Sustainability & Net Zero
How we'll achieve Net Zero by 2045 across our existing and new-build homes.
Our commitment to sustainability and Net Zero
Sustainability is high on our agenda. The Scottish Government’s strategies and targets including the Sustainable Housing Strategy set out a vision for warm, high quality, affordable, low carbon homes and the new Climate Change Bill commits to net zero emission of greenhouse gases by 2045.
With over 5,600 homes we have a major impact on the lives of people who live in our homes and our communities and a clear responsibility to future proof our homes for generations to come. We need to play our role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming and ensure that our measures impact on poverty, health and our environment.
Find out more below about what we’re doing to play our role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming and ensure that our measures impact on poverty, health and our environment.
Upgrading our existing homes
Homes and buildings account for 20% of Carbon Emissions in Scotland and the investment in current homes will play a crucial role in delivering this strategy.
All our existing homes will be retrofitted to ensure affordable warmth and meet energy efficiency standards. We will work with Government and Funders to ensure that we attract grant funding and resources to support rather than relying on rent increases to pay for reducing the carbon impact of our homes.
Solutions will vary according to homes and their surroundings. We will explore the use of new technology to make homes energy sources, such as solar PV, battery storage and domestic turbines, alongside district heating solutions from renewable energy sources.
As part of our Planned Maintenance Programme we:
- carry out Stock Condition Surveys and EPC’s following all relevant refurbishment works i.e. where energy efficiency may have been improved as a result of the works
- Promote the more efficient use of energy, fuel and water in Tenants homes.
- Consider all Scottish Government programmes and funding opportunities available to promote and reduce the cost of energy efficiency measures.
- Explore new technologies and innovations in the industry to further improve efficiency of our homes
- Implement and maintain procedures to ensure that current, and future, Scottish Government standards are complied with where feasible.
- Engage with Tenants prior to planned energy improvement works and monitor Tenant satisfaction on completion of projects.
- Ensure that SBHA’s design guide and associated specifications are reviewed annually with regard to legislation and best practice whilst taking account of future targets.
Find out more about our Planned Home Improvements.
New developments
The base line for all new homes is that they must comply with current Building Regulations, but SBHA will do all that they can to build homes which perform in excess of the baseline Building Standards.
Our aim is to make all homes as energy efficient as possible and therefore minimising carbon emissions and reducing running cost for our customers.
We will achieve this with a fabric first approach, making sure that the homes are constructed to the highest possible energy standards. All new homes will be built with heating systems capable of being Net Zero at the point of use (no gas). Where feasible, we will explore new innovations and advanced building design and technology. Examples of the innovations we may considered are:
- Exceeding required thermal standards, through insulation of walls floor and roof space and increased specification glazing.
- Utilise rainwater harvesting, and environmentally friendly drainage systems.
- Use of technologies which allow flexible living and adaption of properties to meet a range of needs.
- Consider component specification to better understand embodied carbon within homes as they are constructed.
- Explore ways of maximising renewable technologies to reduce dependency on the grid-fed power. This could deliver the communal benefit to the neighbourhood as well as individual homes.
- Explore Modern Methods of Construction which could deliver lower embodies carbon, reduced waste, but still delivering homes which are high quality and meeting identified needs.
You can find out more about our existing and new development and what makes them special here
Find out more about our new developments.
Taking Tenants with us on the Net Zero journey
As we transform how our homes use and retain energy, the people who live in those homes will be at the heart of our success.
Engaging tenants and their communities in the need for change and on our net zero journey, and how we live is a key part of our strategy. We want to ensure that all our decision consider Tenants’ and Communities’ resilience, health, wellbeing and quality of life.
We are delivering energy efficiency upgrade works and working with the customers whose homes we're upgrading, making sure we put in technology that they’re confident using and that benefits them too.
We provide information and support to Tenants to reduce fuel poverty through our Warm and Well service. Since 2016 we have provided energy advice to over 2,250 Tenants – almost 50% of tenants.
Find out more about our Warm and Well service.
It’s SBHA Tenants who live in the homes we build and maintain so it’s important that they’re at the forefront of what we do when it comes to sustainability. From answering questionnaires to being a Board Member there are lots of ways to get involved and help influence our sustainability approach.
Find out more about how you can get involved.
Our operations - demonstrating our commitment as a business
We need to adopt the principles of More Sustainable Steps in our behaviours and values. Intrinsic to our Net Zero journey is understanding and changing our carbon footprint as a business.
From the offices we run to waste management from construction and homes we can have a positive impact on the environment and live our values. Whilst we have made progress in many areas, we feel there is further to be made as we start to bring together and create an overall understanding of our carbon footprint and the measures we can take to reduce emissions.
We are developing greener business practices to reduce our waste and the overall environmental impact of SBHA as an organisation. We:
- Consider social, economic and environmental sustainability when procuring contractors, goods and services.
- Consider circular economy when sourcing products and materials.
- Minimise carbon emissions by reducing consumption of raw materials and generating energy through renewable technology.
- Minimise waste by educating all SBHA employees and stakeholders of materials that can be recycled and taking ownership of this.
- Minimising office waste – working toward a paperless office.
- Maximise reuse and recycling where possible.
- Engage with partners where possible to promote waste awareness whilst reducing waste management costs incurred by SBHA.
- Minimising where feasible land-fill through the controlled management of waste.
- Adhere to Legislative requirements for Sustainability.
- Consider carbon footprint and the use of electric vehicles in fleet management
- Promote the use of resource efficient materials and activities through procurement of environmentally conscious materials used in provision of works.
To learn more about out how we buy products and services see our Procurement Policy
See a list of our approved contractors here.