Sustainability at Accent

We want our homes and communities to be better for both customers and the environment.

That means helping customers live in homes that are warm, safe and affordable to run, while also reducing our impact on the planet.

On this page, you can find out:

• What Accent is doing to improve homes and communities
• How we are reducing energy use and carbon emissions
• What support and advice is available for customers
• Simple ways you can save energy and money at home

We know rising energy costs and climate change are affecting many people. That’s why sustainability is an important part of the work we do, now and for the future.

We’ve already made good progress, and we’re continuing to improve every year.

Our priorities

We are working to:

• Make homes more energy efficient
• Help customers save energy and money
• Create greener, safer communities
• Reduce pollution from our work and services

Energy bills are rising, and many homes in the UK lose heat too easily.

We’re improving our homes to help customers stay warm, reduce energy use and lower bills.

What is retrofitting?

Retrofitting means upgrading homes to make them more energy efficient.

This can include:

• Better wall and roof insulation
• New windows and doors
• Improved heating systems
• Solar panels and heat pumps

Energy improvements can help by:

• Lowering energy consumption, helping to keep energy bills as low as possible
• Keeping homes warmer with fewer draughts
• Improving air quality and reducing damp and mould
• Supporting better health and wellbeing
• Reducing carbon emissions

Our target

We want all Accent homes to have an EPC rating of C or above by 2030.

We’ve already improved more than 300 homes in the last three years.

Example: Brighouse homes in Yorkshire

We upgraded a number of older homes by:

• Adding roof insulation
• Improving wall insulation
• Installing new windows and doors
• Upgrading ventilation systems

These improvements have helped create warmer homes, lower energy bills and reduced carbon emissions.

We expect our work on these six homes will be saving these customers more than £15,000 combined per year. It will also reduce the carbon emitted from these houses by up to 1.8 carbon tonnes per year.

Simple ways to save energy at home

Small changes can make a big difference to your bills and energy use.

• Turn off lights and appliances when not in use
• Compare energy deals to find the best price
• Ask local energy services for free advice
• Check if you can get support like the Warm Home Discount

Greener communities

We want our outdoor spaces to be better for people, wildlife and the environment.

This includes:

• Planting trees and supporting nature
• Reducing flood and drought risks
• Supporting community growing projects
• Working with customers on local ideas and improvements
• Reducing our environmental impact

We’re also improving the way we work as an organisation.

What we’re doing

• Tracking and reducing our carbon footprint
• Working with contractors to lower emissions
• Improving how we build and manage homes

We’ve also achieved a Silver rating in a national sustainability assessment, recognising the progress we’ve made so far.

What action you can take to improve the energy efficiency of your home and reduce your energy bills

There are lots of quick and easy ways you can save energy, lower your bills and reduce your carbon footprint.

Why not take a look at the below links to save money and do your bit to help protect the environment:

Energy:

• Use these top 10 tips to save energy around the home
• Use comparison websites to find the best and cheapest utilities tariff to suit your needs: OFGEM, USwitch, Money Supermarket.
• Request advice from your Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP), who working in partnership with Accent in some regions.
• Join your energy supplier or network operators Priority Services Register (PSR), for additional help and support.
• Consider your eligibility for the Warm Homes Discount Scheme, Winter Fuel Payment scheme and Cold Weather Payment scheme - where eligible customers can receive a discount off your electricity bill or help during periods of extreme cold weather.
• Check you Heating Guide: Accent have tips and self-help videos to prepare for the colder months.

Water:

• Save water in your home – Accent have teamed up with the ‘Get Water Fit’ campaign to offer free water saving devices – sign up here.

Waste and Recycling:

• Your local Council will have loads of information on waste segregation, recycling and bulky waste collections. Please visit their webpages for further information.