Housing group celebrates top sustainability award
Incommunities has won a top national award for its sustainability performance at a prestigious housing event in London, held last week.
The SHIFT Awards represent the leading environmental prize for housing providers recognising outstanding projects and performance.
Through the work of its Sustainability Team, Incommunities were named winners of the Sustainability Strategy of the Year award.
At the event Incommunities was also awarded a ‘Silver’ level accreditation for its sustainability performance. The SHIFT accreditation scheme measures the work of housing providers across the country.
The team was also highly commended in the 'Team of the Year' category and shortlisted for two further awards.
In 2017/18 Incommunities’ Sustainability Team worked with local partners and with in-house services to deliver a string of environment successes including:-
- helping 2,100 residents make home energy savings and improve their recyclying
- saving over £60,000 on the group’s electricity and gas bills
- securing £282,000 in external match funding for home cavity wall insulation and gas connection schemes, benefiting over 400 households
- delivering sustainability training to staff and graduates working in housing.
The team also worked with Incommunities’ development team, Homes England and local contractors to help deliver 34 new energy efficient affordable homes in the suburbs of Bradford city centre. Each home includes electric car charging points.
Joana Malato, Marketing and Communications Manager at Sustainable Homes, who manage the SHIFT sustainability standard for the sector, said: "The Strategy of the Year award is a special category for SHIFT landlords and we were extremely impressed with Incommunities’ strategic approach for both its breadth and its detail. They were worthy winners.
"Incommunities also received deserved commendation in the competitive ‘Team of the Year’ category."
Geraldine Howley, Incommunities’ Group Chief Executive said: "I am immensely proud of our success at the 2018 SHIFT Awards.
"Our Sustainability Team play a leading role in helping the business deliver high levels of energy efficient performance working with our in-house teams and external partners.
"Their success benefits our customers’ lives, their homes and our business."
Angela Perry, Incommunities’ Assistant Chief Executive, Asset Management said: "This is a great achievement for our business and our in-house sustainability team.
"We are committed to making our assets and operations more sustainable and work for us better. It’s also great to see we are improving our performance on many fronts.
"Receiving such recognition from SHIFT shows we are delivering significant benefits for our customers from cutting carbon emissions to tackling fuel poverty and rising bills."
