Entries are now open for Housing Digital’s inaugural Top 30 Sustainable Housing Providers, an annual list celebrating the efforts the social housing sector is making to help combat the climate crisis.
We want to hear from those organisations that have gone above and beyond to improve the sustainability of their housing stock and their own organisation, whether that’s by retrofitting existing homes, using renewable sources of energy, or buiding homes to net-zero standards.
The best providers will be able to show a genuine commitment to the green agenda and be actively communicating with staff and residents to keep them informed and engaged during every step of their sustainability journey.
Get up and green
Net-zero, decarbonisation, carbon offsetting, retrofitting, photovoltaic panels, ground-source and air-source heat pumps: these are all terms that would have sounded alien a few years ago, but are now becoming familiar staples of everyday discourse.
While it’s true that government policy has played a key part in enabling a more climate-conscious culture, the sector would not be making as much progress as it is if it were not for the drive and dedication of its members.
The stats speak for themselves. According to National Housing Federation research, two-thirds (66%) of registered providers have started to plan for their journey to becoming net-zero; while three-quarters (73%) expect to retrofit a proportion of their housing stock in 2021-22.
Official data also shows that, in each of the four home nations, the percentage of social homes with an EPC rating of C or above is higher than any other tenure.
Yet, we know there is much more to do. There are still many question marks around issues such as funding, skills, and resident buy-in, all of which will need to be addressed if the sector is to achieve its sustainability ambitions and help the UK on its net-zero journey.
The key to achieving all of this is remembering why we’re doing it in the first place: to create a world worth living in long into the future, not just for social housing tenants, but for the entire human population.
The judges* are:
- Jade Lewis, chief executive, Sustainable Energy Association
- Marcos Navarro, Sustainability lead, Natwest
- Paul Ciniglio, Refurbishment lead, National Energy Foundation
- Richard McWilliams, director of Sustainability, Turner & Townsend
More judges to be announced*
Commenting on the launch of the Top 30 Sustainable Housing Providers, Housing Digital editor Liam Turner said: “It’s great to see the social housing sector really starting to put its weight behind the green agenda and the path to net-zero.
“While we are all aware of the breadth and scale of the challenge ahead of us, we continue drive the sustainability discussion forward, increasingly putting our money where our mouth is – even if the immediate benefits are not so obvious.
“The journey to net-zero is just beginning, but we want to show how social housing can and is leading the way.”
The Top 30 Sustainable Housing Providers results will be revealed virtually on 14 June 2021.
The Winners’ Insight conference will take place virtually on 30 June 2021.
Read next: Henderson urges sector to put residents at ‘heart’ of climate change agenda
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