Choice is the largest housing association in Northern Ireland with more than 10,000 homes. It provides high quality homes, care and support services to help meet the diverse needs of a wide range of customers including; older people, families, mature singles and people with complex needs.
Background
It formed in 2015 when OakleeTrinity and Ulidia Housing Associations merged to maximise their investment potential and develop a bold step-change in the delivery of new homes and the quality of supported housing services.
What Choice Housing did
The organisation had commitment from Board and Senior Management for a three-year Energy and Sustainable Development Strategy. It created an energy team of three full-time energy and environmental management staff. A first for an NI Housing Association.
It secured three of the Environmental Standard BS8555 along with other environmental standards and developed new homes to Levels 3, 4 & 5 of The Code for Sustainable Homes which assesses sustainability in relation to CO2 emissions, pollution, waste, water and ecology, etc.
Choice Housing developed the first certified Passive House social housing scheme in Ireland and one of the largest schemes constructed using renewable building materials. It invested in innovative technologies such as LED lighting and Quantum storage heaters, and established collaborative networks with industry partners including: Consumer Council, Benefits Uptake Team, Housing Rights, NEA and Bryson Energy.
It set ambitious targets to reduce energy consumption, invested in Solar PV and prioritised waste reduction and recycling, as well as supporting ecological improvements and investing in the ‘Live Here, Love Here’ programme.
Impacts and Outcomes
For more information, email Oonagh.todd@choice-housing.org