We have been named Green Business of the Year at the Business Leaders Awards in Bristol after being recognised for the measures we are putting in place to improve our business, our homes and our environment..
More than 600 business leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs were at Ashton Gate to see the winners announced.
The event was hosted by comedian and TV presenter Tom Allen and there were 76 organisations shortlisted across the 14 categories.
More than 300 organisations entered the awards in total and a team of judges visited and scored them all over a two-month period.
As the largest housing provider in the region, we recognise that our business activities impact the environment, and our homes are a large contributor.
We are committed to improving the energy performance of our existing and new homes which is a focus that runs alongside our core ambition to support our customers and address fuel poverty.
We have established a dedicated Renewable Technologies team who work closely with our customers to ensure they understand how to operate the low carbon technology within their homes and ensure it is appropriately maintained.
This team are managing several projects to test emerging technology so we can be confident that the systems we install in the future have the greatest benefit to our customers and the environment.
We have a comprehensive digital lettings and viewings approach which has been invaluable during the pandemic, allowing customers to access our organisation without leaving the front door.
Find out more about our commitment to sustainability here.
We have created a green advice section on our website to provide information and guidance to our customers and have undertaken an inventory of all the trees within our managed estates and communities which has demonstrated that our tree stock stores 3,600 tonnes of CO2 and sequesters 109 tonnes CO2 every year.
Installing smart meters into all our properties which become void allows new customers to measure the amount of energy they are using. We are currently working with EDF and the intention is to install smart meters in between tenancies equating to approximately 1800-2000 properties per annum.
Sustainability is a key consideration in LiveWest for the procurement of goods, works and services enabling us to influence our supply chain across the South West to adopt greater sustainable practices.
We have also partnered with University of Exeter to support the University’s Green Consultants award-winning programme. It is designed to provide students with additional skills and experience required to work in the highly competitive environmental and sustainability sector alongside supporting our business aims.
Glynnis Poole, Planning Technical and Sustainability Director for LiveWest, said: “We are incredibly delighted to have been named Green Business of the Year at the Business Leaders Awards.
“Sustainable homes, neighbourhoods and communities are at the heart of our commitment to deliver a home for everyone.
“Our principal focus is around increasing the energy efficiency of our homes, reducing our carbon footprint and improving our customers’ lives.
“Our Environmental Strategy consists of three core foundations: Sustainable Homes, Shaping Futures and Working Smarter.
“We’ve identified a programme to bring all our homes up to EPC C, two years ahead of the government’s target of 2030. That equates to circa 9,000 homes.
“Taking a fabric first approach, we are investing £1m in a number of our homes this year to improve energy efficiency under an initial ‘Creating Greener Futures Together’ home improvement Trailblazer.”