Mark Johnson

"Londoners need to understand that shifting to a more sustainable lifestyle is not only needed, but will be to their benefit"

Mark Johnson started his career in sustainable development working in an Energy Saving Trust Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on a graduate scholarship 10 years ago. He arrived for a 10 week placement, became the centre manager and has been hooked on sustainability ever since. Working for London Warm Zone has allowed Mark to convert his sustainability ethos into actual delivery. "Many people already know they need to act and want to live a more sustainable lifestyle but they need to understand why this shift is needed."

Warm Zones was set up in 2001 as a pilot funded by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs aimed at mitigating fuel poverty. Seven years on and supported by EDF Energy, the London Warm Zone has expanded far beyond the original pilot in the London Borough of Newham to cover 18 boroughs and manage projects delivering energy saving measures such as insulation, heating systems and income advice.

"We changed from a pure fuel poverty focus to a more complete approach of doing anything we can to assist making people’s homes and lives more sustainable" explains Mark. "If we were already going into someone’s home to provide advice on heating and insulation, it made sense to inform them of other services that were also available to them. We have developed Warm Zones into the UK’s most holistic, private sector energy programme, recognised as best practice throughout the energy industry."

Mark believes Londoners need a basic understanding of the sustainability issues facing the planet and their city to help them switch to more sustainable habits. "Small actions such as turning off your computer are as important as larger initiatives pushing to completely remove unsustainable options (such as older, energy inefficient lighbulbs)."

"One of the key groups we need to educate are project managers as they are often focussed on completing their own specific objective in order to receive grant funding - they need to be encouraged to move outside this narrow focus to avoid real opportunities to embed holistic, sustainable outcomes being missed. If we get this right, and help organisations to work in partnership, we can do a lot of good in spreading positive sustainability practices."

My commitment
"My commitment is to target the lack of information on sustainability initiatives in London’s private sector housing market. I will establish a network of project managers in London and capture data on the numerous initiatives in this area that can serve as a baseline for further improvement, showcase best practice and be used to promote a more integrated approach to the provision of services to the private housing sector in London."