http://green.sustainablehomes.co.uk/blog/

Thank you!

Sustainable Homes provide exemplar training and consultancy for sustainability in housing.

Understand housing quality indicators.  Qualify as a Code for Sustainable Homes Assessor.

Barker promoted the coalition’s green deal for existing homes, which will focus on pay as you save financing to enable homeowners to invest in energy efficiency. He said that partnerships with strong marketing brands like M&S would drive mainstream take up.

Though he ruled out regulation for now, Barker did hint at possible regulation in the future. He said “at the end of the day this agenda is not an option.”

Insulation was a buzz word, with the green deal very much focussed on this rather than efficiency measures for heating systems or lighting. This focus will also apply to newly extended CERT requirements.

In response to questions from Blackcountry Housing and Kirklees Council, Barker praised the Kirklees example and pledged continued support for area based energy efficiency projects.

Sustainable Homes are an active member of the EEPH – an industry partnership of organisations working to increase the energy efficiency of our homes.

Today’s conference celebrated the partnership’s 10th anniversary

With climate change becoming a reality we need to adapt quickly (& not just by basking in the heat!).

Our NEAT tool (National Existing homes Adaptation Tool) provides clear guidance for home owners and property managers to adapt and assess how well prepared homes are for current and future weather patterns.

 See here for more info on adaptation and the NEAT tool.

 For more information on SHIFT and to see all SHIFT members see here.

Reducing carbon emissions and other environmental impacts in existing homes is a major challenge. Our homes produce over 27% of the UK’s carbon emissions and most will still be around in 2050.

Housing organisations across the country are grappling to respond. SHIFT members are leading the way in unravelling these challenges. This week SHIFT members came together to share their experiences and work together. Useful sessions focussed on using feed-in tariffs and a real example of applying Passiv Haus principles (already ten fold improvement on building regulations) to existing buildings. There were also great examples of practical solutions to benchmarking and reducing carbon emissions across existing stock.

Discussions focussed on the risks and opportunities for housing providers and there was a genuine excitement about the way forward. Speakers from the Energy Savings Trust, Bere Architects, National Energy Service, Chevin Housing Trust and Parity Projects presented real examples of how some organisations are turning confusion into concrete action. Throughout the day members worked together to develop responses to their specific challenges.

The event in Manchester was part of the SHIFT Learning Year, organised by Sustainable Homes. This is a series of learning events designed for affordable housing providers who want to tackle environmental challenges. SHIFT members manage over one million homes.

For more information on funding streams click here.

Sustainable Homes run training courses on EcoHomes XB, sustainable refurbishments and the Passiv Haus standard.

I have just returned from a 3 week trip in the Atlantic Rainforest, Brazil. This is one of the most important eco-regions in the world, with only 7% of the original forests remaining. Despite falling onto a cactus and stepping in an ant’s nest (both of which were quite painful experiences, not to be recommended) I had a fabulous time.  I stayed at a lodge, set on a reserve called REGUA, which is a model conversation project which I have been involved with on a voluntary basis since 2006.  

Since this time, 60 000 trees have been planted on the reserve and the wetland has been restored from farmland to its original habitat.  Birds and mammals have discovered the new wetlands and now you can regularly see caiman and capybaras. It also employs local people to work on the reserve and has established an education centre, whereby local children and schools visit the reserve to learn about the forest.  The project is an inspiration and a truly amazing place, which I am proud to be involved in!  Rachel Walls

The Greenbuild event in Manchester was really interesting. I gave a seminar on changes and future direction of the Code and made some good contacts. There was lots of interest in our training courses on sustainable refurbishment and the Code for Sustainable Homes as well as the ‘Green pages’ directory we are working on for green products.

A big congratulations to Gentoo Housing who heard while we were there that they had come 14th in the Times list of top green companies. Gentoo were awarded a SHIFT silver rating two years ago and will be looking to reach a SHIFT gold in 2011.

Meanwhile Richard Lupo was learning more about in depth carbon assessments to help home owners and landlords to reduce their emissions. Then on Thursday he helped another group of Code assessors through to their exam.

Rachel Walls, settling back in after 3 weeks volunteering on a conservation project in Brazil, attended the Sustainable Housing Conference in London.

