Baker Homes Blog

The weather is getting warmer, but that doesn’t mean we’re all switching our heating off just yet. The inevitable heating debates continue. Nearly half of couples argue over whether or not to touch the thermostat, according to a survey commissioned by heating and air conditioning specialist Andrews Sykes.

A new fund launches today, open to applications from not-for-profit organisations who can help engage people and communities across Britain with information about how to get and use smart meters.

Catalyst is one of the leading housing associations in London and the South East. We are an award-winning developer and manage more than 22,000 homes for people on a range of incomes – from social, affordable and intermediate rented homes, to sheltered housing, shared ownership as well as homes for outright sale.

The mood music for retrofit, and in particular solid wall insulation, has not been good of late. Issues have flared up with some installations not performing, sometimes even causing additional problems. The Government’s chief construction adviser was commissioned to report for industry. Peter Bonfield is investigating issues of consumer protection.

What is a green mortgage?

Already widespread in the USA, green mortgages are still relatively unknown in the UK even though they are gaining exposure. As more and more people are paying attention to environmental issues around the world, UK banks have started to follow suit and have extended their offers to this new kind of mortgage.

Tom Jarman, Environmental Sustainability Co-ordinator at SHIFT landlord Your Homes Newcastle, on why we need to be careful to point out the real reasons behind damp and mould.

We know that more energy efficient properties should mean fewer rental arrears and voids. Where rent arrears and voids are reduced this could have a positive impact on business plans. Equally investment in energy efficiency may not pay off. 

This is a key time for the social housing sector. Shaped with the regulatory uncertainty and recent budget and funding cuts, the highest priority for the sector is to ensure it is prepared for the future.

The housing sector may have been diverted onto other issues at present, but a Baker Homes event 'Lean & Green', found that, despite recent announcements, landlords were improving energy efficiency by focusing on the positives, realising efficiencies that also happened to be green – rather than the other way around. Simon Brandon reports.

I’m sure we can all think of a time when we have lived or stayed in a cold house. The memory of stiff limbs and visible breath can leave few people in doubt that living in a cold home can have serious impacts on the health of residents. Understandably, there have been growing calls to improve the energy efficiency and air-tightness of our homes to prevent heat loss and improve the quality of our homes. This is fantastic, but what about the risks associated with the warm, damp homes that this process could produce? There is a growing body of evidence linking homes with higher SAP values to increased instances of asthma.

Have you ever wondered what the energy consumption is in homes across Europe?

It is the end of August, you may have been on holiday.  When you come back you want to make an impact.  You want to look dynamic, decisive and intelligent.

With our planet’s natural resources depleting and energy costs rapidly rising, the demand for sustainable building solutions grows every day. This year is slated to be a huge year for sustainable technology, with many major releases. Here are five sustainable building solutions to watch for in 2015.

SHIFT accredited A2Dominion, the lead developer at UK’s most sustainable development NW Bicester, has welcomed its first young construction recruits on site. Willmott Dixon, the contractor on the scheme, recently hired its bricklayer apprentice and completes the initial weekly college student placements. The NW Bicester masterplan will encompass up to 6,000 highly energy efficient new homes.

Tom Jarman, Environmental Sustainability Co-ordinator at SHIFT landlord Your Homes Newcastle, on why it isn’t necessarily curtains for zero carbon homes