Carbon Literacy Training for the Social Housing Sector
Calling all social housing professionals! If you’re looking to build your knowledge of all things energy efficiency, carbon reduction and net zero, we’ve got something exciting to share with you!
We’ve teamed up with Change Agents UK to bring you certified Carbon Literacy Training designed specifically for the social housing sector. As a leading charity and non-profit, Change Agents UK has over 25 years of experience educating, inspiring and empowering people to create positive social and environmental change.
Change isn’t just about improving properties, it’s also about giving the people working across the sector the knowledge, confidence and skills to understand climate change and turn that understanding into action. Maybe you’re working towards net zero? Or looking to build a stronger sustainability culture within your organisation? Or simply want to better understand what carbon reduction means for you and your role? This training is a great place to start!
And there’s an extra perk for being part of the GES network!
You can get 5% off your place using our exclusive discount code GreenEnergySwitch5 when you book.
What is Carbon Literacy Training?
Carbon Literacy is about understanding the carbon costs and impacts of everyday activities and, importantly, developing the knowledge and motivation needed to reduce emissions.
The training uses The Carbon Literacy Project’s Social Housing Toolkit, which has been developed specifically for people working within the sector.
Whatever your current level of sustainability knowledge, the training will help you build your understanding of climate change and turn that knowledge into meaningful action within your organisation.
Successful completion of the training and required evidence will lead to Carbon Literacy certification through The Carbon Literacy Project.
What will you learn?
The course explores both the wider climate challenge and what it means specifically for social housing.
During the training, you’ll develop your understanding of:
- The fundamental science behind human-induced climate change
- Individual and organisational carbon footprints and emissions
- The challenges and opportunities climate change presents for the social housing sector
- What net zero means and how organisations can work towards it
- How climate action can support social equality, efficiency and economic stability
- How to communicate effectively about climate change with colleagues and tenants
You’ll also consider the actions you can take personally and professionally to help reduce emissions and support positive change within your organisation.
Why is Carbon Literacy important for social housing?
There’s never been a more important time for the social housing sector to understand carbon reduction and what it means in practice.
For example, the Government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 has been allocated £1.29 billion between 2025 and 2028, supporting social landlords to improve homes below EPC C through energy efficiency upgrades and low-carbon heating systems. The programme aims to reduce carbon emissions whilst tackling fuel poverty, supporting green jobs and creating warmer, more energy-efficient homes.
But decarbonising social housing requires more than just physical changes to buildings.
Housing providers work across thousands of homes and with tenants, colleagues, contractors and communities. Building Carbon Literacy across your organisation can help your teams understand why change is needed, where they can make a difference and how to communicate that change effectively.
And this isn’t training reserved for sustainability teams. It’s suitable for people working across social housing at all levels and in a wide range of roles, including board members, making Carbon Literacy relevant across the whole organisation.
What will you gain from the training?
Become certified as Carbon Literate
Gain a recognised certification that you can share with your professional network.
Build skills specifically for social housing
Develop your understanding of carbon reduction, net zero and the particular challenges and opportunities facing the housing sector.
Turn knowledge into action
Build the confidence to advocate for climate action, engage colleagues and tenants and contribute to a lower-carbon culture within your organisation.
Learn alongside others in the sector
Meet and share ideas with people working across social housing who are facing many of the same sustainability challenges.
When is the Carbon Literacy Training?
There are currently two online courses available, with each course delivered across two interactive half-day sessions.
November 2026
📅 Wednesday 4 November 2026 – 9:15am–12:30pm
📅 Wednesday 11 November 2026 – 9:15am–12:30pm
January/February 2027
📅 Tuesday 26 January 2027 – 9:15am–12:30pm
📅 Tuesday 2 February 2027 – 9:15am–12:30pm
Alongside the virtual sessions, participants should allow approximately two hours for individual study beforehand. To achieve certification, you’ll also need to submit a short evidence form, including a personal and professional pledge, to The Carbon Literacy Project.
Get 5% off with Green Energy Switch
As part of our partnership with Change Agents UK, we’re delighted to offer our housing partners 5% off the cost of Carbon Literacy Training.
Simply enter the code: GreenEnergySwitch5 when booking your place through Eventbrite to receive your discount.
Places are limited so now is a great time to get started!
Choose your course dates and secure your place today and don’t forget to use code GreenEnergySwitch5 to get 5% off.
Supporting social landlords beyond training
At Green Energy Switch, we work with housing associations and local authorities across the UK to make energy management simpler.
From our free Void Energy Management service to our fully managed EPC service, business energy and wider energy and sustainability support, we help social landlords save time, reduce costs and improve the energy efficiency of their homes and operations.
Find out how Green Energy Switch can support your organisation →
ABOUT US
Green Energy Switch (GES) delivers a broad range of energy services across the UK; specialising in working with social landlords and local authorities. Established in 2006, GES is a subsidiary of environmental charity PECT. We gift-aid any profits to PECT to help fund their vital work. In doing so, we are the lead sponsor of their Forest project. So far over 131,000 trees have been planted, equating to a remarkable reduction of over 1,300 tonnes of carbon emission.