Then we heard we had received accreditation from the HCA for our HQI course!

Have a great weekend & lets look foward to summer.

Jamie

Jamie Abbott is Training and Business Manager at Sustainable Homes.

Hastoe helping to test low carbon technologies

Sustainable Homes’ parent, Hastoe Housing Association, has won funding to test cutting edge low carbon technology and show how existing homes can be made more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions. 

The project at Gaymer Memorial Cottages, nr Attleborough, Norfolk was selected for funding (from an investment pot of £17m) from 190 proposals to the ‘Retrofit for the Future’ national competition, run by the Technology and Strategy Board. 

Housing represents 27% of the UK’s total carbon emissions and the Government has set a target for an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050. Much of this will have to come from our existing homes.

With this project Hastoe is leading the way in demostrating the way of the future. The project will be monitored for two years by the Energy Saving Trust  and the results will be shared to help the affordable and private sector retrofit their homes to meet energy efficient standards. 

The cottage is a classic ‘hard to treat, hard to heat property’. It is off the gas network, single glazed, has solid walls and electric storage heaters. Around 60% of heat in our homes is lost through the roof and walls.

Hastoe is working with ECD Architects to design and implement the retrofit. Measures include advanced insulation products known as ‘spacetherm,’ an air source heat pump and solar panels. 

The work will reduce the carbon emissions at this property by around 90%. This will bring huge savings on fuel bills – very important in a time of rising fuel poverty.

Mrs Lawrence, the future resident of the property said:

“I am really excited to be involved in this project.  I saw the cottages being built in the 1940s and never imagined that I would see them upgraded in this way.  I am looking forward to moving in and learning how to use all the new technology.  I think that it is fantastic that the retrofit will provide me with a warmer, more efficient home that is kinder to the environment”

Incredible Edibles Todmorden (IET) is a grassroots community gardening movement. The project has now been taken up by social housing provider Pennine Homes with Incredible Edibles Pennine. Val Morris of Pennine Homes says, community gardening can offer community involvement to people who are often marginalised. “This can help bring people together, working with young people and families through community growing.”

IET has organised new community growing beds and growing packs, encouraging locals to get started for free. Residents using the beds learn and share the spaces together, improving food sourcing and making the environment both attractive and productive. A cooking road show has been established with IET to give people basic cooking skills and a reason to come out and socialise.

This bottom up community scheme is really refreshing in the movement to create truly sustainable places. The strong community base has paved the way for larger schemes that are productive and truly engage stakeholders.

“Any incoming administration must build on the lesson that industry is ready and willing to deliver”. Paul King, CEO, UKGBC

King states that whoever wins “will need to show sufficient leadership and provide the clarity and consistency business needs to invest and innovate for the benefit of all of our futures.”

UK Green Building Council Manifesto –

1. Commit to 50% cut in carbon emissions in the built environment by 2050
2. Stick to zero carbon targets for both new homes and new non-domestic buildings
3. Make low carbon refurbishments easy, affordable, attractive
4. Drive the refurbishment of non-domestic buildings up the agenda
5. Deliver the sustainable communities infrastructure

The Lib Dems

Liberal Democrats have set out a target for a zero carbon Britain by 2050. This is a stark difference from the ‘lower’ carbon targets set out by the other two main parties. King commends the Lib Dems’ positive and exciting vision for Britain, that could deliver “jobs, new businesses and markets.” The Lib Dem manifesto emphasises addressing social equity in a sustainable economy through a range of measures from fuel poverty to helping home owners to invest.

 Conservatives

 The Conservatives have highlighted of “fiscal reform and … key financial measures to support a low carbon economy,” including proposals for a Green Infrastructure Bank and more local co-ordination of low carbon development. However, they have given little emphasis to zero carbon new homes, “the pursuit of which has galvanised the industry and begun to revolutionise the sustainability of our new house building over recent times.”

 Labour

Labour have committed to a Green Investment Bank, a Pay As You Save scheme and a requirement for landlords to better insulate rented homes. The UKGBC said the current Government, “has led the way in making sure that British homes are greener homes through our world-leading commitment to all new homes being zero carbon by 2016”.

 More from the UKGBC  here