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Environmental sustainability

At Network Housing Group we realise that to remain a viable business we need to commit to ensuring that all our activities are carried out with the highest regard to environmental sustainability.

Firstly we need to engender a common understanding of what environmental sustainability means to our customers, staff, and stakeholders. We then need to understand what the threats are to sustainability and how we as a business might be contributing to them through our business activities. Lastly we need to take action to ensure that any adverse impact we have on the environment is either eliminated or minimised.

Business activities

Our new developments and refurbishments should be economically viable, whilst at the same time aiming to exceed all compliance codes to ensure that the required outcomes for quality, affordability and long term sustainability are realised.

The way we work needs to be greener also, from the buildings we use and how we commute to and from them, to the energy and other goods and services consumed and waste produced.

A core aim of the Group is to eliminate fuel poverty among our customers through affordable warmth strategies. They are being given the knowledge, training and assistance to enable them to live more sustainable lives in the dwellings and neighbourhoods we provide for them.

Strategy and Action Plan

All of the above are being achieved through a comprehensive environmental sustainability strategy and action plan, and good corporate governance.

The Group, as part of its environmental commitment appointed a Head of Environment to develop and oversee the implementation of the environmental strategy and action plan, which would include affordable warmth and water strategies. The Head of Environment is advised by the corporate environmental strategy group comprised of representatives from all areas of the Group. The Group corporate strategy is to reduce carbon emissions by 15% by 2013.

Network Housing Group participates in the G15 environmental forum and is a founder participant in SHIFT, having recently been awarded the bronze category. We hope to improve on this score in the coming years.

Activities to date:

100% green electricity procured for all our offices
Green Travel Plans established for our main offices concentrating on car sharing and cycling.
Sustainability Action Plans adopted by all constituent businesses which include affordable warmth and water strategies.
Fuel poverty surveys carried out to establish the nature and extent of the problem for targeted action in some of our poorest locations.
Innovative technologies being trialled to enhance the efficiency of existing central heating systems.
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery systems being installed in existing properties to reduce condensation and improve the indoor environment.
Formal energy efficiency and sustainability training for staff and residents.
New developments adopting mainstream renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaics, heat pumps and combined heat and power in line with planning requirements.
Office printing rationalised to effect savings of £25k per annum.
Procuring 60% green products as core office supplies with the aim of increasing this in the coming years.
Network Housing Group aim to work to BS8555 standards to streamline our environmental management procedures commencing 2009.

For more information please contact Carrie Goldsworthy, Communications and Campaigns Advisor on 020 8900 0185 or email communications@networkhg.org.uk.