The 1 – 7 July is Net Zero Week – the UK’s national awareness week highlighting the challenge of reducing our carbon emissions and providing advice and information on combating the effects of climate change.
Here at Karbon, we’re committed to playing our part in creating a sustainable environment for current and future generations.
Here are just a few of the ways we’re currently doing this…
Improving the energy efficiency of our homes
We’re investing heavily in improving the energy efficiency of our homes.
With less than a decade to improve our existing properties to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C, there’s significant work to be completed.
Through the UK Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), we’re investing £3.6 million in improving the energy efficiency of 218 homes in Northumberland and County Durham.
Our approach is to focus on fabric improvements and minimise disruption to customers. We're installing solar panels on roofs and external wall insulation – a layer of insulation attached to the wall and finished with render. By doing this, customers can remain their properties while we complete the work.
The work will improve the properties, reducing energy demand by reducing heat loss and providing free energy. It puts Karbon in a strong position to achieve net zero in the future.
The innovation game
We’re developing innovative, energy efficient homes built using timber frame construction – a high quality, environmentally friendly, modern method of house building.
These homes are powered by air source heat pumps, a technology three times more efficient than gas boilers.
These affordable, high standard, energy efficient homes are accessible to all and fit for the future, helping us to ensure 100% of our new homes will achieve the future homes standard of EPC A by 2025.
Take a look at some of these homes at our Thorpe Willoughby site:
We’re also identifying opportunities for new innovations, technology and initiatives that can help us reach our net zero goals.
Tesla Powerwall
We’ve currently piloting Tesla Powerwalls in five properties, specifically vulnerable customers using electrically powered equipment. These battery storage units will provide essential electricity backup in the event of a power cut.
Over the long term they could also be used to support the transition to net zero.
Infrared heating panels
Another energy saving solution we’re working on is installing infrared heating panels in two blocks of flats to replace old, poorly performing electric storage heaters.
These heating panels offer a low cost and low maintenance option. They work by emitting heat as infrared radiation which heats objects and people in its path in a radiant way. This is different to more traditional convective heat transfer which relies on heating the air in the room.
The panels are easy to install and can be designed as part of bathroom mirrors, wall art or pictures.
We’ll be piloting the infrared panels this year, which will include monitoring their performance and getting customer feedback to see if it’s worth rolling them out further.
The Office – an energy efficient workplace
We’re not just improving the energy efficiency of our homes but throughout our organisation too.
We’re improving the energy efficiency of our offices reducing gas and electricity usage by implementing things like using more energy efficient LED lighting, using sensors so the lights automatically turn off when people aren’t using the spaces and condensing workspaces on site to save on costs.
We’re also reducing waste and increasing recycling in the following ways:
Glass milk bottles instead of plastic
Sustainable sanitary products
Upgrading or removing hand dryers for recycled paper towels
Improving the provision of recycling bins in our offices
Operationally, we’re actively and consciously sourcing and procuring products and services for Karbon in ethical, sustainable and social conscious ways.
We’ve improved how we dispose of waste, including more dry mixed recycling bins to decrease our general waste and diversion to landfill.
We’re also looking to reduce CO2 emissions by decreasing diesel vehicles and increasing the number of electric vehicles we use where possible.
How you can get involved
We want to bring you along on our Net Zero journey and show you how you can benefit from environmental changes and reduce your impact, making a sustainable environment for current and future generations.
As part of this, we created a Karbon Customer Environment Group giving you the opportunity to give feedback on our environmental polices and approach to climate change.
You can check and challenge our performance and services and ensure we’re focusing on environmental issues facing our customers.
If you would interested in finding out more or becoming part of the Customer Environment Group, please get in touch with our Customer and Community Engagement team by emailing connectwithkarbon@karbonhomes.co.uk.
The 1 – 7 July is Net Zero Week – the UK’s national awareness week highlighting the challenge of reducing our carbon emissions and providing advice and information on combating the effects of climate change.
Here at Karbon, we’re committed to playing our part in creating a sustainable environment for current and future generations.
Here are just a few of the ways we’re currently doing this…
Improving the energy efficiency of our homes
We’re investing heavily in improving the energy efficiency of our homes.
With less than a decade to improve our existing properties to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C, there’s significant work to be completed.
Through the UK Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), we’re investing £3.6 million in improving the energy efficiency of 218 homes in Northumberland and County Durham.
Our approach is to focus on fabric improvements and minimise disruption to customers. We're installing solar panels on roofs and external wall insulation – a layer of insulation attached to the wall and finished with render. By doing this, customers can remain their properties while we complete the work.
The work will improve the properties, reducing energy demand by reducing heat loss and providing free energy. It puts Karbon in a strong position to achieve net zero in the future.
The innovation game
We’re developing innovative, energy efficient homes built using timber frame construction – a high quality, environmentally friendly, modern method of house building.
These homes are powered by air source heat pumps, a technology three times more efficient than gas boilers.
These affordable, high standard, energy efficient homes are accessible to all and fit for the future, helping us to ensure 100% of our new homes will achieve the future homes standard of EPC A by 2025.
Take a look at some of these homes at our Thorpe Willoughby site:
We’re also identifying opportunities for new innovations, technology and initiatives that can help us reach our net zero goals.
Tesla Powerwall
We’ve currently piloting Tesla Powerwalls in five properties, specifically vulnerable customers using electrically powered equipment. These battery storage units will provide essential electricity backup in the event of a power cut.
Over the long term they could also be used to support the transition to net zero.
Infrared heating panels
Another energy saving solution we’re working on is installing infrared heating panels in two blocks of flats to replace old, poorly performing electric storage heaters.
These heating panels offer a low cost and low maintenance option. They work by emitting heat as infrared radiation which heats objects and people in its path in a radiant way. This is different to more traditional convective heat transfer which relies on heating the air in the room.
The panels are easy to install and can be designed as part of bathroom mirrors, wall art or pictures.
We’ll be piloting the infrared panels this year, which will include monitoring their performance and getting customer feedback to see if it’s worth rolling them out further.
The Office – an energy efficient workplace
We’re not just improving the energy efficiency of our homes but throughout our organisation too.
We’re improving the energy efficiency of our offices reducing gas and electricity usage by implementing things like using more energy efficient LED lighting, using sensors so the lights automatically turn off when people aren’t using the spaces and condensing workspaces on site to save on costs.
We’re also reducing waste and increasing recycling in the following ways:
Operationally, we’re actively and consciously sourcing and procuring products and services for Karbon in ethical, sustainable and social conscious ways.
We’ve improved how we dispose of waste, including more dry mixed recycling bins to decrease our general waste and diversion to landfill.
We’re also looking to reduce CO2 emissions by decreasing diesel vehicles and increasing the number of electric vehicles we use where possible.
How you can get involved
We want to bring you along on our Net Zero journey and show you how you can benefit from environmental changes and reduce your impact, making a sustainable environment for current and future generations.
As part of this, we created a Karbon Customer Environment Group giving you the opportunity to give feedback on our environmental polices and approach to climate change.
You can check and challenge our performance and services and ensure we’re focusing on environmental issues facing our customers.
If you would interested in finding out more or becoming part of the Customer Environment Group, please get in touch with our Customer and Community Engagement team by emailing connectwithkarbon@karbonhomes.co.uk.
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