Who knows which sector emits the most greenhouse gases?
If you answered residential, then we’re afraid you’re wrong. We can understand why you’d think that since we’re talking about housing associations and sustainability, but domestic transport took top spot at 28%. Residential did come in a close second at 20%, however.
The Climate Change Act 2008 set out the UK’s goal of meeting net zero by 2050, but will fail to meet that legally binding target “without near complete decarbonisation of the housing stock”. For housing associations, it’s critical to find ways to make social housing more sustainable and limit carbon emissions.
Smart technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) are valuable in this push for net zero, giving housing associations the means to create more energy efficient homes.
A quick introduction to IoT
First things first – what exactly is IoT? To cut a long, tech-heavy story short, it refers to a network of devices equipped with sensors and other technologies that transmit and receive data in real-time. These ‘things’ encompass a whole range of objects and appliances, which we can explore in detail below.
All that accumulated data from this sprawling, connected network provides useful insights for decision-makers. Of course, the scope of the industry and sector will dictate what kind of data has been collected and how it will be used. In this case, we’ll focus on how that data can influence initiatives around sustainability for housing associations.
Getting started with energy efficiency
In 2021, 18% of all carbon emissions in the UK came from heating homes. For housing associations on a quest to create sustainable social housing, this is “the big one”. It could be the defining factor in whether the UK reaches its 2050 net zero target.
Smart meters are leading the charge when it comes to energy efficiency. Real-time insights into energy consumption help tenants and housing associations reduce waste and optimise usage. There’s a good reason why there’s at least 37 million smart and advanced meters in homes and small businesses across Great Britain.
Efficiency can be further increased by installing automated lighting and smart bulbs. Through motion sensors, optimised lighting levels and scheduling, energy usage can be drastically reduced. Tenants can then enjoy a more comfortable and sustainable living environment.
Intelligent heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can regulate temperature and humidity through a more optimised process. Programmable thermostats and zone controls, combined with real-time occupancy patterns and external temperatures, reduce energy consumption without sacrificing internal comfort. Air purification technologies also remove airborne threats and improve comfort levels.
5% of UK households have solar panels, which can be a crucial part of smart home systems. Integrating them with wider IoT systems also means energy loads can be balanced and automatically managed for convenience. At peak operation hours, appliances can rely on clean solar energy rather than energy from the grid.
All these opportunities for a more sustainable home are there for housing associations to take, especially when running off a robust, reliable network. It’s a good start, but there’s more that these organisations can do.
Smart water technology
Over the next five years, water inefficiency in the residential sector is set to cost households over £300 a year. While that wastage can stem from bad habits such as leaving the water running, we aren’t here to lecture on proper tap habits. We need to focus on smart technology’s role in conserving water.
Once again, smart meters play their part. Data can help residents understand how much water they’re consuming, while also proactively detecting leaks. If 1 million smart water meters were fitted in the UK for the next 15 years, over one billion litres of water could be saved each day by the mid-2030s, with overall greenhouse gas emissions reducing by 0.5%.
Sensors and satellite imagery, for example, can be combined to detect leaks before they cause severe property damage. Engineers can then detect leaks across the more inaccessible parts of the pipeline network. Anglian Water, for example, have already deployed satellite imagery to detect invisible leaks, saving enough water to supply 8000 homes in the Anglian region.
Smart gardening and intelligent irrigation systems can also contribute to water conservation efforts. While more commonly seen in the agricultural sector, sensors that measure weather conditions and soil moisture help determine irrigation schedules. Rather than leaving it to guesswork or that gut feeling one gets when gardening, technology can determine water usage.
With both energy and water usage now more efficient, housing associations then focus on the other side of wastage – recycling.
Reduce and recycle
Only 44% of household waste in the UK is being recycled, coming at a time when 191.2 million tonnes of waste is being generated. A rapidly urbanising world comes with increased urban pollution, as seen in those high rates of carbon emission in the residential sector. For housing associations and their sustainability goals, efficient waste management is needed.
Communal bins can be equipped with sensors that measure waste levels and pre-emptively alert local councils if near capacity. Scheduling can be more seamless and optimised, reducing fuel consumption for waste disposal vehicles. Sustainability policies can be adjusted by using data on each bin’s usage and how it changes over time.
Some sensors even have the capacity to identify the type of waste being collected, encouraging proper waste sorting. Not only does this save time, money and resources on properly segregating each type of waste but creates better recycling outcomes too. If there’s a way for housing associations to provide incentives through proper recycling, that should further encourage recycling efforts!
80% of household waste can be recycled Awareness primarily rests with tenants, but housing associations can still be influential. Smarter, technology-driven ways to manage waste can contribute to wider sustainability goals, especially if built on a strong network infrastructure.
In fact, that’s a good segue for the next area in how smart technology can assist in sustainability…
Building management
In 2021, Part O of the Building Regulations Act was introduced to manage overheating in residential buildings. It comes after the CCC’s recommendation for no new homes to be connected to the gas grid from 2025 onwards. In the wake of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, housing associations are under increasing pressure to better manage properties.
An IoT-enabled building management system (BMS) is the best example of how smart technology can be deployed. Housing associations can optimise building performance through regulating ventilation, insulation, and other areas. An expansive system like this can improve energy efficiency through real-time analytics that impact consumption and wastage.
Meeting both sustainability and safety standards can be achieved through predictive maintenance. Sensors and machine learning can be combined to detect maintenance needs before any costly breakdowns occur. This kind of response minimises downtime, keeps critical appliances operational, and reduces the need to produce materials when a repair is needed.
Unplanned maintenance in the housing sector costs an estimated £40 billion a year. Through the power of IoT and predictive maintenance, housing associations can cut costs, improve the standard of living for tenants, and take great strides in their sustainability journey.
Smart and sustainable
Housing associations are fully aware of their role in decarbonising houses, as outlined in the National Housing Federation’s 2021 discussion paper on net zero for social housing. This targeted approach was designed to introduce “minimum changes housing associations would need to deliver” in terms of energy efficiency. They’ve made their stance clear on their importance to that wider net zero goal.
The growing adoption of the Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing (SRS) also shows the dedication housing associations have in improving their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. An expansive, data-driven IoT network is an integral part of the drive to sustainability. It provides the perfect foundation for future initiatives.
When backed by a robust network from an MSP like Gamma, these devices can support the sustainability initiatives for housing associations. That reliable network can be the foundation of a more sustainable, environmentally friendly housing sector. Embracing IoT today means housing associations can lead the way in sustainability, cost savings, and tenant satisfaction through seamless innovation.
The time to act is now. We may have a giant purple dog, but Gamma is more than happy to be green.