Sanctuary shortlisted for Sustainable Housing Award

Leading UK housing provider Sanctuary Group has been shortlisted in the Energy Saving Initiative of the Year category of the Sustainable Housing Awards 2009.

Organised by Inside Housing magazine, the awards scheme focuses on the best ‘green’ social housing projects that have been established by organisations throughout the UK.

Worcester-based Sanctuary is committed to energy efficiency and has launched a number of initiatives to help the Group tackle climate change. One of these is a dedicated website which keeps staff, residents and other interested parties informed of the work the Group is carrying out.

Introduced in 2006, the Energy Website details Sanctuary’s work in evaluating renewable technologies, methods of improving energy efficiency and reducing Carbon emissions to ensure the Group’s focus on best practice.

The site also provides information on energy saving measures, including filling freezers to their full capacity and using only energy saving light bulbs, and demonstrates examples of projects the Group is involved in to help combat climate change.

Meanwhile, residents have also been taking part in interactive workshops to help the Group formulate a long-term sustainability strategy. The aim of this new strategy is to help find ways to improve resource efficiency and ensure cost savings for the organisation, tenants and stakeholders.

Keith Jackson, Director of Asset Management, said: “To be shortlisted for this award is testament to Sanctuary’s work to reduce its carbon footprint, commitment to the evaluation of renewable energy and improvement of the environmental performance of its housing stock and offices.”

The winners for each category will be announced at an ‘eco’ awards ceremony at London’s Hilton Hotel on Friday, 23rd October.

Ted Stevens, Inside Housing’s events director and organiser of the awards, said: “We’ve had a terrific response, with hundreds of entries and Sanctuary has done brilliantly to get shortlisted from such a huge field. Britain is leading the way on sustainable housing and innovative building techniques so we’re delighted we’re able to organise a ceremony to reward the organisations that are delivering best practice.”

Last year nearly 500 people attended the event, which was hosted by green campaigner, comedian and impersonator Alistair McGowan.