Date published: 05 November 2024
Stonewater has once again achieved the SHIFT Gold accreditation in its annual environmental assessment.
The SHIFT rating is a prestigious environmental sustainability certification for the housing sector that allows Stonewater to receive an independent measure of its environmental credentials.
It covers the financial year from April 2023 to March 2024, and gave Stonewater an improved score of 65% – the third consecutive year that they have improved their score and achieved a Gold rating.
Achieving SHIFT Gold is another significant milestone in the leading housing provider's journey towards attaining SHIFT Platinum rating, underscoring their commitment to environmental excellence and sustainability in housing.
The accreditation is awarded to organisations that excel in meeting environmental standards, including areas like carbon emissions, water management, waste reduction, and climate change resilience.
SHIFT is recognised by the Government and helps housing providers highlight their commitment to sustainability, offering a structured assessment to improve environmental performance.
Achieving this Gold standard signifies Stonewater’s dedication to reducing its carbon footprint and enhancing the environmental efficiency of its housing stock.
The accreditation process evaluates performance across over 50 criteria, ensuring that Stonewater’s efforts in sustainability align with industry benchmarks.
Through this, Stonewater is also contributing to lowering utility costs for its residents, as energy-efficient homes help reduce bills and improve living conditions.
Adam Masters, Assistant Director of Environment & Sustainability at Stonewater, said: “Achieving SHIFT Gold accreditation again is a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, and reflects the significant improvements we have made year on year in our sustainability efforts.
“At Stonewater, we believe in building not just homes, but thriving eco-friendly communities. Sustainability will continue to be a key corporate priority for us as we work towards net zero by 2050”
The report highlighted several positive environmental measures:
• More than 77% of homes are EPC C or above
• More than 96% of waste is recycled
• More than 80% of materials are responsibly sourced
• Scoring 15 out of 15 for an effective environmental strategy, ensuring that sustainability runs throughout the organisation including their homes, office and other organisational activities.
• Score 3 out of 3 for resident engagement on energy efficiency showing that 100% of residents have access to energy efficiency advice
• More than 90% of homes at low risk of overheating meaning our homes are less likely to develop damp and mould.
• More than 95% of homes are at low risk of flooding, making them climate resilient.
For more information, please view Stonewater’s Environmental Strategy.