Sustainable efficiency: you must buy it!

The recently held PfH Annual Conference posed the question 'Sustainable Efficiency: do you buy it?' and delegates were given a resounding response from key speakers. Delegates were challenged to act now on sustainability and all of the event's expert speakers agreed that the sector could have no more excuses.

Keynote address speaker and Chairman of English Partnerships, Robert Napier, said landlords and developers should not use the downturn in the housing market as an excuse for building substandard homes. He went on to say that sustainable development may have higher upfront costs but, at the same time, there will be lower running costs. It requires the sector to be ahead of the game and build houses that people want to buy and rent.

Erik Bichard, Professor of Regeneration and Sustainable Development at Salford University closed the Conference by saying that short-termism, the natural but unwarranted resistance to change, and the failure to perceive that whole life considerations of our built realm was as much a human failing as it was a policy or market failing.

The Conference and Exhibition was a major success and received praise from delegates, exhibitors and speakers.

The event also confirmed the consortium's position at the forefront of the drive for more sustainable and efficient procurement in the social housing sector.

Presentations from the event can be downloaded by clicking on the links below.

Opening address.
Sarah Webb, Chief Executive, Chartered Institute of Housing

Plenary session: Financing sustainable homes.
Bob Ledsome, Deputy Director, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Communities and Local Government

Sub-plenary session 1
Waste watchers: is your organisation waste legislation and tax future proof?
Ted Boynton, Erimus Housing Limited
Mark Horner, Worktwice Environmental Limited

Sub-plenary session 2
Golden green: how PfH member Drum Housing Association won the Housing Corporation Gold Award for Environmental Sustainability.
Paul Ciniglio, Radian Group

Sub-plenary session 3
Inclusive energy: how the PfH Tenant Energy Scheme will deliver on financial inclusion and sustainability.
Kevin Jackson, Inenco; Phil Hallsworth, Quantum Energy

Sub-plenary session 4
Retro-remedy: the key procurement steps to delivering sustainable retro-fit homes.
Dean Worrall, Plumbing Trade Supplies

Sub-plenary session 5
Local source: is it possible to achieve nationally agreed terms and support your local merchant?
David Bolton, Melin Homes; Tony McKernan, Evolution IP; Malcolm Jones, Robert Price Limited

Sub-plenary session 6
E-Procurement for Housing: how PfH's e-procurement system will drive the future of sustainable efficiency for the sector.
Alan Heron, PfH
Adrian Gibson, EGS Limited

Closing address.
Erik Bichard, Professor of Regeneration and Sustainable Development, University of Salford