Great Places Housing Group is using Earth Day, the annual international event to demonstrate support for environmental protection, to launch its three-year plan outlining how it will work towards realising its ambition of becoming a net zero carbon business.
The Group’s Carbon Management Strategy sets out how the group will reduce its carbon emissions by 15% year on year, with the aim of being a carbon neutral business.
The strategy highlights key areas of the business where it will focus its efforts in the first three years. These include its affordable development and investment programmes, business operations, and waste. This will include a research project looking into the challenges and cost implications for its development programme to achieve the Government’s Future Homes Standard and develop zero carbon ready homes.
In addition, the strategy also highlights how it will consider and preserve the existing natural environment in its new and existing developments, as well working with suppliers, colleagues and customers to take positive steps together to reduce carbon emissions . Plans include the creation of a new carbon benchmark for suppliers, the extension of its Carbon Literacy training to customers and the planting of trees for every new home it builds and for every home in its existing stock that fails to meet certain energy performance targets.
Commenting on the launch of the strategy Sarah McClelland, Environmental Manager at Great Places, said:
Climate change remains one of the greatest challenges facing the world and impacts on our customers, colleagues and stakeholders.
Great Places is aware of the important part we can play, and our Carbon Management Strategy sets out how we will look to minimise our energy use across every activity within the business and especially within our homes.
Only by taking bold and radical action and leading by example will Great Places be able to realise it’s ambition of becoming a net zero carbon business.
