The Vale Housing Association is celebrating this week after it has received official confirmation that its prestigious environmental award, ISO 14001, has been extended for a further three years.
The Association first gained the international standard in 1999 and was the first housing association in the country to receive this award. However, the accreditation only lasts for three years and on Thursday 11 April the Association underwent a rigorous assessment to ensure that they are still meeting the required standards.
During the recertification visit, the assessor reported that: There is an obvious commitment to improving the environmental performance of The Vale Housing Association
and, as a result of this, the Association’s certification was renewed.
Helen Ditchfield, co-ordinator of the Association’s environmental work, explains: Gaining the award in 1999 was a great achievement but it didn’t end there. We have continued to work very hard over the last three years and have carried out numerous improvements. Our work has helped to reduce our impact on the environment and has also cut tenants’ household running costs.
Mike Roberts, Chief Executive of The Vale Housing Association, also adds: Our success is largely due to the commitment and hard work of all our staff. The renewal of the ISO 14001 certification has been extremely rewarding for all those involved. A great deal of time and money has been invested in the Association’s environmental work and this award acknowledges the progress we have made.