The Fife-based association lifted two awards at The International Green Apple Awards for Environmental Best Practice, the annual campaign to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world.

Recognising a long-standing commitment to the environment, Kingdom received Green Apple Good Practice Awards for its ‘Climate Change Journey’ and also for ‘Mainstreaming Passivhaus Standards’.

Kingdom Group chief executive Bill Banks said: “We are delighted to have been recognised in the international environmental good practice awards. Our customers and others in our communities are experiencing very significant cost of living challenges and these awards recognise the great work that Kingdom is doing to assist with the pressures of rising energy costs and the impact of inflation on everyday life.

“Through our work we’re producing energy-efficient homes that cost less to heat and stay warmer for longer. That’s not only good for the environment but it’s good for our customers too. The awards acknowledge the journey Kingdom has been on for many years to contribute towards sustainable development and the delivery of community benefits.”

The Awards recognised innovation across the residential and property sector.

Julie Watson, Kingdom’s head of capital investment, said: “Enhancing quality is something we continually strive for and delivering homes built to Passivhaus Standards has benefits both for our tenants and for Kingdom. Passivhaus Standards are internationally recognised and the resulting homes are exceptionally energy efficient, exceeding the ‘A’ rated Energy Performance Certificate banding. Though it’s currently more expensive to achieve these Standards, if more housing providers adopted this approach and it became mainstream across the new building supply programme, it’s likely that costs would become more affordable.”

Kingdom also received Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) World Leader Status recognition for its dedication and commitment to building strong, sustainable communities.

Calum Kippen, Kingdom’s head of governance and organisational support, said: “Kingdom’s mission is to provide more than a home and in doing so develop strong, sustainable communities. Delivering community benefits and sustainability are core objectives that contribute to Kingdom’s Corporate Social Responsibility. Working closely with local communities, Kingdom focuses on employment and skills development, environmental projects, resident and community projects, education and schools initiatives, and the provision of public art.”

The Green Apple Awards are run by The Green Organisation, an independent, international, non-political, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world.