Leading social landlord Adra has been shortlisted for a Northern Housing Award marking its commitment to cut carbon emissions from its homes to net-zero by 2030 to combat climate change.
North Wales affordable homes provider, Adra, 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 13th May.
Adra is taking the lead working proactively with the Welsh Government, being amongst the first housing associations across the UK to commit to decarbonising its homes, pooling best practice as part of the North Wales Collaboration Group to support its green economic recovery, 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, 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 sets 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 works to his home as part of Adra’s initial retrofitting pilot, including a new roof, roof insulation and external wall insulation with dash render. Edric 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 & 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.”
Header image shows Gwen Thomas, Adra’s Environmental Officer with some of Adra’s repairs operatives working on retrofitting some of their existing houses.
Adra launched its decarbonisation strategy alongside Welsh Housing Minister Julie James at HOMES UK last year. You can read more about their decarbonisation strategy here.
