Here at okoHaus, we believe that sustainable window and door solutions aren’t just about creating energy-efficient homes, but a testament to our responsibility towards our environmental impact. With years of expertise in window and door systems, we have made sustainability a crucial part of our business model.
Our mission revolves around revolutionising the window and door industry by prioritising sustainability at every turn, with dedication to creating a brighter, greener future for our clients, community, and our little blue planet. As part of this commitment, we have recently completed our comprehensive carbon footprint report in partnership with Groundwork East, revealing important insights about our current emissions and our path towards achieving net zero emissions.
Understanding Our Carbon Footprint
Our comprehensive carbon footprint assessment, conducted according to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, has revealed the key sources of our CO2 emissions. The report breaks down our emissions into two main categories:
- Our Business Vehicle Fleet
Our vehicle fleet represents our largest emission source at 54% of our total footprint, generating 16.40 tCO2e annually. This includes our company diesel vans as well as our employees’ private diesel and petrol cars. However, we have already begun addressing this challenge by taking on an electric company vehicle, which covers 10,000 miles with significantly lower emissions. - Staff Commuting & Travel
Our staff commutes account for 20% of our emissions (6.00 tCO2e), while business travel contributes 18% (5.42 tCO2e). Our electricity consumption, including grid electricity usage of 6,039 kWh annually, represents 6% of our total emissions at 1.25 tCO2e.
Tracking these emissions is fundamental to our long-term sustainability goals. It enables us to identify priority areas for improvement, set science-based emission reduction targets, and measure our progress towards becoming completely carbon neutral.
Steps We’ve Taken to Reduce Our Environmental Impact
Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors
Our products directly contribute to reducing carbon emissions in homes across East Anglia and the UK. Our energy-efficient windows offer exceptional thermal performance:
- Rationel triple-glazed windows achieve 0.79W/m²K U-values (compared to 1.29W/m²K for double-glazed).
- Velfac triple-glazed windows deliver 0.82W/m²K performance (compared to 1.6W/m²K for double-glazed).
These thermally efficient windows significantly reduce heat loss, helping homeowners decrease their reliance on fossil fuels for heating.
Sustainable Materials & Responsible Sourcing
Our windows comprise several sustainable materials:
- Wood (20.2%): FSC-certified timber ensuring responsible forestry management.
- Aluminium (18%): 50% recycled content, with two-thirds manufactured using renewable energy.
- Glass (62.2%): Fully recyclable material which requires seven times less energy to recycle than producing new glass.
Our Velfac line is especially superior; 93% of the materials used can be recycled, and each unit is designed for easy separation at the end of its lifecycle.
Installation Excellence & Performance
Our installation process prioritises long-term performance. We use Illbruck TP600 Compriband compressible seals for weather-tight external sealing and Illbruck FM330 expanding foam for exceptional thermal performance. For Passive House projects, we provide optional internal breather membranes to ensure optimal building envelope performance.
Transitioning Our Fleet: From Diesel to Electric Vehicles
Why Transport Matters
Addressing transport is crucial for achieving net zero emissions. Our current business fleet operations, including site visits and product delivery, are a major factor. Site visits alone recorded travel distances of 11,855 miles in 2022, highlighting the scale of our transport environmental impact.
The Switch to Electric Vehicles (EVs)
We have already begun our transition with one company EV and a second on order. Our decarbonisation plan prioritises replacing our two remaining diesel vans with electric alternatives, which could reduce carbon emissions by up to 15.8 tCO2e annually – a massive 52% reduction in our total footprint.
Benefits of an electric fleet include:
- Lower running costs: Estimated annual savings of £4,000.
- Quieter operation: Reducing noise pollution in residential areas.
- Environmental leadership: Demonstrating a commitment to a greener future.
To support this, we have installed 5 EV charging points at our office for employees and visitors to use free of charge.
Looking Ahead: Our Commitment to Net Zero
Our decarbonisation plan extends beyond vehicle electrification. We are implementing solar PV installation (5.6kWp capacity) to meet 51% of our current energy demand.
We are also:
- Actively pursuing B-Corp certification.
- Partnering with Suffolk Wildlife Trust for biodiversity conservation.
- Extending sustainable practices to include recycling old windows for environmental projects.
Our emission reduction targets align with the scientific community’s goal to limit global temperature increase to 1.5°C. By reducing our own carbon emissions, we aim to set an example for the fenestration industry.
Conclusion
Our journey towards net zero is about being pioneers. Through our comprehensive report, we’ve identified clear pathways to achieve our goals while delivering exceptional energy-efficient windows.
By choosing okoHaus, you support broader climate goals without compromising on comfort or performance. Together, we can build a more sustainable future, one window and door at a time.
Last Updated on February 3, 2026