Sustainable Homes

We aim to ensure that all our homes are insulated to good standards and have efficient heating systems to minimise heating costs. We're also replacing single glazed windows with double glazed windows over the next few years.

We advise our customers on ways that they can use energy more efficiently, including advice on best use of boilers and room thermostats, as well as ensuring that customers use energy efficient light bulbs (we've given away more than 30,000 of them). This helps our customers to save money as well as to look after the environment.

All new homes that we build will now receive a rating of 3 or above under the Government's Code for Sustainable Homes scheme. The Code is a standard which measures how environmentally sound newly built homes are.

We are starting to trial the use of renewable forms of energy in our new homes. We have ground source heat pumps at properties in Slingsby, using heat stored naturally in the ground to heat the homes. We've also trialed air source heat pumps at some homes in Sheriff Hutton.

Running the Organisation

We also consider the environment in the way we run the organisation.

We recycle paper and plastic bottles from our offices and encourage staff to turn off unused lights and electrical equipment.

We promote car sharing and we encourage our staff to use bicycles to get to and from work through the Cycle to Work scheme.

Sustainable Service Delivery

As a landlord we are promoting sustainable development by running initiatives such as passionate about the patch and promoting community development, social inclusion, tenant participation and diversity.

We accept that we can do more to help the environment, whilst improving the services that we provide to our customers.

Yorkshire Housing now has a full time Sustainability Advisor, and we are looking forward to becoming more sustainable as an organisation and in the services that we provide to our customers.