About Us 
Sustainable Development 
Sustainable Development
Berwickshire Housing Association has taken a lead role in the development of energy efficient and environmentally sustainable housing. We decided that it was important to become involved in this field from an early stage not only because we felt we had a social responsibility towards the sustainable use of the natural environment, but because it is important that we provide homes for our tenants that are energy efficient and affordable to heat and run. Given that Berwickshire is in a low income area, this is valuable to most people now, but will become ever more vital in the future when, as due to their increasing scarcity, coal, gas and oil prices are likely to rise significantly.
We have already used solar technology, such as solar slates, water heaters, sunspaces and electricity-generating roof panels to provide heat and power in some of our houses and we will continue to provide this technology in as much of our stock as possible. Using solar power is particularly beneficial to tenants because the energy that is produced from the sun is not metered, but is provided in a ‘direct’ way and is therefore free at the point of use. Other initiatives include the use of extra thick insulation materials and water recycling technology.
We also have a sustainable building package which means that our new-build properties will as far as possible use timber and building materials that are from locally-produced, sustainable sources, we will make minimal use of energy, water and toxic substances in the building process, and will not use PVC, CFC’s or calcium chloride.
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