Awards we have won

Ashden Award 2012

for Energy Efficiency Advice

On the 30th May our pioneering work in the retrofit industry was recognised in the form of a 2012 Ashden Award for Energy Efficiency Advice.

These prestigious awards, presented by Kevin McCloud and Anna Ford, are given to organisations working in the UK and internationally that are leading efforts to promote and drive sustainable energy use.

The Ashden Awards are an internationally recognised yardstick for excellence in the field of green energy. Since it was set up in 2001 it has helped more than 130 sustainable energy pioneers develop their work. Today the Awards.

A 5-minute video detailing how we work and why we won the award can be viewed here.

Parity Projects Directors receiving the award from Kevin McCloud

A case study was written about us which can be seen on the Ashden website here.

After receiving the award, our Parity MD, Russell Smith commented, "It's wonderful to receive this award after years of hard work not only trying to build a successful company, but also help to create an industry. WInning today gives me faith that the values we hold - of independence, rigour and working in partnership - are shared by others, and recognised as important. With the Green Deal just around the corner, these are exciting times for the company, and this will help us make sure that we're well placed to ride the wave."

MD Russell Smith (second right) with HRH Prince Charles at Clarence House on the day of the Awards

RetroExpo Awards 2012

Parity Projects and its qualifications partner EAL won an award for their industry leading sustainable refurbishment qualification. The Level 2 in Understanding Sustainable Refurbishment (QCF) was given the Excellence in Retrofit Training Award at the Retro Expo Awards at the NEC in Birmingham on the 31st October 2012. The judging panel, made up of experts within the field of sustainable technology and construction, were looking for excellence in the development and provision of consistently high quality training for the retrofit industry. As well as the impact the qualification has had on the delivery of retrofit services, the judges were also looking for innovation and a commitment to ensuring the wider benefits of training are maximised, such as developing links to local employers.

They said, "The judges were impressed with the deep technical content of the course and felt it could potentially have a big impact on retrofit delivery. They felt this is an interesting approach toward co-ordinating different disciplines in retrofit projects, and one much needed. This is a ground-breaking course that is well designed to meet the retrofit challenge, and it has been franchised for maximum impact across the industry."

Sustainable Housing Awards 2011

The Sustainable Housing Awards were held on the 21st October 2011 and three of the projects which won awards included Parity as a partner, and in total Parity was a partner in six projects selected to be finalists in five categories. More information about our winning projects is given below:

Energy saving initiative of the year:
Retrofit South East Project, Borough Grove, Hampshire

Project details external link
In partnership with Radian, Camco, and Global Environmental Social Business

Sustainable smaller housing retrofit project of the year (fewer than 25 homes):
One Planet House, Sutton

Project details external link
In partnership with BioRegional, Sutton Council, Sutton Housing Partnership

Sustainability innovation award:
WHISCERS System (Whole House In Situ Carbon and Energy Reduction Solution)

Project details external link
In partnership with The Sustainable Energy Academy, United House, Camden Council

We were also nominated in the Sustainable Housing Finance, Low energy Social Housing Project, and Sustainable Larger Housing Retrofit Project categories.

Thank you to all of our partners in these projects.

Observer Ethical Awards 2008

Winner in the DIY category 2008

Russell Smith, Managing Director, Parity Projects Ltd, has won the DIY category at the Observer Ethical Awards 2008. Now in their third year, the awards are designed to reward those pioneering a sustainable future for the UK. The Do-It-Yourself award pays tributes to those who fight climate change and resource depletion on the home front.

Russell won the DIY award for his Eco-Renovation demonstration project in Sutton, Surrey. Through assessing the energy consumption of his Victorian semi-detached house, built in 1870, and implementing the appropriate everyday eco solutions, Smith has achieved a 75% reduction in CO2 emissions and a 60% reduction in water consumption. The importance of sharing the experience/learning is at the heart of Smith’s ethics.

The judges said: “Russell and his company Parity Projects stood out from all the other nominations for their new way of engaging with the public, giving them the tools to reduce their house’s carbon footprint in an innovative and inspiring way.”

Sustainable City Awards

Runner up in the Sustainable Buildings category 2007/8

The awards aim to recognise and reward best practice in this rapidly developing arena. Entries are welcomed from business, public and voluntary sector organisations. Past winners include BT, The Berkeley Group, F&C Asset Management, Sainsbury’s, the London Cycling Campaign and HM Prison Services.

Building Magazine 2007 Award

Award for Sustainable Refurbishment 2007

"On paper, the house will provide a 75% reduction in carbon emissions and an encouraging 60% reduction in water use. The project encompassed eight different types of insulation from sheep wool to recycled newspaper and cotton hemp. Solar thermal roof panels, energy efficient appliances, rainwater harvesting and recycled and locally sourced materials maximised the eco-friendly potential of the property. Perhaps most importantly, Parity installed thermocouple monitoring system for each room to check the environmental effectiveness of the measures to provide invaluable data for future projects"

Link to more details on building.co.uk