Things are looking up for Swan Housing Association. The controversial social landlord suffered a setback in late 2012 when it was found that some of their employees had committed fraud by falsifying documents in order to claim a government grant before it fell due. They are also well known in Tower Hamlets for their refurbishment of the Exmouth estate, which included such measures as fencing the residents in.
Now Swan is celebrating because it has won a Green Apple Environment Award. These awards began in 1994 and recognise environmental endeavour among companies, councils, communities and countries. The awards are organised by The Green Organisation – an international, independent, non-political, non-activist, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world.
The environmental endeavour Swan undertook was a pilot project, carried out in partnership with Axis and Essex & Suffolk Water, involving 69 properties in Basildon. The properties received water audits to identify where water savings could be made and the homes were fitted with water saving devices such as tap inserts, water buts and water saving crystals for gardens.
The project saved an average of 41.94 litres of water per property per day. Over a year this adds up to 191 baths.
Mary Gibbons, Executive Director – Strategy and Support said “We are delighted that this project has been recognised. Not only has it helped save essential resources, it has also helped our residents save an average of £47.10 per year from their household bills. We are now working to offer this service to other Swan residents making Swan’s properties more efficient and cheaper for residents to run.”
Essex & Suffolk Water’s water efficiency analyst, Kerri Russell, has worked closely with the team at Swan Housing Association and said: “We’re always pleased to work with partnership organisations, such as Swan Housing Association, to ensure that customers’ bills are reduced through reduced water usage. The recognition this project has received at a prestigious environmental awards shows that we can all make a difference through saving water in one of the driest parts of the UK,” she said.
We await seeing what can be done in Tower Hamlets, where few of Swan’s properties have gardens.
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