specialism is not questioning a client’s brief, relating it to
the business operations of the client, understanding that
sustainability starts with behaviour – they don’t need to
be at the table when we’re working this stuff out, they
need to be involved sequentially. The moment the design
starts, the engineering disciplines, the cost disciplines, the
space disciplines (planning, landscape and architecture)
need to be in place. But you don’t need a contractor at that
point. We do need construction expertise, but we don’t
need the contractor. The contractor’s place at the table is
about power play.”
MS: “If sustainability is driven by the client, you’re
much more likely to have the sort of discussions we need
at the early stages. If you have a discussion with the client
in terms of recouping the money spent on sustainability,
say in five or 10 years, then I think you can unblock the
path to building things that are good or excellent rather
than average.”
Q: Is the best way to persuade the client to place a
mandatory limit on their carbon footprint for buildings?
SP: “That’s absolutely a good idea. The UK government
has now set a carbon budget, and that will have to flow
down to what each of us needs to do.”
MS: “You also have to be careful, with this whole
process of carbon accountability, that we’re not just
> can advocate, we can advise – but we don’t have the means
Mike Simpson: building
shuffling numbers around a bit of paper and doing some
services engineers need more
to twist the client’s arm [towards more sustainability]. I
education on what architects
offsetting here and there – we’ve got to reduce emissions
can throw my toys out of the pram and walk away, but
are about
and not just mess about with numbers.”
that’s all I can do.”
Q: Is the UK government’s target of near-zero carbon
Q: Are building services [BS] engineers still locked homes achievable in the timescale set? Is this high
historically in the role of subordinates to architects and target also a diversion from encouraging more everyday
so don’t have the confidence to be as much of an advocate improvements in homes?
for sustainability as they should be? MS: “I think the target is achievable, from a BS
MS: “I do see the situation changing. I do see a greater engineering side. We have a lot of knowledge and
dialogue between architects and engineers at the concept experience of sustainability in the commercial building
stage. The creation of a zero or low-carbon building is tied sector, and this needs to be shrunk down into the domestic
up in its form, its construction, and so on, and I think that sector. I think the technology is transferable from
this is driving the two professions to work together at the commercial to domestic sectors, but we need the people
early stage of a project.” and practitioners to intall it. Likewise the manufacturers
SP: “My biggest beef isn’t even about persuading need to downscale the technology. This whole zero-carbon
clients to be sustainable, it’s about persuading clients homes issue isn’t about waiting for something better
–particularly contractor-clients – to even employ a proper to come along. Let’s do everything we can with today’s
environmental consultant at the beginning. Maybe we technology. If we know we can produce near-zero carbon
could say to the client: ‘We’re not going to have a meeting, homes today, we should be doing it.”
we’re not going to start this project, until you appoint the
full consultant design team and you empower it from day The danger Q: Are we doing it? How many new homes are near level
one.’ Thinking out loud, that could be an issue [for the
is that we as
five or six in the Code for Sustainable Homes?
industry] to campaign on.” SP: “Very few at present. We want homes that allow
MS: “With any design process, design is all about
engineers spend
people to lead zero- or low-carbon lifestyles. I don’t think
teamwork, to get that agreed outcome on sustainability.” all our time on there’s such a thing as a zero-carbon home – it could be
PR rather than
running 16 kettles and 20 TV sets. But we can design
Q: Do we need contractors and other elements of the homes now that will allow you to lead a virtually zero-
supply chain involved in the design at the beginning?
developing
carbon lifestyle if you so choose (which means a 20 to 30
SP: “There’s confusion between the supply chain and technology per cent premium on the price). I’m certain that, in the
where knowledge resides. There’s an increasing idea that,
and design for
long term, we have to be near zero-carbon in the built
from day one, you need the contracting engineer, the environment, because there are other areas that are far
carpet layer, the architect, the mechanical and electrical
sustainability.
harder to reduce – if we’re going to go on eating well and
engineer involved. All these are very good people but their – Mike Simpson travelling, and so on, all our carbon budget will go into
26 CIBSE Journal July 2009 www.cibsejournal.com
CIBSEjul09 pp24-27 Head to head.indd 26 25/6/09 15:17:55
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