Beacon has a continued commitment towards sustainability and has already completed a number of projects to work towards this objective. We continually seek new ways to help towards sustainability and have outlined a few of our projects below:

Receiving funding from the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme, this exciting project brings the first modular homes to Beacon. Benefits of building modular homes include a shorter construction time as well as reducing carbon emissions by half of site built homes with all six modular homes having an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least an ‘A’.

All of the modular homes were manufactured off site by Ilke Homes at its factory in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire and then delivered to our site in Neath where they were installed. Watch the installation of the first home below:

Beacon was awarded SHIFT Gold accreditation in late 2022 following the second independent audit of our business against environmental targets. SHIFT is the sustainability standard for the housing sector and carries out audits across the UK. Our first audit in 2021 resulted in a Silver accreditation so we are delighted to be moving in the right direction when it comes to sustainability. We’re pleased to say we have once again been awarded a SHIFT Gold for 2024.

With funding from Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme, we’re working alongside Down To Earth Construction to build 6 low carbon homes, where local materials are a common feature and are built through sustainable construction methods. Down To Earth are a not for profit organisation who work with vulnerable groups to promote health and well-being through construction projects.

Boasting 6 timber semi-detached houses with solar panels, Clos Yr Haul in Ammanford was also another development of Beacon’s which has been built with sustainability in mind.

Producing their own energy through solar panels, these homes will save 180,00 tonnes of CO2 over the next 6 decades which is equivalent of taking 60,000 cars off the road or planting two million trees. Recycled newspaper has been used to create high levels of insulation alongside the local made timber frames and cladding, which together helps lock atmospheric carbon.

Find our more information by watching our short video below.

The Optimised Retrofit Programme is Welsh Government funded. The objective of this project is to decarbonise existing homes to a point where they no longer remit any greenhouse gases. The programme is geared to gather a great deal of data, including indoor temperatures and thermal resistance of walls so that each type of dwelling in Wales can receive a ‘passport’. Head to the Optimised-retrofit.wales for more information. 

In our ongoing efforts towards sustainability, our caretakers committed to reducing their usage of tools and machinery which use non-renewable fuels. This change would reduce the release of CO2 into the atmosphere and local environments, creates a reduction in noise pollution, and preserves habitat shelters and pollination opportunities for wildlife. Currently we have 13 battery operated garden machinery (8 mowers, 4 Strimmer’s & 1 Blower) and looking to expand on this. This reduces Beacon’s dependence upon fossil fuels as well as the associated carbon emissions. You can find out more from our Estates Team by heading to our Nature Zone page.

Beacon’s offices at High Street had previously been covered with decking and an astroturf area, largely so that the roof space could be used by people whilst the roof membrane remained protected. In 2019, a successful application for green infrastructure pilot scheme grants meant that Beacon secured funding in order to swap out the astroturfed roof areas for 154sqm of intensive green roof, with pollinator friendly plants and shrubs which were installed and completed in 2021.

We currently have 15 electric vehicles in our fleet and 26 charging points, from central Swansea to Waunceirch in Neath and Ynys Lee, north of Port Talbot. This network makes electric vans a real option for wider deployment, especially as battery technology (and hence driving range) improves.

Beacon has a local procurement preference; that is, in order to keep money within our local economies we will seek to purchase goods, supplies and services from as close to us as possible, and from within Wales where this is not possible. Last year, 62% of Beacon’s spend was with suppliers based within Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot or Bridgend with a further 20% spent with suppliers based with Wales.