The importance of tackling climate change can’t be underestimated. We’re in a climate emergency and each one of us must play our part in protecting our planet. Our small steps towards a healthier world are essential, and we’ve got a clear journey ahead when it comes to addressing climate change.
Our roadmap signposts the key stages of our journey towards net zero carbon by 2050.
We’re clear on the goal
The Government has set targets of reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. These mainly include carbon dioxide emissions and net zero means achieving a balance between the carbon emissions released into the atmosphere and those taken out. The target of net zero by 2050 is in line with the UK’s commitments to the 2016 Paris Agreement to keep global warming under 2 degrees. The science shows that if we can keep global warming below a 2 degree increase in the Earth’s average temperature, we’ll avoid irreversible climate change. To prevent this increase, we need to reach net zero emissions by the middle of this century.
The road ahead
Preventing global warming will mean significant changes across the UK and globally and we’re committed to playing our part. How are we doing this and what are some of the key milestones for the UK?
Our roadmap is a reflection of the changes we’ll be making and key government initiatives. Our strategy will grow and change as we continue on our journey, and our roadmap will evolve to reflect that.
2021 – the steps we’re taking now and in the near future
To reach our final destination of net zero carbon by 2050 we first had to understand how much carbon our existing homes are producing. So we’ve assessed our homes and calculated the costs of retrofitting to make them more energy efficient. This will reduce the amount of carbon our homes produce, while also bringing down energy bills for our customers.
But it’s not just our homes that need to be better for the environment. So we’re also assessing our vehicles, work places, the way we build homes and all aspects of our business to see which efficiencies can have the greatest impact for reducing our carbon emissions.
We’re piloting retrofit projects
We’ll soon be launching pilot retrofit projects on a selection of our homes that can be more energy efficient. We’re working with our customers, project managers, consultants and contractors to deliver these improvements. There are many new green alternatives for retrofitting coming to light and these pilot projects give us an opportunity to test their credentials and see what works best for our customers. This is really key, as it means we can do a ‘test drive’ of sorts before implementing the changes on a wider scale.
The Abri Standard for new homes
When it comes to new homes – and let’s not forget we’re building at least 10,000 of them up to 2030 – we’re setting specific targets for improving insulation as well as using renewable and low carbon energy. Our Abri Standard will complement the Government’s Future Homes Standard which expects new homes to produce 75% lower carbon emissions compared to current levels.
How we’re creating a low carbon culture across Abri
This is all about working together to make positive change happen quicker. So we’ve partnered with the Carbon Literacy Project (CLP) who will be supporting us to deliver training to colleagues to better understand climate change, carbon footprints and how we can do our bit to help. Our colleagues are taking ownership of this and our very own Climate Champions will deliver this training across Abri with the support of CLP to create a low carbon culture.
We’re measuring carbon footprints with a dedicated app
To track our effect on the planet and measure the difference we can all make, we’re introducing an app that will provide tips on how we can reduce and even offset some of the carbon we produce. The app will give us a clearer picture of how much carbon we’re producing individually. And as we become more carbon aware, the key to making changes in our lives to become greener.
Helping customers on the low carbon journey
Once we’ve become more carbon aware across the organisation and better understand how we can reduce our carbon footprint we’ll be encouraging our customers to join us on our journey. We’ll work with them to explain the improvements we’ll be making to their homes, how it can help reduce their energy bills, why we’re doing this and the positive benefits in the long term.
Collaborating with other housing providers to address the challenge
We’re a proud member of the Greener Futures Partnership which is a unique collaboration of five of the UK’s largest not-for-profit social housing providers: Abri, Anchor Hanover, Home Group, the Hyde Group and Sanctuary Group. We share a core aim of creating sustainable tenancies, homes and communities. Together we’ll work together to find solutions to the sustainability challenges.
Key years ahead
2025
From 2025 we’ll be implementing the findings from our initial pilot projects. This will give us insight into the best way to retrofit our existing homes with the most efficient materials and technology. Work will then begin on customer’s homes on a larger scale to make them more energy efficient.
In 2025 the Government will also launch part two of the Future Homes Standard which will reduce carbon in new build homes by 75% compared to current standards. New government legislation will also mean no new gas boilers can be fitted into new homes.
2030
By 2030 all our homes will have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C standard. The EPC measures the energy efficiency of homes on a grade from A to G, with A being the highest. By ensuring all our homes have an EPC C rating this will greatly reduce their energy demand and the amount of carbon they produce.
2035
Over the coming years we’ll be progressively switching our vehicles over to electric and by 2035 government legislation comes into force with 100% zero emission vehicles in use. The UK government has also set a climate change target to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.
2050
By 2050 Abri becomes NET ZERO CARBON. Net zero means achieving a balance between the greenhouse gases we put into the atmosphere and those taken out. So leading up to this milestone we will be sharing many more exciting initiatives that will help to remove carbon from the atmosphere through tree planting and other projects.
Our plans are evolving all the time and we’ll update this roadmap as we introduce new measures. All of these important steps we’re taking in the run up to 2050 will lead us to achieving net zero carbon and with everyone’s help we can help to tackle climate change together.
