Local housebuilder, Barratt Developments Yorkshire East, which includes the Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes brands, has become the first UK housebuilder to announce new science-based targets for reducing carbon emissions.
The targets are in line with efforts to limit global warming to 1.5oC, which is needed to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.
Barratt Developments is committed to reducing its direct carbon emissions from its business operations, such as offices, sites, and show homes, by 29% by 2025. It will also cut its indirect carbon emissions, such as those coming from its homes over their lifetime and from across its supply chain, by 11% by 2030.
The housebuilder has previously been working on reducing its carbon emissions, and since 2015, has achieved a 22% fall in emissions. Initiatives such as improving plant efficiency, and rolling out energy-efficient lights, have all driven these carbon emissions savings.
Now Barratt Developments has committed to going even further, and by setting these targets, it is at the forefront of the fight against climate change. The housebuilder will cut direct emissions through initiatives such as reducing diesel use across its vehicles and plant.
In addition, by building more energy-efficient homes, using modern building methods with lower levels of embodied carbon and working with the government on the upcoming Future Homes Standard, Barratt will also cut its indirect carbon emissions. Its supply chain is critical to the delivery of a low carbon future and Barratt will be working with them to deliver on its ambitions.
Daniel Smith, Managing Director at Barratt Developments, commented:
“Setting ambitious emission reduction targets is vital if we are going to reduce our impact and safeguard our environment. We believe that every business needs to take responsibility to tackle climate change, which is why we are the UK’s first housebuilder to announce science-based targets in line with our commitment to being the country’s leading national sustainable housebuilder.”
Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive of the UK Green Building Council, said:
“As the country’s largest housebuilder, Barratt Developments is taking a very positive step by being the first major housebuilder to publicly set science-based targets for reducing carbon emissions. It’s vital that companies take responsibility for their impacts and how they operate as businesses. We would like to see many more do it, building on the 30% of FTSE companies that have some form of science-based target.”
Barratt Developments Yorkshire East has recently announced that it has temporarily closed all of its sites to protect its customers and employees.
