Orbit hires energy lead to tackle tenant bills crisis
Orbit has appointed an energy and environment lead in a bid to protect its customers from rising energy bills and reduce its environmental impact.
Daniel Welch joins Orbit from Anchor, where he held a role as an energy advisor and was responsible for providing energy and water-saving advice to the housing association’s residents.
Prior to working at Anchor, Mr Welch held sustainability roles at EDF Energy, Oxford City Council and Thames Water.
Orbit has previously committed to achieving net zero carbon in its operations by 2030 and becoming net zero carbon in its homes and supply chain before 2050.
Last month, it announced that it had achieved a 33% reduction in its carbon footprint since establishing a baseline in 2018, and a 6.9% reduction in the past year.
The housing association owns and manages more than 45,000 affordable and social rent homes largely throughout the Midlands, the East of England and the South of England.
Mr Welch said: “I’m delighted to be joining Orbit at a time when the environment is firmly at the top of the organisation’s agenda.
“The organisation has a clear roadmap on how it’s going to achieve net zero carbon and I’m looking forward to help deliver this and do what we can to mitigate the rising fuel costs our customers are facing.
“The sector as a whole is facing these challenges and it’s vital we rise to these if we are to enhance our environment and continue creating places and spaces for communities to thrive.”
Orbit published a net zero-carbon roadmap last year, which sets out how it will deliver its commitments across its operations, homes and supply chain.
Energy bills for the average household are expected to reach £400 a month by January, potentially plunging millions into fuel poverty.
However, an investigation by Inside Housing published today found that many housing associations are carrying out few retrofits. These include jobs such as wall, floor or door insulation, and double or triple glazing, which would make those homes much cheaper for tenants to heat.
Sign up to the Tenant and Resident Engagement Conference
Join us at this leading one-day event designed to help landlords and tenants achieve meaningful engagement following the Social Housing White Paper sector reforms, covering culture change, co-production and how to engage tenants on climate change, building safety, disrepair and more.
There is a free tenant place for every delegate pass booked by a landlord.
To view the agenda and book your delegate pass, click here.
Related Content
Inside Scotland’s biggest Passivhaus development
Manufacturers welcome end to heat pump planning delays
Sero retrofit Q&A: What would you do differently?
- © Ocean Media Group