It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and also the most expensive. From novelty jumpers to panic-bought gift sets, December has a funny way of emptying wallets faster than you can say “Is that returnable?” Which raises a timeless festive question: can you actually...
The official deadline for ESOS Phase 4 compliance is 5 December 2027, but don’t be fooled into thinking this is a problem for the distant future. There is plenty to be getting on with during 2026, and the organisations that plan ahead will find the process far less...
For many organisations, January 2026 will bring more than the usual financial year-end pressure. Alongside submitting financial accounts, large companies must also report their carbon emissions as part of the UK’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR)...
Resilient, Renewable, Ready: Why UK Organisations Are Switching to Eqonic’s LFP Battery Energy Storage Solutions We recently spoke with battery company Eqonic who told us about their research into batteries that, “contain no lithium, no rare earth metals and no...
We spoke with our friends at Renewable Hub about their latest offering on Microgrids. Here’s what they said: Introduction As energy demand rises and the UK pushes toward low-carbon electricity, organisations are increasingly looking for ways to generate and manage...
We recently attended an insightful talk titled “AI and Machine Learning for Agriculture and Food”, hosted by the Royal Agricultural University and delivered by data scientists from Ricardo. Alongside highlighting the financial opportunities for the sector, the session...
Do social housing providers have to comply? This is one of the first questions we get asked. The official guidance does offer a formal answer but is quite legally orientated and interpretation depends on whether the provider is a public body or not. Our general...
Feedback from a roundtable held September 2025 Staff from 24 UK social landlords representing over 350,000 homes attended the on-line session. We presented our proposed Environmental Quality Management System (EQMS) and the feedback was largely positive. The purpose...
Background Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) is a methodical way to report your organisation’s carbon footprint. Although not specifically designed to make savings, doing SECR does help identify costs savings and increase income. This blog describes a few...
At SHIFT Environment, we focus on helping landlords turn sustainability goals into day-to-day practice. We were pleased to contribute to Drova’s Housing Association Outlook Report 2026 [1], which brings together voices from across the sector to reflect on where...
Doing SECR for the first time may seem daunting because the official guidance is quite involved. However, the tips below help you get you through your first report. Mindset Before doing SECR for the first time, here are a few things to consider: Are you looking at...
SECR stands for Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting. It is a regulatory requirement for organisations to include their carbon emissions with their financial accounts in a specific way. Who Needs to Comply? Quoted companies need to comply. In addition, large...
ESOS reporting refers to the Energy Savings Opportunities Scheme, a UK government initiative requiring certain organisations to carry out energy audits. The key word here is “opportunity”, the process is designed to uncover cost-effective ways to save energy and...
A guide for care homes and buildings for people with special needs Energy usage Care homes and other buildings for people with special needs may appear similar to other buildings, but they have unique environmental considerations. Energy consumption is often higher...
Background to water efficiency Water is a precious resource, and with climate change leading to hotter summers and less rainfall, water efficiency is becoming increasingly important. Sustainable water management is key, and data from regulators like Ofwat can help us...
Background We had a fascinating meeting with innovative off-site home builder Agile Homes. They shared with us some of their great innovations. Here’s what they told us about their approach to the Future Homes Standard, flexible “needs-led” design and a novel...
Great news for residents and the environment! The long-awaited review of the Decent Homes Standard is finally here [1], and it brings with it a significant focus on environmental improvements. Even better, this updated standard will apply to both social and...
Overheating is back in the news [1]. As the UK faces potential heatwaves, it is an apt time to look at some figures. In this blog we’ll look at Met Office Projections, the difference between regions and what can you do to reduce overheating in your homes and...
Why this matters Through our SHIFT assessments, we’ve found that new build homes still have some distance to go before they can be considered truly sustainable. Our scoring system evaluates: The number of sustainable features in a home How effectively those...
[1] Background On the International Day of Happiness each year the United Nation’s (UN) annually release the updated World Happiness Report, which provides insights into global wellbeing and regional happiness rankings [2]. But how is happiness linked to...