In a highly informative session, the speakers looked at the approaches that have been and can be adopted by the sector to ensure sustainable development is the norm rather than the exception.

Lori McElroy from SUST argued that sustainability needs to be at the heart of the development process. Lori informed the audience that to achieve an excellent outcome requires consultation and empowerment.

Lori stressed that sustainability is only a part of the story and said economic, environmental and society factors also need to be addressed as sustainability has as much to do with people as it does with buildings.
Lori concluded her session by asking the sector to raise its aspirations for building standards and the wider sustainable agenda. She also challenged the perception that sustainability measures can be expensive.

Helen Forsyth illustrated the work that Berwickshire Housing Association have been involved in retro fitting energy efficient ideas to current homes. Helen advocated that different sites require different solutions. They have installed photo voltaic panels, solar slates and wind turbines to new and existing buildings. These solutions have delivered positive outcomes in terms of reduction in fuel costs and improvements to air quality and condensation.

Helen stated that one of the fundamental challenges that remains was to clearly demonstrate the benefits of energy efficient solutions. Helen explained that in an environment of rising fuel and energy costs some tenants have not fully benefited from reductions and the energy efficient initiatives and have merely been shielded from the price rises.

Helen brought the session to an end by arguing that sustainability is all about creating better communities as location, location, location is still king.