We are committed to reducing our environmental impact by changing our policies, processes and specifications as well as providing customers with the information they need to change their behaviour and reduce the running costs of their homes. The Sustainability by Managing Innovation, Lifestyle and the Environment project (SMILE) is our way of delivering the changes needed.
Early in 2007, SMILE champions throughout Home were given awareness training on environmental issues. Sub-groups decided on what actions could make a difference to our staff, our customers and the planet by looking at the themes of transport, energy, waste, water and our properties.
The task ahead is for us to look at how we work, what we can change to improve our environmental behaviour and how we can help our customers to change too. In September, we adopted “An environmental sustainability strategy – our contribution to making a world of difference”.
As part of our approach we are working to achieve accreditation under the environmental management system BS8555.
There are opportunities for you to get involved in SMILE. We are also working with our contractor partners and suppliers to share experience and maximise opportunities for joint working that benefit our environmental objectives.
Home has the opportunity to improve the environmental behaviour of over 130,000 people. We have the ability to do it and we have the growing support of our staff and customers.