Challenge
"Not only do we need to better understand our assets and responsibilities, we have to regularly monitor and report on multiple regulatory KPIs, gauge our ESG performance, and demonstrate how we’re fulfilling our commitments in our Environmental Sustainability Strategy."
Southern Housing needs to understand its progress towards achieving its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) targets, regulatory Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and sustainability and biodiversity objectives. For example, achieving a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C for its homes with reduced access to fuel, by 2030.
Solution
Southern Housing is using Ordnance Survey (OS) data to monitor its progress towards achieving its sustainability, and in particular, biodiversity goals.
AddressBase® helps Southern Housing link its properties to Unique Property Reference Numbers (UPRNs), matching homes with key information, such as the Open Source Energy Performance of Buildings data, which contains the key data items of every EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) logged.
ArcGIS, a type of Geographic Information System (GIS) software Southern Housing is using via OS Partner, Esri, ‘support[s] the use of OS data in the ArcGIS system, including ready-to-use offline data and connectors for OS tools APIs.’
Southern Housing is also using OS MasterMap Topography Layer to map its greenspaces, helping it understand its current natural assets, and identify where it needs to increase biodiversity, making sure residents have access to nature.
"GIS is vital to help us map, manage, record, and report on our biodiversity action plans. Most importantly, it’s demonstrating how we’re delivering against our main metric of supporting 30 flora and fauna species by creating and enhancing 30 habitats by 2030. "
Result
Southern Housing now has a single view of its asset data, covering 80,000 homes, meaning more informed decision-making.
The OS data and mapping highlights clusters where homes need to be made more energy efficient, meaning Southern Housing can now take action in a cost-effective way.
Southern Housing is also able to use GIS software to measure biodiversity before and after new housing developments are built, and liaise with both internal and external stakeholders. New wildlife habitats, plants and insects are being added and encouraged, giving residents more access to nature.
Additional insights, such as which homes are at risk from flooding, allow Southern Housing to support its communities to become more resilient.
"ArcGIS is a powerful tool to help us measure the sustainability of our homes. We’re not only fulfilling regulatory or investor reporting requirements, but also demonstrating our clear commitment to improving our homes and communities for our residents."