Across our portfolio, we are promoting methods to do the following:
- Reduction of waste that goes to landfills – this includes providing more recycling opportunities for residents and either upcycling or repurposing existing furniture. We also include environmental credential criteria as part of our tenders for contractors to comply with.
- Increased storage provision for push bikes.
- Installation of energy-saving lighting. We have also used innovative insulation products to improve thermal efficiency.
- Raising awareness of environmentally friendly solutions to residents. This includes:
- Sustainably sourced household products which have fewer chemicals in the products and recyclable bottles.
- Promotion of renewable electricity providers
Trialling new approaches to refurbishment – the vast majority of property in the UK is old and finding effective ways of improving thermal performance, managing the embodied carbon, and providing beautiful, comfortable, and sustainable homes are vital if we are to achieve the goal of net-zero by 2050. For example, at Richmond Court where we have targeted efficiency improvements are summarised below:
A 1930’s apartment in Knightsbridge which had been tenanted since 1988 required a comprehensive refurbishment with a programme to take everything to the bare brick, to overhaul all electrics and heating amongst other aspects. This property was originally heated by the communal gas fired central heating system so to bring the thermal efficiency of this property up to modern and sustainable standards, we installed high performance “Aerogel” insulation to the external walls; Aerogel has the highest insulation value of any known material.
We swapped out the old heating system by replacing it with energy-efficient electric underfloor heating throughout the entire apartment, triple glazing was mounted to the all-new windows as well as having a new kitchen, bathroom, and furniture.
Our plan was to trial new approaches to refurbishing a 1930’s apartment, creating a stylish, modern Sloane Street apartment flat that no longer relied on the fossil-fuelled heating system and substantially reducing the overall future utility consumption by enhancing the thermal efficiency.
