| Term |
Definition |
| Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) |
ASHPs are an energy-efficient, fossil fuel-free alternative for heating. They work by absorbing heat from the outdoor air and then increasing its temperature to provide warmth inside buildings. |
| Biodiversity |
The variety of animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms that make up our natural world. Each of these works together to maintain ecosystems services such as pollination of crops, air quality, and regulation of climate. |
| Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) |
Increasing the biodiversity in a particular area through habitat provision. We have a legal requirement to deliver a minimum of a 10% BNG on all new developments and we are aspiring to achieve 20%. |
| Climate Adaptation |
Adapting the ways we live and work to take account of the impacts of climate change, i.e. building properties with solar shading to account for warmer summers caused by climate change. |
| Carbon Footprint |
The total amount of greenhouse gases, most commonly carbon dioxide, that are emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organisation, event, or product throughout its lifecycle. It is often measured in terms of equivalent tonnes or kilograms of CO2 (kgCO2 / tCO2). |
| Circular Economy |
This is an approach to resource management that promotes the continual use, recycling, and repurposing of materials to minimise waste and environmental impact. |
| Carbon Capture and Storage |
The process of trapping carbon dioxide and storing it in a way that it is unable to affect the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. |
| Climate Change |
Long-term changes in the Earth's climate, including rising temperatures and alterations in weather patterns, primarily caused by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. |
| Carbon Neutral |
Carbon neutrality means having a balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. This is usually done through offsetting, for example by planting enough trees to absorb the same amount of carbon that has been emitted. |
| Climate Mitigation |
Taking action to reduce the impacts of climate change. |
| Climate Resilience |
Anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the negative impacts of climate change. |
| Eco-friendly |
Products, practices, or lifestyles that have minimal or no negative impact on the environment. This term is often used to describe items or activities that are environmentally sustainable. |
| Electric Vehicle (EV) / Electric Vehicle Charging Point (EVCP) |
EVs are vehicles that run on electricity stored in batteries, while EVCPs are infrastructure designed to recharge the batteries of these electric vehicles. |
| Energy Efficiency |
Using less energy to perform the same tasks, often achieved through improved insulation, energy-efficient appliances, and sustainable building design. |
| Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) |
An EPC provides information about a property's energy efficiency, rating it on a scale from A to G, with A being the most energy-efficient and G the least. It also includes recommendations to improve energy efficiency. EPCs are required when a property is sold or rented out. |
| Embodied Carbon |
The total amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced during the manufacturing, transportation, and construction of a material (such as concrete, steel, or bricks) or building. It reflects the environmental impact associated with the entire life cycle of that material or structure. |
| External Wall Insulation (EWI) |
An insulation method applied to the outer surface of a building's walls to improve energy efficiency by reducing heat loss and enhancing the building's overall thermal performance. |
| Fossil Fuel-Free |
Not relying on or using fossil fuels for energy; free from coal, oil, and natural gas. |
| Fuel Poverty |
Fuel poverty is when a household struggles to afford the energy needed to maintain a comfortable and healthy living environment. |
| Global Warming |
A gradual increase in Earth's average temperature, primarily due to human activities like burning fossil fuels, leading to climate changes. |
| Greenhouse Gases |
Gases in the atmosphere which trap heat and raise the surface temperature of the planet. |
| Green Infrastructure |
Green infrastructure uses natural features like parks and trees in urban planning to address environmental and social issues, promoting sustainability and resilience. |
| Greenwashing |
When a company exaggerates or falsely claims to be environmentally friendly to attract environmentally conscious consumers, without truly implementing meaningful sustainable practices. |
| Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP) |
GSHPs are a low carbon heating system that efficiently heats or cools buildings using pipes underground. They are more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly compared to gas boilers. |
| Just Transition |
A just transition ensures the move to a low-carbon society is fair and inclusive for everyone. It ensures people who cannot afford to make sustainable changes are not left behind. |
| Nature Based Solutions (NBS) |
NBS use nature to solve problems sustainably, like restoring ecosystems or incorporating green elements into urban planning to benefit both the environment and communities. |
| Natural Resources |
Materials or substances found in the environment that are used by living organisms for survival and human activities for various purposes, such as air, water, minerals, and forests. |
| Net Zero Carbon |
A company, business, or country can be defined as being 'Net Zero Carbon' after reducing their emissions to near zero (commonly at least a 90% reduction from their baseline) before offsetting any residual emissions through buying verified carbon offset credits (e.g., tree planting or carbon storage). |
| Operational Carbon |
Operational carbon refers to the emissions produced directly by the day-to-day activities and operations of an organisation or building. |
| Placemaking |
Placemaking is creating public spaces that promote community engagement, well-being, and a sense of identity by considering the needs and preferences of those who use those spaces. |
| Renewable Energy |
Energy derived from sources that are naturally replenished, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. |
| Retrofit |
Retrofit refers to the process of updating or modifying an existing building to include new features, technology, or improvements without completely replacing it. |
| Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions |
Greenhouse gas emissions are categorised into scopes based on where the emissions have come from and to what extent a company has control over them.
Scope 1: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. For Clarion, this means the emissions from the fuels we purchase and use, including gas in communal heat networks and fuel in our fleet vehicles.
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased energy. For Clarion, this means the emissions from all the electricity we buy for our offices and building communal spaces.
Scope 3: Indirect emissions from the organisation's entire value chain. For Clarion, this means the emissions from several sources, mainly those emissions from the materials we use to build new homes (such as concrete, steel and bricks) and those emissions created from our residents heating the 125,000 homes with gas and other fuels. |
| Solar energy |
Energy from the sun is harnessed and converted into electricity or heat for various applications. |
| Solar Panels or Photovoltaics (PV) |
Solar panels or solar photovoltaics convert the sun’s energy into electrical energy. |
| Sustainability |
Sustainability refers to the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves balancing economic, social, and environmental considerations for long-term well-being. |
| Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (previously Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund - SHDF) |
A grant programme where the government provides financial grants and support to social landlords to deliver retrofit programmes aimed at supporting the reduction of carbon emissions across the social housing sector. Clarion has received funding under the first few waves of the SHDF to deliver our retrofit work. |
| Whole Life Carbon |
Carbon emissions covering the whole life of a building. This covers the manufacture of products, construction activities, operational emissions and emissions at end of life. |
| Zero-waste |
Minimising waste generation and striving to eliminate the need for landfill disposal by promoting recycling, composting, and sustainable practices. |
