The Welsh Net Zero Carbon Hwb launched last week (April 2024) with the aim to be a beacon of collaboration and innovation. As a knowledge-sharing hub, it serves as a platform for industry professionals to exchange expertise, unlock insights, and collectively work towards the decarbonisation of homes – and we were delighted to attend its launch.

Daf (Left) and Thomas (Right) at Llandrindod train station

Going beyond WDQR 2021 & WHQS 2023

Elfed Roberts, Head of Sustainability & Innovation at Pobl Housing, set the stage for a day of insightful discussions and case studies. From the outset, it was clear that this new platform aims to unite the Welsh housing community. The Hwb, as the name suggests, provides an opportunity for social landlords across Wales involved in both retrofit and new builds to come together.

Furthermore, the focus was not only on meeting Welsh standards such as WDQR 2021 and WHQS 2023 but to surpass them and:

• Achieve Zero Carbon targets
• Share knowledge through case studies & lessons learned
• Develop new training courses to fill gaps within organisations and the supply chain
• Support the able-to-pay sector after the initial 3-year funding

Click to visit the Welsh Zero Carbon Hwb

Attendees then heard from Julia James, Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning. The Welsh Government funds the Hwb, supported by a steering group consisting of representatives from Welsh Government, ClwydAlyn, CHC Cymru, Carmarthenshire County Council, Denbighshire County Council, Pobl Housing, Welsh Local Government Association and the Design Commission for Wales.

Julian Brooks introducing the Welsh Zero Carbon Hwb

Julian Brooks from the Good Homes Alliance provided an overview of the Hwb, its partners, and its functions as an organisation. We found the portal itself sleek and easy to navigate, with a focus on combining data-driven decision-making with qualitative outcomes. Parity’s data services support the value chain from strategy development to progress reporting, so know and welcome the importance given to data as a foundation for decision-making.

Learning through Case Studies

After the overview, the case studies began, and we were pleased to see some Parity clients on the stage.

ClwydAlyn Housing, Flintshire County Council and Pobl covered a wide range of topics through their case studies. These included innovations in heat as a service, tenant engagement and integrating government-funded projects with their Business As Usual programmes.

Tom Boome from ClwydAlyn Housing presenting IHP Lessons Learned Case Study

Overall, it felt like a well-rounded set of complementary case studies. They offered valuable insights for participants with varying interests and backgrounds. At a time when housing events can feel like a stale repetition of problems with no solutions, we’re pleased to report that this certainly wasn’t the case here.

Industry Advisory Groups Break-out

To explore the broad range of issues and needs around net zero in the housing sector, the Hwb has created themed industry advisory groups and invited the audience to join a breakout group to discuss the needs of the sector. Our representatives were Dafydd Cian, Senior Energy Analyst, and Thomas Lashbrooke, Business Development Executive.

Dafyyd attended the Supply chain break-out and had this to say:

“Roeddwn yn edmygu natur glos y sector tai yng Nghymru a pharodrwydd yr aelodau i gydweithio. Er enghraifft, pan fydd rhywun yn cael profiad cadarnhaol o weithio gyda chontractwr ag enw da, maent yn dueddol o rannu eu hargymhelliad ag eraill, gan feithrin diwylliant o gydweithio a chydgefnogaeth. Mae’r arfer hwn nid yn unig yn meithrin ymddiriedaeth ond hefyd yn cynnal safonau ansawdd.”

“I admired the tight-knit nature of the housing sector in Wales and the readiness of members to collaborate. For instance, when someone has a positive experience working with a reputable contractor, they are inclined to share their recommendation with others, fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual support. This practice not only cultivates trust but also upholds quality standards.“

Meanwhile, Thomas opted for the Policy group:

“The policy discussion was really interesting and touched on many important themes. What stood out to me was a debate around what happens when councils develop housing policies to support their own climate emergency plans with Cornwall Council being the named example. There were no easy answers, but you could feel that the right people were in the room… now it’s just a case using data to show the massive opportunity”

Conclusion

In conclusion, the launch of the Welsh Zero Carbon Hwb was a well-attended, well-planned and thought-provoking event. It is clear that collaboration, innovation, and data-driven decision-making are crucial pillars in the journey towards sustainable housing. The Hwb has got off to a promising start. We look forward to seeing the continued progress and impact of this initiative in the days ahead.