Stonewater is committed to providing homes that are energy efficient and contributing to Government’s net zero targets, as well as understanding how the social housing sector can lead the decarbonisation agenda.
We have supported research by the leading think tank IPPR looking at the real opportunity to deliver retrofit in the social housing sector.
This research explores the huge opportunities that could be realised from this home energy revolution, where the current policies are failing and why, before outlining the preferred technologies to deliver the strategy and how it should be delivered and paid for.
The video below outlines the huge challenges for our sector.
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GreenGo: Unlocking an energy efficiency and clean heat revolution
Stonewater recently supported a new, short report by IPPR, titled GreenGo: Unlocking an energy efficiency and clean heat revolution, which builds on their previous work (see below) and sets out how retrofit programmes can solve many of the challenges facing the sector today. This includes how a retrofit revolution could help to solve the cost-of-living and energy security challenges.
All hands to the pump: A home improvement plan for England
In 2019, we supported IPPR’s All hands to the pump: A home improvement plan for England report, which laid out the huge opportunities that could be realised from this home energy revolution, where the current policies are failing and why. The report concluded that heat pumps offer a long-term, viable solution to tackling the large-scale decarbonisation of England’s housing stock.
Our credentials
Stonewater has received significant recognition for our work in this area.
In 2021 we were named in the Top 3 most sustainable housing associations in the UK by Housing Digital – and the highest with a national portfolio.
Alongside this, our Chief Executive Nicholas Harris has recently been appointed as the Vice-Chair of the National Housing Federation’s Sustainability Strategy Group, which will steer the sector’s response to tackling the challenges of sustainability and climate change.
Our campaign to raise the profile of decarbonisation in housing with politicians and the housing sector was also shortlisted for the PR Week 2021 Awards for Public Affairs Campaign of the Year.
We have also been awarded a Gold ‘SHIFT’ rating, an independent assessment and accreditation scheme that measures organisations against environmental targets.
News and views
April 2023 - IPPR event - An industrial strategy for home decarbonisation
Watch our Chief Executive, Nicholas Harris, share views on an industrial strategy for home decarbonisation as part of a panel.
Watch the event.
April 2023 - The use of an industrial strategy for home decarbonisation
Stonewater’s Chief Executive, Nicholas Harris, spoke at an IPPR panel event, looking at how to develop an ‘industrial strategy’ for home decarbonisation. He shares his thoughts below.
Read the article.
October 2021 - Inside Housing article: Low-carbon heating: what the options are today
Stonewater's Executive Director - Assets, Patrick Chauvin talks to Inside Housing about how Stonewater is approaching the procurement of low-carbon heating along with other sector landlords.
Read the article.
August 2021 - Stonewater’s CEO appointed as Vice-Chair of the NHF’s Sustainability Strategy Group
Stonewater’s Chief Executive Officer, Nicholas Harris has been named as the Vice-Chair of the National Housing Federation’s CEO Sustainability Strategy Group.
Alongside the group’s chair, Elizabeth Froude from Platform and fellow Vice-Chair, Steve Coffey from Torus, Nicholas will be developing the Group’s programme, bringing the sector together to find solutions to the many challenges we face in tackling decarbonisation, and how we can ensure that residents are brought along on the journey. Nicholas will serve as vice-chair for an initial three-year term.
July 2021 - Stonewater called to give evidence to Parliament on ‘Local Government and the Path to Net Zero’
Stonewater’s Director of Asset Operations, Catherine Evans, gave evidence to the House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee on 12th July 2021 as part of its inquiry into local government and the path to net zero.
Watch the event.
July 2021 - Stonewater named in the top 3 most sustainable housing associations
Stonewater is delighted to have been named in the top 3 in Housing Digital’s Top 30 sustainable housing associations.
Read the article.
March 2021 - Stonewater called to give evidence to Parliament on ‘Decarbonising heat in housing’
Stonewater’s Executive Director – Assets, Patrick Chauvin, gave evidence to the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee on 16th March 2021 as part of its inquiry into decarbonising heat in housing.
Watch the event.
July 2020 - Retrofitting the Social Rented Sector: Why a pilot just won’t fly
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s message from the dispatch box was clear: the UK’s economic recovery will be delivered through a ‘green recovery’ - ensuring that the UK plays its part in tackling climate change whilst delivering economic growth.
Read the article.
July 2020 - Time is running out to decarbonise the UK’s housing
Stonewater welcomes IPPR latest research on decarbonising the nation’s homes.
Reinventing homes
The cost of living crisis and rising energy bills are having an impact on our customers’ lives. Find out more about our work to reduce energy bills through innovative heating solutions.
Learn more