A North-West landlord has unveiled a package of decarbonisation projects as part of its commitment to hitting net zero by 2050.
Progressive landlord, ForHousing, which owns and manages 24,000 homes in Salford, Knowsley and Oldham has begun investing in energy-saving improvements to its homes.
Working closely with tenants, ForHousing will be carrying out live energy monitoring research in an initial 50 properties. The live data obtained and feedback from tenants will be used to inform tailored retrofit works to each home to help reduce energy consumption and associated carbon emissions.
It will also inform the housing association’s approach to wider investment in energy-saving measures for the rest of its homes.
ForHousing, which already has 21 homes with energy monitors in place, has now commissioned Net Zero Collective to manage and monitor 50 additional homes trialling different technologies. Net Zero Collective, who are also working with other landlords across the country, will be working with university researchers to analyse data and find clearer answers to the best ways of decarbonising UK housing stock.
The landlord is also progressing plans to retrofit 64 bungalows in Irlam, Salford and bring them up to EPC Band C or higher by December 2022. ForHousing has applied for funding from the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund for this work as part of a combined bid with Greater Manchester Housing Providers group (GMHP) through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
If successful, the bid will see 10 landlords, including ForHousing, involved in the project across Greater Manchester to deliver a range of measures to improve tenants’ homes, cutting their living costs while reducing carbon emissions.
Mark Lowe, Interim Director of Sustainability at ForHousing, said: “We want to be proactive in turning words and sentiment about delivering zero carbon housing into real action. Working with tenants to shape this and supporting them to feel the benefits of our decarbonisation work is at the heart of our plans.
“We’ve made a funding commitment to achieving EPC band C in all homes by 2030 as part of our wider mission to deliver high-quality homes and places.
“At ForHousing we are committed to taking energy-saving to a whole new level, because we’re passionate about empowering tenants to find manageable ways to create a better, greener home environment and community.”
The project links to ForHousing’s dedication to support tenants to reduce their fuel bills with more than 500 tenants saving £31,005 in the past 12 months.
The landlord has also highlighted its commitment to supporting local supply chains, job creation and the wider Greater Manchester economy through its decarbonisation work.
Colette McKune MBE, ForHousing CEO, is Net Zero Lead for Greater Manchester Housing Providers Group and is also a member of the Greater Manchester Retrofitting Task Force. Collette said: “We are proud of the plans we have put together and the contribution we can make collectively — we will maximise every pound we spend on decarbonisation.
“Tenants must be at the heart of decarbonisation plans. It is tenants who will be most impacted. These are interventions in their homes. It is absolutely vital that we involve and co-produce plans with them — if we don’t, we will fail.
“We also recognise that collaborative working is crucial to meeting the Government’s zero carbon targets and delivering lasting change that resets how we build, retrofit and look after our homes. All our learnings and knowledge will be shared with our peers in Greater Manchester, the wider sector and beyond.
“The partnership working of GMHP and GMCA will ensure the region has the drive to be a beacon of best practice in the delivery of zero carbon housing and innovation in renewable technology.
“This aligns with ForHousing’s vision of making more things possible for more people as we continue to deliver our mission of creating quality homes and places.”
ForHousing is working with tenants and the wider community to empower them to play their part in saving the planet through a variety of initiatives, from supporting people to save money on energy bills to top tips on living in a greener way. The landlord will also be working with schools and a range of partners in the community to help educate the next generation.
For more information on ForHousing’s decarbonisation work visit www.forhousing.co.uk
