ISOS HOUSING GROUP ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
CONTENT 1.0
Introduction
2.0
Background & Context
3.0
Defining Sustainability
4.0
The social housing context
5.0
The Isos context
6.0
How are we currently performing?
7.0
Objectives for the future
8.0
Measuring success and achieving the objectives
ISOS HOUSING GROUP ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
1.0
Introduction
1.1
The purpose of the Environmental Sustainability Strategy is to contribute to the delivery of the Isos primary purpose, of ‘Every day we make someone’s life better.
1.2
Isos recognises that it has a significant contribution to make towards increasing sustainability and reducing environmental harm.
1.3
This strategy aims to reduce the impact of Isos’ activities on the environment. This includes managing homes and neighbourhoods, building homes, running the business, investment and improving lives of Isos customers, communities and staff.
1.4
This must involve long-term thinking. New homes are built to last for a minimum of 60 years and in reality, many homes last for much longer than that. The UK’s existing housing stock is responsible for 27 per cent of the UK's total carbon emissions. Around 85 per cent of the existing housing stock will still be standing in 2050, so it is imperative that we take action to meet the government’s target of reducing carbon emissions.
1.5
Each decision made now which enhances sustainability will have a long term effect on the environment, plus all our customers and the communities in which we work. The purpose of this strategy is to:
Contribute, at a local level, to the delivery of the UK sustainability programme. Address the causes and effects of climate change and secure maximum benefit for our communities. Achieve reduction of carbon emissions from energy purchase and use, travel and transport, waste production and wherever possible the purchase of goods and services. Through education and advice provision, to encourage our tenants and leaseholders to reduce their carbon emissions. Ensure all Isos staff and communities are made aware of the importance of environmental sustainability.
ISOS HOUSING GROUP ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
2.0
Background & Context
2.1
Climate change refers to identifiable change in the climate that persists for an extended time, typically decades or longer.
2.2
Climate change is a massive threat to both the environment and is one of the greatest economic challenges facing us in the twenty-first century. It demands a global response. At the same time, the UK needs to secure clean, safe, affordable energy to heat and power its homes and businesses. Creating a lowcarbon and resource efficient world means making major structural changes to the way we work and live, including how we source, manage and use our energy.
2.3
The 2008 Climate Change Act established the world’s first legally binding climate change target. It aims to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% (from the 1990 baseline) by 2050. By limiting the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, the rate and severity of global warming will be reduced.
2.4
We want to be one of the organisations leading the fight against climate change. This Strategy and the associated Action Plan aim to help tackle the problem of climate change. The following activities we are involved in can have an impact on climate change, especially the production of greenhouse gases:
2.5
The acquisition & development of land & property. The consumption of energy & water. The use of transport & materials. The production of waste.
Households directly contribute to climate change through the energy being used to heat homes and water; and indirectly through other resource use including electricity used to power appliances and through the energy to treat and supply water. The use of gas to heat homes also exposes the UK to energy security issues as indigenous gas supplies decline. The cost of meeting heating needs can be difficult for some households to afford. Hence a lot of customers and staff can suffer what is commonly known as ‘fuel poverty’ [a household is currently said to be in fuel poverty if it needs to spend more than 10% of its income on fuel to maintain a satisfactory heating regime (usually 21 degrees for the main living area, and 18 degrees for other occupied rooms)].
ISOS HOUSING GROUP ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
2.6
Whether a household is in fuel poverty or not is determined by the interaction of a number of factors, but three specifically stand out. These are:
The energy efficiency of the property (and therefore, the energy required to heat and power the home). The cost of energy. Household income.
2.7
It is very important that all homes become much more energy efficient and that wherever possible and economically viable to do so we need to install equipment in our homes to produce more of our heat and electricity from low carbon sources, such as ground and air source heat pumps and solar power.
2.8
Isos is committed to promoting environmental sustainability by ensuring that it becomes a key area for consideration in all decision making processes.
2.9
This strategy is linked with a number of key Isos strategies. The objectives in this Environmental Sustainability Strategy will help contribute to the delivery of the following:
The Acquisition and Development Strategy The Asset Management Strategy The Financial Inclusion Strategy The Procurement Strategy The Value For Money Strategy The Waste Management Strategy Affordable Warmth Strategy. Community Investment Strategy
2.10
All of the strategies together contribute to the delivery of the Medium Term Business Plan.
