Quantifying the effects of climate change on wellbeing

July 26, 2023 | Richard Lupo
Perhaps one of the most important environmental impacts at the moment is that of carbon emissions. Would it be a good idea to be able to quantify how many people are affected per tonne of carbon emitted? Yes it would, because this can then be used in wellbeing accounting and then managed accordingly.

Welsh Government in world first - Greening the dragon

June 14, 2023 | Arianna Sdei
The Welsh Wellbeing for Future Generation Act received royal assent in April 2015. The Act is an innovative piece of legislation that has the potential to lead the country, and the world, towards a sustainable future. The Act responds to issues of climate change, poverty, health, inequality and jobs and growth. It legislates on working differently and working together.

Your chance to shape leading research for the housing sector this winter!

June 9, 2023 | Begum Bidik Nash
Baker Homes carries out research into the areas that are of most value to the housing sector. Over the last few years, we have looked into the impact of feedback on residents’ energy use, the performance gap in existing homes and new builds, and the link between rent arrears and improved energy efficiency. We received great feedback and gained involvement from government, landlords and the supply chain.  Now is your chance to provide input on our next research proposals and submit your own idea for Baker Homes to take forward.

Major findings from research on financial impacts of energy efficiency to be revealed at CIH 2016

June 7, 2023 | Daniel Navarro
When any organisation, including a landlord, is able to use its assets more efficiently this can make their business plans stronger and more resilient. Baker Homes wanted to explore the impacts that, unbeknownst to landlords, higher quality, and energy efficient properties might have on bottom lines. Anecdotal evidence suggested there may be a link. Analysis by Hastoe Group, for example, revealed that properties retrofitted to a high energy efficiency standard had, on average, half the rent arrears of others.

New build 10% cheaper, loads of % better – using BIM

May 31, 2023 | Richard Lupo
We’re told that when a bricklayer first walks onto a building site, the first thing he or she does is not lay any bricks.  They spend quite a bit of time working out exactly where the windows should be.  This is because they want to position them exactly such that there is a neat half brick / whole brick pattern around the window frame.  A very neat aim, but surely this is all on the architect’s drawing.  Well, apparently not.  Not, that is, unless the drawing is created under a Building Information Modelling (BIM) regime.  A BIM drawing would show bricklayers exactly where the windows should be to create the desired, neat effect.  This can save nearly a day of bricklayers’ time on site and serves as just one example of how BIM can cut costs on site.

New research finds nearly half of UK couples argue over the heating

May 25, 2023 | Arianna Sdei
  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.

New funding announced to support smart meter rollout

May 18, 2023 | Arianna Sdei
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.

Three steps to resolving London’s housing crisis

May 17, 2023 | Arianna Sdei
A recent report commissioned by the housing charity Shelter encourages the release of green belt land to respond to the housing crisis in London, concluding that redundant brownfield sites cannot possibly deliver the expansion targets that the mayoral candidates have promised to deliver. The population in the capital is expected to grow by nearly half a million in the next decade and the mayor’s own assessment suggests that 50,000 homes per year will have to be built to meet the need, more than double the recent build rates. We support steps to up the build rate to this level as Sadiq Khan promised.

SunConcept joins SHIFT sustainability benchmarking group

May 13, 2023 | Arianna Sdei
SunConcept, the leading installer and maintainer of solar PV, has joined the SHIFT, the national benchmarking group.  Recent changes to the Feed in Tariff have presented a challenge to the industry as well as social landlords, SunConcept use the latest CAD and solar modelling software to ensure energy generation and income are maximised and the numbers stack up – as well as providing free electricity for residents and cutting emissions.

A life more noble: compulsory reading for the housing & construction sector

May 9, 2023 | Daniel Navarro
Encouraging people to lead a noble life was one of the driving forces behind the work of social housing pioneer Octavia Hill. Reflections on her ambition and the extent to which we have achieved it (or not!) are relayed in a recent book by Octavia Housing Association. I would urge everyone to get it.

A small win for energy efficiency: tenants can now request improvements

May 3, 2023 | Daniel Navarro
The 1st of April was a small step forward for energy efficiency: tenants in private rented accommodation now have the right to request energy efficiency improvements according to the Private Rented Sector Tenants’ Energy Efficiency Improvements Provisions.

Zero carbon homes policy lives on - what will Mayoral candidates do for housing standards

April 27, 2023 | Arianna Sdei
It is only a week before Londoners head to the polls to choose a successor to the incumbent Boris Johnson, stepping down from an office which enjoys considerable powers over housing, planning and energy. Each candidate has a different idea on how to resolve the shortage – but all have promised to build 200,000 homes by 2025 or 50,000 every year.

New DECC toolkit to evaluate impact of reductions in fuel poverty on health

April 19, 2023 | Baker Homes
DECC have launched a ‘Health and Affordable Warmth Evaluation Toolkit’,  developed with oversight by experts in the fields of health and evaluation from a number of organisations, including Department for Health, Public Health England and a range of front line delivery organisations.
 
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