All-in on sustainability: Adra

From launching a first-of-its-kind decarbonisation hub to expanding its EV fleet, Siôn Hughes explains how North Wales housing association Adra is doubling down on its green ambitions.

Why is sustainability important to Adra? 

Sustainability is central to all we do at Adra, as we manage more than 7,300 homes with a commitment to reducing carbon emissions and developing sustainable housing solutions. We are working towards making its homes eco-friendly and meeting the latest housing quality standards in Wales. 

Examples of this include using sustainable practices in new and existing properties, including waste reduction, water conservation, using local supply chains and our own in-house workforce to deliver the work. 

We also educate and train tenants on sustainable living to promote environmental responsibility. This is key to ensuring we lead the way in sustainability.  

How are you working to improve the sustainability of your homes? 

By collaborating with Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and Bangor University through the Tŷ Gwyrddfai decarbonisation hub, the first of its kind in the UK, we are able to provide training and innovation in decarbonisation in one site. This includes specialist training programmes for skills crucial to decarbonisation, such as exterior wall insulation, solar panel installation, and air-source heat pump servicing. More than 800 tradespeople have already benefitted from this training, including in-house operatives and local SMEs. 

We are also working towards meeting the Welsh Housing Quality Standards 2023 and have a clear plan to ensure that all homes are safe, sustainable, and of high quality. By 2030, all our homes will have an EPC rating of C or above, with a long-term goal of reaching EPC A.

Adra's Tŷ Gwyrddfai decarbonisation hub is the first of its kind in the UK (Cr: Adra)

More generally, we are working to improve the energy efficiency of our current homes by retrofitting them with energy-efficient windows and doors, installing renewable technologies like solar PV, and providing energy efficiency advice to residents. We also participate in the Welsh government’s Optimised Retrofit Programme, piloting new technologies and investing in training to develop future decarbonisation specifications. 

Additionally, all our new developments are built to a high efficiency standard, utilising modern methods of construction and renewable technologies. 

How are you working to make Adra a 'greener' organisation more broadly? 

We monitor our scope 1, 2 and some scope 3 carbon emissions against the baseline established in 2019 following a period of working with the Carbon Trust. We are working to reduce waste and currently recycle 100 per cent of our office waste. 

We are also working to reduce our vehicle emissions, too, as we currently operate a fleet of over 100 vehicles, which collectively travel over a million miles annually. Currently, 10 per cent of the fleet is hybrid or electric. 

Impressively, 79.5 per cent of suppliers are based in Wales, reinforcing the circular economy by supporting Welsh manufacturing and supply chains 

As part of our roadmap to net zero, we are planning from 2030 to stop the purchase of any internal combustion engine vehicles and begin the transition to an all-electric fleet. For vehicle replacements between years 2025–2028, we will place electric vehicles as our ‘preferred’ replacement option.

Elsewhere, we have launched an all-Wales framework for the supply of building materials and associated products, called Ffrâm24. The project boasts a robust supply chain that fully supports Tŷ Gwyrddfai and Adra’s retrofit work, contributing to the net zero goal. Impressively, 79.5 per cent of suppliers are based in Wales, reinforcing the circular economy by supporting Welsh manufacturing and supply chains.

How do you ensure staff are bought in to your sustainability ambitions?

We ensure staff buy-in through initiatives such as Academi Adra, which offers employment and skills development opportunities for tenants and strengthens a culture of learning and growth within the community.

Tŷ Gwyrddfai also serves as an interactive space for tenant engagement, providing a tangible experience of new technologies that will be integrated into their homes. It is also mandatory for all staff to complete environmental awareness training.

How do you measure the impact of your sustainability work?

We measure the impact through various metrics, including overall business carbon footprint, the number of staff trained in retrofit and environmental awareness, the number of external events held related to decarbonisation, and the carbon reduction per household.

For example, we have trained 824 staff in retrofit, engaged 634 households in energy efficiency, and reduced carbon emissions per household from 2.46 tonnes to 2.41 tonnes. The target for the next five years is to reduce the average emissions per property by 0.05t per year.

What difficulties have you encountered so far in your sustainability journey, and what challenges do you anticipate in the near term?

One of the challenges we have encountered is the need for continuous innovation and adaptation to new technologies and materials. The expansion of Tŷ Gwyrddfai is central to addressing this challenge, as it will champion innovation in new products and technologies.

We anticipate challenges related to scaling up these initiatives and ensuring all homes meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standards 2023 and achieve a minimum EPC C rating by March 2030 for all our homes.

What are your long-term goals?

Our long-term goals include achieving carbon neutrality, meeting the Welsh government's net zero targets by 2050, and continuing to innovate in sustainable housing solutions. We also hope to enhance the energy efficiency of all homes, support local supply chains, and foster a culture of sustainability within the community.

These are all core values in our 2025–2030 corporate plan, which is set to launch in April.

What advice would you give to other housing associations that aren’t making as much progress as they would like in this area?

Our advice would be to invest in training and development for both staff and tenants, collaborate with local organisations and universities, and continuously innovate in sustainable housing solutions. Engaging tenants and providing them with a tangible experience of new technologies is crucial for driving the adoption of sustainable living practices.

Additionally, supporting local supply chains and small businesses can foster long-term sustainability and success.

Main image: Siôn Hughes, director of policy and delivery, Adra (Cr: Adra)