Our Commitment

Wayfarer continues to take the issue of sustainable development very seriously because we acknowledge that collectively, as we go about our business, we are a huge consumer.

The table below shows our estimated environmental impact in context.

77,000 tonnes of C02 emissions are released into the atmosphere every year for heat and power provision to our combined housing stock
8,400,000 litres of potable water is consumed by our residents every day
315,000 tonnes of household waste is produced requiring disposal or recycling per annum
25 hectares of land is built upon to accommodate our new housing each year

We are neither proud nor ashamed of the above statistics. It is only by being able to estimate our current overall environmental footprint that we are able to continue to set realistic targets for shrinking it at an achievable rate.

Demonstrating our ongoing commitment to sustainability, our members have been engaged in a number of high profile eco-projects that have significantly contributed to reducing the negative impact and maximising the positive impact of our construction activity on the environment, some of which are demonstrated below.

The consortium continues to be a sector and regional leader for integrating renewable energy technologies within its homes. In the last year alone we have committed to adding in excess of 300m2 of solar electric photovoltaics. Installations are well progressed and will generate more than 250,000kWh of free and clean electricity every year. A significant number of solar thermal panels are also in the process of being installed to reduce running costs and carbon associated with hot water provision. We have installed 25 ground source heat pumps, the first large scale domestic installations in Hampshire and are gaining experience with air source heat pumps through a series of pilot studies.

Delivering two EcoHomes 'Excellent' developments leaves us well prepared to meet the challenge of the new Code for Sustainable Homes. We have developed a code matrix to inform on the most effective solutions to deliver compliance with the higher levels of the code.

Allied to our progress is having innovative procurement practices in place for products such as a highly insulated house build system, ultra low polluting boilers and kitchens. Working closely in conjunction with the supplier on the latter, we have become sector leaders with recycling construction packaging, something that accounts for 3 million tonnes of waste annually.

Awards have yet again been in abundance. Our members have earned accolades including a Homes and Communities Agency's Gold Award winner for excellence in environmental sustainability, the 'best low carbon development in the south east 2007' (as selected by SEEDA, GOSE and SEREA) and Chapel development in Southampton not only achieved the Building for Life gold standard, it also attracted the attention of Gordon Brown PM who made a special visit to see the exemplar scheme.

With more innovative projects planned in the coming year, the issue of sustainability is at a very exciting stage of implementation within the Wayfarer group.