We are a force for good. We want to deliver great work and be a positive influence on people’s lives. Part of that promise is empowering communities, both internal and external, to be better prepared for the future.

At ForHousing our commitment to sustainability and achieving net zero runs through the whole organisation and is something we have been taking assertive action on.

Our sector can and should be a trailblazer on decarbonisation in the wider economy. There will be big challenges coming on this, but we must move forward now to do our bit for future generations. We need to lead the way and show our determination to make net zero part of ForHousing’s DNA.

That’s why we have refreshed our Green strategy to make it the best it possibly can be. We worked together with tenants, staff, stakeholders, and the ForHousing board to create a strategy that is truly customer focused, deliverable and measurable.

I’d like to take this time to thank all of you that attended feedback sessions and shared your views. Your input was invaluable and has made a huge impact on the strategy.

Within the strategy there are six key themes that will inform our approach:

Energy supply

Reducing the energy demand for homes and operational activities, whilst transitioning to cleaner, greener energy.

Transport and travel

Facilitating and promoting the use of green transport for tenants, staff, and the supply chain. We aim to minimise the need to travel, including digital transformation in service delivery, and make better use of local labour and supply chains.

Homes and workplaces

ForHousing have pledged that all homes will be classed as EPC Band C by 2030 and to achieve zero carbon output by 2050. We’re also working towards an annual 0.25-point increase in SAP, building all new homes to be zero carbon, and commitment to adhere to mandatory retrofit standards.

We will continue to promote agile working, alongside maximising external grant funding opportunities for retrofitting works. Climate change will be front of mind when we develop wider policies and review future work specifications.

Production and consumption of resources

Exploring new and emerging carbon reduction technologies will be a top priority so we can stay on the front foot. We want to reduce our overall annual carbon output by 6,200 tonnes in the first five years – something I am personally excited to achieve.

Natural environment

It’s important that we build understanding around biodiversity and green spaces, with tenants, stakeholders, and staff. This was something sorely missed at COP26, and we are eager to drive this forward within the housing sector.

Supporting customers to reduce climate change impacts

We recently recruited fourteen members to ForHousing’s carbon community panel, who will help inform our decarbonisation journey and be directly involved in projects. We’ve invested in training and to provide tenants and staff the skills they need to make environmentally informed decisions.

Listening to tenants, not telling them, and acting on their feedback is at the heart of this approach. We are committed to supporting people to find manageable ways to create a better, greener home environment and community.

It is tenants who will be most impacted. These interventions are in their homes. It will be tenants who are inconvenienced whilst work is undertaken, and the impact upon fuel bills will be borne by them. Involving tenants is the right thing to do for homes, communities, and the environment.

I am looking forward to bringing this strategy to life. There is lots to come as we move towards being a zero-carbon organisation and we recognise there is a long journey ahead of us.

Working individually, everyone can make a difference in tackling the climate crisis. Working together, we can deliver lasting change that resets how we build and look after homes for generations to come. We can make the impossible, possible.