Sustainability

RETROFIT

Our retrofit programme aims to improve the energy efficiency of our homes by making sure they are well insulated, have good windows and doors and have an efficient heating system.

After piloting this project in 2022-23, the programme kicked off in earnest last year, working with contractors across the country to install better or low carbon, alternative heating systems such as air and ground source heat pumps, providing better insulation to walls and roofs, making use of new smart technology and more.

Helping customers to get to grips with these new types of heating systems, our team went on the road with our contracting partners Vaillant, Vinchi and Vent-Axia, to demonstrate these new types of technologies.

In 2023-24 we completed retrofit work on 209 homes to make them more efficient to run, warmer for customers and friendlier to the environment.

Launch of Centre of Excellence

In January 2023, Greenoak housing association became part of Stonewater, combining not only our resources, but also a shared passion for sustainability.

In November 2023, we and Greenoak launched our new Centre of Excellence - a place where housing providers can work together to solve climate issues. This new project is focussed on collaboration across the housing sector, where customer feedback forms a core part of the issues it seeks to tackle.

You can find out more about the project here.

Retaining SHIFT Gold

We retained our SHIFT Gold Accreditation in 2023/24, improving our overall score from 64.8% to 65.3% as we helped our customers tackle the cost of energy, while reducing our impact on the environment.

Two areas of improvement in performance were within new homes, where our average EPC (a certificate showing energy efficiency) increased, and also the number of existing homes rated above a band C, thanks largely to our retrofit programme.

SHIFT is an independent sustainability standard, specifically for social landlords, that measures our impact on the environment. They look at 21 criteria and award an accreditation based on performance in key areas.

Trees planted through our partnership with the Community Forest Trust

More here

Photo: Marian Havenhand

Sustainable Futures

In early 2024, we opened applications for Stonewater’s first ever sustainability customer training programme. We had lots of really strong applications from customers who wanted to join us on a 12-month learning journey, which includes topics such as:

  • ‘Introduction to Sustainability’ – learning what greenhouse emissions are and what words like decarbonisation mean
  • ‘Domestic Energy Efficiency’ – where we think about saving energy and reducing bills in homes
  • ‘Biodiversity and Water’ – discussing the benefit of green spaces to the environment and how we stop pollution of nature and our water ways

We have a group of 16 customers, some of whom have a passion for sustainability in their personal lives, some who work in a career relating to sustainability and some who are brand new to the topic but are keen to learn. Applications will open again in early 2025.