Baker Homes Articles

Baker Homes is always here to help. We want to make sustainable design easy. We want people to be able to understand how to embed sustainable solutions into their homes and communities.

A recent study shows that a major barrier to successful environmental management is being able to measure environmental performance. The report, entitled  “Organizational Change for Natural Capital Management: Strategy and Implementation”, was produced as a result of a study on pioneering companies in The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) for Business Coalition. The aim was to develop a change model for leaders to follow.

Last year, 2013, saw a number of environmental initiatives scuppered. The following are four steps that can be taken to reduce fuel bills, improve our quality of life and save any huskie hugging reputations.

The deadline for Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) voucher scheme is approaching on March 31^st, 2022. The scheme aims to help households without access to Main Gas grid with the cost of renewable heating installations such as heat pumps, biomass boilers and solar thermal. This funding is a great opportunity to replace the old inefficient heating systems with renewable heating technologies, and cut the energy bills and carbon emissions.

Baker Homes is aware of the damaging impact the recently flooding has had on thousands of homes. This is a growing problem. Malcolm Tarling, Spokesman, Association of British Insurers has commented “We are seeing an increase in the frequency of these large scale events. Getting a month's worth of rain in 24 hours is becoming the norm."

Baker Homes has been undertaking Carbon Reduction Options for Housing Managers (CROHM) assessments across the country for Housing Associations, Councils and ALMOs. This service, provided in partnership with Parity Projects, the award-wining retrofit consultancy has allowed clients to better understand thier stock amongst other benefits. Looking at all the housing providers who have had their stock assessed, what does it tell us about the state of the sector’s stock, if anything?

“There is a real social impact on the rising energy costs which is causing real hardship. If not dealt with, this will cause even greater problems for this or future governments. We are finding issues which will impact in other areas such as:

The world’s climate and weather patterns are changing. Global temperatures are rising causing more extreme weather conditions. According to current projections, the average annual temperature in the UK might rise by as much as 5^oC by 2080. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events have demonstrated how Great Britain is affected by climate change. Examples include the floods throughout the country during the summer season in 2024 or most recently during the Christmas period 2013 as well as the drought and heat waves of early 2024. In the coming decades, an increase in the frequency and severity of the severe weather conditions is projected.

The National Housing Maintenance Forum asked Baker Homes to present at their annual conference as they were keen to include sustainability in their advice to members. They also asked us to contribute to their bulletin. Here’s part 2 of what we wrote (part 1 can be found here and covers energy and water), covering climate change, waste and ecology:

France has recently taken great strides to bring the country on the path towards sustainable future. The French Government pledged ambitious energy reforms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 and to cut France’s dependency on nuclear power from 75% to 50% by 2025. This article describes some of the most important changes that aim to help France in energy transition.  

The National Housing Maintenance Forum asked Baker Homes to present at their annual conference as they were keen to include sustainability in their advice to members. They also asked us to contribute to their bulletin. So here’s part 1 of what we wrote, which covers energy and water. Part 2 will follow in a later blog and will cover climate adaptation, ecology and waste.