What is the CIH Level 2 Award in Sustainable Living?

It's a UK qualification for housing professionals that teaches how to promote and implement sustainable practices in residential settings. It covers energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation, and sustainable procurement, helping you reduce environmental impact and support tenants in living more sustainably.

How does sustainable living benefit tenants?

Sustainable living reduces energy and water bills through efficiency measures like insulation and low-flow fixtures. It also improves indoor air quality and comfort, and can increase property value. Tenants benefit from lower living costs and a healthier home environment.

What are the legal requirements for energy efficiency in rented homes?

Since April 2018, private rented properties in England and Wales must have an EPC rating of at least E (unless exempt). From 2025, this will rise to C for new tenancies, and by 2028 for all tenancies. Social housing also has targets under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

How can I encourage tenants to recycle more?

Provide clear recycling bins with labels, offer information on local recycling services, and run awareness campaigns. Simple incentives like a prize for the best recycling street can boost participation. Also, ensure bulky waste collection is easy to arrange.

What is the waste hierarchy and how does it apply to housing?

The waste hierarchy prioritises prevention, then reuse, recycling, recovery, and finally disposal. In housing, this means encouraging tenants to avoid waste (e.g., using reusable bags), donate unwanted items, recycle correctly, and dispose of residual waste responsibly.

What are some low-cost sustainability measures for landlords?

Low-cost measures include installing LED bulbs, fitting draught excluders, adding radiator reflector panels, and providing recycling bins. These are inexpensive and quickly reduce energy use and waste, benefiting both landlord and tenant.

Energy efficiency in the home

CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF HOUSING

vocational

This subtopic equips learners with the knowledge to identify and realise the economic, environmental and social benefits of domestic energy efficiency. It covers practical strategies for reducing energy consumption through behavioural changes and home improvements, alongside an evaluation of renewable technologies such as solar photovoltaic panels, heat pumps and biomass systems for residential use.

Learning Outcomes

Assessment Guidance

Key Skills

Key Terms

Assessment Criteria

Assessment criteria

CIH Level 2 Award In Sustainable Living (QCF)

Topic Overview

The CIH Level 2 Award in Sustainable Living (QCF) is a foundational qualification designed for individuals working or aspiring to work in housing, property management, or related service industries. It provides a comprehensive understanding of sustainability principles, focusing on how housing professionals can promote environmentally responsible practices, reduce carbon footprints, and enhance resource efficiency in residential settings. The award covers key areas such as energy conservation, waste management, water efficiency, and sustainable procurement, equipping learners with practical knowledge to implement sustainable solutions in their daily work.

This qualification is crucial because the housing sector significantly impacts the environment through energy use, construction, and waste generation. By understanding sustainable living, housing professionals can help tenants reduce utility bills, improve health and wellbeing, and contribute to national climate targets. The course also aligns with UK government policies like the Climate Change Act and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, making it highly relevant for career progression in housing associations, local authorities, and private landlords.

Within the wider Service Industries framework, this award complements other CIH qualifications by embedding sustainability into housing management. It prepares learners to advise tenants on eco-friendly practices, conduct energy audits, and support community initiatives. The knowledge gained is immediately applicable, helping organisations meet regulatory requirements and achieve sustainability goals while enhancing their reputation.

Key Concepts

Core ideas you must understand for this topic

→The three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic – and how they apply to housing (e.g., reducing energy use benefits the environment, lowers bills for tenants, and creates long-term cost savings for landlords).
→Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) – understanding ratings from A to G, legal requirements for rented properties, and how improvements can boost ratings.
→Waste hierarchy: reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, dispose – applying this to household waste management, including composting, recycling schemes, and reducing single-use plastics.
→Water efficiency measures: low-flow taps, dual-flush toilets, rainwater harvesting, and leak detection – how these reduce water consumption and lower bills.
→Sustainable procurement: choosing products with lower environmental impact, such as Energy Star appliances, FSC-certified wood, and low-VOC paints, and considering lifecycle costs.

Learning Objectives

What you need to know and understand

Understand the benefits of increasing energy efficiency in the home., Understand how to reduce energy consumption in the home., Know the technological options available for generating renewable energy in the home.

Assessment Criteria

Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio

Award credit for clearly explaining at least two tangible benefits of home energy efficiency, such as reduced fuel bills, lower carbon emissions or improved thermal comfort.
Award credit for providing specific, actionable methods to reduce energy use, for example installing loft insulation, draught-proofing, using LED lighting or adjusting heating controls.
Award credit for accurately describing the function and basic installation requirements of at least one renewable energy technology, including reference to suitability for different property types.

Assessment Guidance

Guidance for achieving higher grades

💡In assignment questions about benefits, structure your response around the triple bottom line: economic (saving money), environmental (cutting carbon) and social (health and wellbeing).
💡When describing renewable technologies, always mention any limitations or prerequisites (e.g., need for south-facing roof, adequate insulation) to demonstrate depth of understanding.
💡Use real-life examples or case studies to illustrate how energy efficiency measures have been successfully implemented in domestic settings; this adds credibility to your answers.
💡Use real-world examples: When answering questions about energy efficiency, mention specific measures like cavity wall insulation or smart meters, and link them to EPC ratings. This shows practical understanding.
💡Explain the 'why': Don't just list sustainable practices – explain their benefits. For example, 'Installing a smart meter helps tenants monitor energy use, leading to a 5-10% reduction in consumption and lower bills.'
💡Reference UK legislation: Mention relevant laws like the Climate Change Act 2008 (net-zero by 2050) or the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 to demonstrate awareness of the regulatory context.

Common Mistakes

Common errors to avoid in your coursework

Confusing energy efficiency (reducing consumption) with renewable energy generation (producing clean energy) and presenting them as interchangeable.
Overlooking behavioural measures like turning off appliances and instead focusing only on costly retrofit measures when suggesting ways to reduce consumption.
Assuming all renewable technologies are universally suitable, without considering factors like roof orientation for solar panels or space requirements for heat pumps.
Misconception: Sustainability is only about recycling. Correction: While recycling is important, sustainable living encompasses energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable transport, and ethical purchasing. Recycling is just one part of the waste hierarchy.
Misconception: Energy-efficient homes are always more expensive to build or retrofit. Correction: Many measures, like LED lighting, loft insulation, and draught-proofing, are low-cost and pay back quickly through reduced energy bills. Grants and schemes (e.g., ECO4) can also fund improvements.
Misconception: Tenants are not interested in sustainability. Correction: Many tenants want to reduce their environmental impact and save money. Providing clear information and incentives (e.g., recycling bins, energy-saving tips) can increase engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions students ask about this topic

Before You Start

Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

•Basic understanding of housing tenures (social housing, private rented, owner-occupation) and the roles of housing professionals.
•Familiarity with common household utilities (gas, electricity, water) and how bills are calculated.

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Understand the benefits of increasing energy efficiency in the home., Understand how to reduce energy consumption in the home., Know the technological options available for generating renewable energy in the home.

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Energy efficiency in the home

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