Blog

The benefits of monitoring solar PV

The benefits of monitoring solar PV

        Following our various environmental reports, many of our clients have gone on to install solar PV panels.  That is a great thing and an even a better thing is to monitor the performance of those panels.  We had a chat with Solar Dynamics...

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Hydrogen vs conventional fuels in maintenance fleet vans

Hydrogen vs conventional fuels in maintenance fleet vans

Hydrogen fueled maintenance fleet We recently had a query from a landlord looking to reduce emissions from their maintenance fleet (DLO). They requested a comparison of the emissions produced by travelling 12,000 miles in an average van of different fuel types,...

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Building for a Net Zero future: What clients need to know

Building for a Net Zero future: What clients need to know

Building for a Net Zero future: What clients need to know The construction industry is evolving, with an increasing focus on sustainability and carbon reduction. Two key pieces of guidance - the LETI Client Guide for Net Zero Carbon Buildings[1] and the UKGBC’s...

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SHIFT Environment response to EPC regime change consultation

SHIFT Environment response to EPC regime change consultation

Introduction In a recent blog we highlighted Government’s proposed changes to the EPC regime: Consultation on a new domestic and non-domestic EPC regime | SHIFT Environment We have now submitted our formal response. Here is what we said: Chapter 2: What EPCs measure...

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Consultation on a new domestic and non-domestic EPC regime

Consultation on a new domestic and non-domestic EPC regime

Introduction The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero have released a consultation document [1]. The aims are: Better quality data will be particularly beneficial for businesses or landlords who...

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COP 29 – observations from Baku

COP 29 – observations from Baku

Background COP 29, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024. In essence, COP is where global leaders gather to make decisions on actions to combat the climate crisis. This includes efforts to limit global temperature...

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Improving supply chain sustainability – a case study

Improving supply chain sustainability – a case study

In the course of our assessment work we look at supply chain sustainability in large organisations. We came across a particularly good example from Southern Housing and they very kindly shared their thoughts about the assessment. Here’s what they said: 1. What...

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Caber-Net Zero

Caber-Net Zero

Chilworth Manor Vineyard and sustainable wine SHIFT Environment are known for our specialism in social housing. We also do work outside of that sector and here is one example. We recently worked with Chilworth Manor Vineyard to measure the embodied carbon footprint of...

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RdSAP updates – changes to domestic energy assessments

RdSAP updates – changes to domestic energy assessments

A long time coming Our governing body on domestic energy assessments has released news on long overdue updates to the way domestic energy assessments are carried out [1]. There are loads of rumours about when these changes come into force but no hard facts yet.  In...

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How to know if an ecolabel is any good

How to know if an ecolabel is any good

The importance of ecolabels Many organisations are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of focusing on their environmental impacts[1], particularly in areas like carbon emissions and biodiversity. But when it comes to responsibly sourced materials, there's...

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How to gain sustainability reporting data from colleagues

How to gain sustainability reporting data from colleagues

  We work with a wide variety of organisations to produce excellent environmental reports. To do this we need some key business data, which, when working with us, is normally very easy for clients to collect. We normally work with one key point of contact in the...

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Install energy efficiency measures with SHIFT Environment

Install energy efficiency measures with SHIFT Environment

We do loads of environmental reporting for clients which highlight key interventions that reduce energy use in non-domestic buildings, reduce carbon emissions and contribute to energy security. The next step is to actually install those interventions. To make this...

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Latest carbon emission figures for the UK

Latest carbon emission figures for the UK

  The latest data on local authority territorial greenhouse gas emissions is out [1]. Readers mustn’t get excited about the word “latest” because the data actually relates to 2022. The delay is due to the time required to collect and quality assure the data. The...

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Sustainability for building portfolios databases

Sustainability for building portfolios databases

A sustainability module for asset management databases for owners of building portfolios – a suggested specification Despite the un-snappy blog title, we think this is a necessary topic.  Many building portfolio owners have asset management systems of one sort or...

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Domestic Energy Assessor / EPC / rdSAP

Domestic Energy Assessor / EPC / rdSAP

We are pleased to have our very own Domestic Energy Assessors on our team. This means we can now do: Local (Stroud) Domestic Energy Assessments – for Stroud home owners who have a legal requirement to have a valid EPC when selling or renting a home. Consulting service...

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Solar Carports and Street Lighting

Solar Carports and Street Lighting

We recently hosted a sixth form student for his work experience week at SHIFT and his work here included a research project into the costs and benefits of solar carports and street lighting. Here's what he found (thanks Albert!): Solar street lighting Solar street...

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The UK CBAM and its role in reducing embodied carbon emissions

The UK CBAM and its role in reducing embodied carbon emissions

Image by Morteza Mohammadi on Unsplash Understanding the UK CBAM and its role in reducing embodied carbon emissions Supply chain emissions are creeping up sustainability agendas and there is new legislation that promises to help. The UK’s Carbon Border Adjustment...

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