3.0
Defining Sustainability
3.1
One of the most significant definitions of environmental sustainability was given by the Brundtland Commission, which defined it as development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
ISOS HOUSING GROUP ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
3.2
Isos is committed to developing a sustainable approach in all its activities. We understand 'sustainability' to have two particular strands:
Creating sustainable communities, by which we mean working to ensure that the neighbourhoods we work in and help to create are ones which have a long term future where people want to live and where their lives can flourish.
Working to reduce our 'carbon footprint' and contributing to reducing the effects of climate change. We can do this by paying attention to how we manage our operations and how we buy products, whether they are for our offices, for the new homes we are building or for the existing homes we are maintaining. We can also encourage our staff and residents to reduce their environmental impacts.
4.0
The social housing context
4.1
There are numerous external drivers which impact on this strategy including the following (this list is not exhaustive):
Achieving Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 or above for all new build properties receiving grant funding from the Homes and Communities Agencies (HCAs) Affordable Homes Programme.
Energy Performance Certificates are now mandatory for all housing association homes.
Green retrofitting / Eco-Homes XB for existing homes. This is currently voluntary but will probably become mandatory. The possible introduction of Decent Homes 2 will focus on retrofit.
The Construction Commitments: Halving Waste to Landfill - Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). Currently voluntary participation.
SHIFT (Sustainable Homes Index For Tomorrow) initiative - assessment of an organisation's sustainability performance and recommendations on how to improve. Currently voluntary participation.
Various water, energy and waste initiatives. Voluntary participation.
Use/purchase of ‘green energy’. Voluntary participation.
ISOS HOUSING GROUP ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
Use of environmentally friendly building/office materials. Voluntary participation.
Achieving ISO 14001 Environmental Management System. Voluntary participation.
Voluntary participation in the Green Deal, Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and Energy Companies Obligation (ECO).
5.0
The Isos context
5.1
The key Isos strategies and associated action plans which link to this strategy, highlighted in section 2.0, will result in us making changes to the ways we have traditionally selected and purchased products, how we manage our operations and to make changes which will be of environmental benefit now and in the future.
5.2
This strategy contributes directly to the Isos 2020 Vision which is: “We are the north’s leading housing company, acclaimed nationally as the most pioneering organisation in our sector. Our customers love our diverse and innovative services, which improve their lives in ways they never thought possible. Our success is sustained by a thriving commercial portfolio. Our brand, delivered everyday through exceptional customer service, is widely celebrated as a symbol and guarantee of outstanding quality. Year after year we are recognised as one of the very best companies to work for. We continue to grow because we are the first and best choice for customers, partners and employees”.
5.3
Our Strategic Plan 2012 to 2020 sets out how we will turn our vision into reality, by prioritising and focusing our activities around four aims: 1. To deliver great services to all our customers. 2. To make best use of our property and assets. 3. To enable our staff to be the best they can be. 4. To grow our business and reputation.
5.4
Environmental sustainability is one of the cross cutting themes in the Medium Term Business Plan, our ‘roadmap’ to 2020, which underpins delivery of these
ISOS HOUSING GROUP ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
four strategic aims. 5.5
Isos is currently undertaking a number of activities to the benefit of the environment. It is building to Code Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, helping to increase the overall SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) rating. The SAP is the Government's recommended system for energy rating of dwellings. The Decent Homes Programme is improving the energy efficiency of our existing housing stock. Isos is also benefiting from various funding initiatives such as ECO for insulation programmes and energy efficiency measures. Alternative technologies such as air source heat pumps have been successfully installed in a number of existing properties.
5.6
Isos will continue to pursue external funding opportunities, pilot new techniques and review policies and procedures in order to support its activities in delivering this strategy. A joined up and planned approach will be achieved through the delivery of the strategy’s action plan.
6.0
How are we currently performing?
6.1
Isos is a member of the Sustainable Homes Index for Tomorrow (SHIFT). SHIFT is an independent benchmark of how environmentally sustainable a housing organisation is. Being a SHIFT member involves striving to continually reduce environmental impacts. It also demonstrates that an organisation is open about environmental performance. It is formally recognised by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and is endorsed by the National Housing Federation (NHF) and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH).
6.2
Isos has been a member of SHIFT since 2009. Isos has completed 3 SHIFT assessments. The SHIFT survey is divided into the four sections: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Strategy and management Office practices Existing buildings New build
6.3
We are committed to minimising negative environmental impacts as far as possible across these four areas.
6.4
The overall SHIFT score represents how Isos performed out of 100%.
ISOS HOUSING GROUP ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
6.5
Table 1 below illustrates how ranking is assigned according to each category. BANDS Bronze Silver Gold Platinum
TOTAL SCORE THRESHOLD >= 20% and =45% and =65% and =85% and
