The Making Business Greener Campaign funded by the Naturesave Trust has been working with BHT
Sussex to support them to implement their Environmental Strategy. Actions in the strategy include
ensuring that “all accommodation-based services have an in-house environmental plan, which should
include waste reduction, energy efficiency, eco-friendly cleaning, a gardening and planting scheme
with initiatives to encourage wildlife, and community-based activities”.
BHT Sussex is a housing association and a charity made up of interlinked projects and services that
empower people to overcome homelessness, poverty, addiction and mental ill health. They provide
high quality supported accommodation services for vulnerable people, where clients are supported
towards independent living. Properties housing these services are older buildings, and many are
uninsulated and in need of upgrades to improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions and reduce
bills. The Making Business Greener Campaign has supported BHT Sussex towards improving energy
efficiency through funded visits to selected sites, to identify where energy, waste and water
efficiency improvements can be made, which will be followed up with work to identify any grants
available to support improvements.
In supported and shared accommodation lights are often left on by clients, who may have limited
awareness of energy costs and impacts. Behaviour change work is ongoing and support workers in
the services engage clients in understanding living costs, and we have designed posters which
remind service users and staff to turn off lights and power down computers when not in use. A quick
win to reduce energy use is installation of motion sensors (PIRs). Fitting motion sensors on lights will
save energy, money and reduce environmental impact. Services are encouraged to look at PIR when
routine maintenance is due, and we are researching grants available to support this.
Across BHT Sussex, community-based activities that focus on sustainability are supported. These
include working with clients on gardening projects to support biodiversity. The annual BHT Sussex in
Bloom gardening competition takes place across all housing and client services and has a sustainable
garden category. The Great Big Green Week is supported annually, and activities have included plant
based communal meals. There are also shared activities such as beach cleans and walks in nature.
Where accommodation sites provide food, communal cooking is encouraged with a focus on health
and wellbeing for people and the planet – making sustainability an extension to life skills and self-
care.
As some BHT Sussex services receive funding as part of the NHS framework, BHT Sussex are working
towards meeting NHS net zero procurement requirements. These specify that any organisation who
receives funding will need to produce a Carbon Reduction Plan. The NHS has committed to reaching
net zero (meaning that no more carbon dioxide pollution is added to the atmosphere from its
activities) by 2045. As a result suppliers of goods and services must demonstrate how they measure
and manage their sustainability.
At BHT Sussex the Environmental Strategy Working Group meets quarterly to inform progress on the
strategy. For sites and services an Environmental Check List is being rolled out to cover all aspects of
operations from cleaning products to energy, waste and nature gardening. They plan to develop
annual site audits which will track progress towards reaching a net zero.
“Working with consultancy support through the Nature Save Trust has given us a valuable additional
resource. This is helping us reach out across our multi-faceted services, to begin supporting them in
embedding sustainability into their work. It has also helped us in getting started on carbon
accounting and our Carbon Reduction Plan. We look forward to further support in helping us identify
funding for reducing the impact of our services” Mary Stevens, Environmental Officer
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