Letting agencies will soon be able to calculate their carbon footprint as part of an initiative called The Sustainable Agents scheme.

It’s estimated that a fifth of all CO2 emissions in the UK are emitted by residential homes, and Sustainable Agents – co-founded by a director of the allAgents awards scheme – says the calculator can allow companies to see their carbon emissions before joining the members-owned organisation.

Sustainable Agents was first mentioned last autumn with a pledge to launch in the first quarter of this year; its latest statement this week describes itself as ‘soon to launch’.

It’s to be open to estate agents, letting agents and property management companies to voluntarily sign up and pledge to become a zero-carbon business and manager of carbon efficient or neutral residential properties.

As part of the initiative, Sustainable Agents will utilise what it calls “the largely untapped economic opportunity of recycling, green earth, wind power, and solar power” as well as “progressive sustainable streams of income for the property industry.”

And its website’s mission statement states: “Sustainable Agents recognise that they must take more responsibility for helping to drive down the overall carbon footprint of properties under their management or control. Part of our pledge will be to make our portfolios both carbon neutral and to help our clients achieve EPC ratings of C or better; well within the agreed timeframes set out by the government.”

Vincent Friel, a co-founder, says: “Whilst not officially launched yet, we are impressed by the volume of enquiries from estate and letting agents keen to join the initiative. We have also been working hard in the background with new income streams for member agents and will be releasing more exciting details about these shortly.” 

Anyone wishing to use the carbon footprint calculator or who is interested in joining the scheme can visit SustainableAgents.co.uk.