Picture caption: Ron checking heat loss through his window.
Ron (63) from Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, has been involved with his local community for the past 40 years. The former Parish Councillor started his career in the hospitality industry, working his way up from kitchen staff to Head Porter. He then moved over to food retail, working with local groups and charities in his role as community champion, before a major stroke forced him to medically retire.
Ron has lived in social housing all of his life and for the majority of this time, he has resided in an Orbit property. Here, he talks about his interest in net zero carbon and the retrofit of housing stock…
Can you explain what motivated you to become an engaged Orbit customer, Ron?
After retiring and then spending some time learning how to walk again, I started to look for a new interest and was asked by a friend to join a few meetings as an engaged Orbit customer. It gave me the chance to work with Orbit and encourage them to listen to view of their residents.
What is your interest in net zero carbon and retrofit of housing?
Over the years, I have become increasingly aware that we need to do more to protect our planet. I worked in setting up a major recycling project as part of my role in DIY and supermarkets. Now, I am interested in how Orbit are going to upgrade their homes. I recently took part in an online call with Orbit, where they were explaining the upcoming retrofit in the Stratford-upon-Avon area.
The UK has over 80% of its housing stock built that we will be living in for the next 50+ years. So, we need to bring these up to new and higher standards, which should hopefully bring down the running costs to tenants. This is an area we can all get involved in, by doing our bit to repair what has happened in the past.
How can Orbit support customers on the journey to net zero carbon and retrofit of housing stock?
There are a number of ways which Orbit can support customers on the route to zero carbon – by keeping us informed on initiatives regarding our homes, replacing and upgrading insulation and reducing our use of fossil fuels.
What is the main reason you would recommend Orbit as a housing association?
They are a large social housing association that you can get involved with at all levels and be listened to. As an engaged customer you get to meet with Directors who want to listen, and then act on feedback from their tenants. Orbit want to work with tenants to improve their homes and community, engage with them and work together to make your house a home.
Orbit’s net zero carbon commitments and roadmap
Last year, we made a firm commitment to achieving net zero carbon in our operations by 2030 and becoming net zero carbon in our homes and supply chain before 2050. Alongside announcing our net zero carbon commitments, we published our Net Zero Carbon Roadmap, which sets out how our organisation will deliver these commitments across our operations, homes, and supply chain.
Stratford-upon-Avon decarbonisation project
This £3.6 million project, which has received £1.45 million in government funding, is making 69 homes in the Stratford-upon-Avon area more energy efficient. The scheme is part of the government’s SHDF Demonstrator, a UK-wide scheme which will upgrade around 2,000 social homes currently EPC rating D or below using a whole house retrofit approach.
To read more about the Stratford-on-Avon decarbonisation project, visit: https://www.orbitgroup.org.uk/media/literature-and-reports/.
