the next three years with support from the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme.
Adra is targeting the worst energy performing of its existing stock, using a fabric-first approach to decarbonisation.
Its Assets team has focused on external wall installation, completing works at 238 of its homes, enabling a 15% average carbon saving per property.
Adra’s Assets team is monitoring the temperature, humidity, hot water, and electricity data for each home, using smart homes technology working alongside the University of Swansea.
Adra’s decarbonisation strategy lays out its ambition, with actions set by its Carbon Management Plan, enabling a whole company approach to decarbonisation for new-builds, retrofitting, fleet, offices, energy, land, education, training, and skills.
Ffrancon Williams, CEO of Adra, said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Northern Housing Awards for our approach to decarbonising our homes.
“At Adra, we consider lowering energy consumption as being key to helping reduce running costs for our residents, tackling fuel poverty.
“We all need to work together to make a difference.”
Edric Jones was the first resident to move into his estate in Bangor in 1972 and has had work done to his home as part of Adra’s initial retrofitting pilot, including a new roof, roof insulation, and external wall insulation with a dash render.
He said: “I’m so happy with how my home now looks, and how it’s so much warmer following the work done.”
Sarah Schofield, Adra’s director of Customers and Communities, said: “We are learning as everyone learns and pooling that knowledge – there’s a burning platform now for net-zero.
“Through teamwork, we will progress the sustainability Agenda by working collaboratively.”
Mathew Gosset, Adra’s assistant director of Assets, added: “Stock decarbonisation will be very challenging and will change the way we traditionally produce, procure, and deliver our investment plan.
“We have recently revised our asset management strategy to align with our decarbonisation strategy, ensuring we are set up to tackle the future challenges facing the social housing sector.”
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