Housebuilder’s pledge on energy efficient lifestyle

When 16-year old Greta Thu nb erg sailed across the Atlantic Ocean last year to raise awareness of the danger posed by climate change and to protest against the inaction of politicians, it appeared the world may be ready to embrace a new approach.

But as we fast-forward to 2020, a year dominated by disruption, immediate action on climate change has become yet another casualty of the pandemic.

This month, Scotland was due to host what should have been one of the world’s biggest conferences on climate change, COP26, and while we will not welcome leaders from around the globe this year, there is still the opportunity to put the environment back on the agenda.

Joe Biden’s commitment to tackle climate change, which he made during his US election victory speech, will undoubtedly have grabbed worldwide attention to the cause.

Scotland has long led the way in environmental initiatives and our government has set out the most ambitious target to tackle climate change in the world, with plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045.

While we must applaud the Scottish Government for its achievements to date, which include cutting emissions to half of what they were 30 years ago, but we still have a long way to go and we all have a role to play in helping our country reach this milestone.

As individuals it is our responsibility to find greener ways to live our lives, but the steps we take can only be impactful if government and business provide the infrastructure needed to support change.

For housebuilders, this

responsibility lies not only in the construction of energyefficient homes but in the fabric of the communities we create.

In Scotland, homes make up 15% of the total greenhouse gas emissions, and at Springfield we have long recognised our responsibility to reduce this output.

Our aim with every development is to create a place people are proud to call home, with properties that are as environmentally sustainable as possible – and we are constantly exploring new ways to achieve this.

In 2018 we became the first UK housebuilder to make the infrastructure for charging electric cars a standard feature in all our new-build properties.

Every house built by

Springfield in the past two years incorporates 7KW cabling to the most practical point in the home to allow homebuyers to apply for available grants and easily install a home charge point.

We were also the first housebuilder in the UK to use recycled materials to create a waste plastic road on one of our developments.

The incredibly innovative road surfacing materials, used at our Linkwood Steadings development in Elgin, accounts for 20 tonnes of plastic, waste-enhanced asphalt. The equivalent to 17,042 plastic bags or 6,000 plastic bottles, this plastic would otherwise have been consigned to landfill or incineration.

These initiatives are just one part of a series of measures delivered by Springfield, which include the option of solar photovoltaic panels, the installation of smart, energy-efficient hybrid boilers, and the use of sustainable materials in timber-frame homes.

We are also one of the few developers to strategically use air source heat pumps, one

of the cleanest ways to heat a property. Already used across 57 of our developments, air source heat pumps not only reduce the carbon emission of our homes but ensure residents are guaranteed to save money on their heating costs.

T his experience also puts Springfield in an advanced position to help the government achieve its ambitious goal to end fossil fuel heating in new homes by 2024.

But for sustainable development to have impact, we must look beyond the efficiency of the construction and consider the importance of placemaking.

Developers can play a significant role in supporting local businesses, community groups and local councils

to create flourishing neighbourhoods which enhance wellbeing and deliver a quality way of living.

For Springfield, this vision is best realised within our villages. Stretching across the country, our villages offer everything a community needs to thrive – from homes, retail units, schools and leisure facilities.

We map out the placement of parks, walkways and open green space to encourage residents to enjoy the outdoors. Providing residents with everything they need on their doorstep is an important step towards more sustainable living.

Homes make up 15% of the total greenhouse gas emissions

■ Springfield’s Dykes of Gray development on the western edge of Dundee. Environmental sustainability is a major part of the firm’s vision.