News
Sector ‘must promote itself
Weather study
issues warning of
as a leader in renewables’
killer heatwaves
Keeping Britain cool could become
building services engineers’
n
The new head of the skills more than any other part of the biggest challenge as the UK
council for building services construction industry on that.” faces a frightening future of killer
engineering has called on the sector A UK government minister heatwaves, droughts and floods.
to promote itself more strongly who attended the meeting said Predictions for Britain’s future
as a leader in renewable energy he believed that the sector was an climate are contained in a new
solutions. important industry at a key time report, Climate Projections,
Dr Ian Livsey, chairman of the when infrastructure in Britain launched by Environment Secretary
body SummitSkills, told a meeting needed to be brought up to Hilary Benn. Based on Met Office
of MPs and industry leaders at standard. Kevin Brennan, the new science projections, the report is
the Commons that, as a relative skills and apprenticeships minister, said to provide the most detailed
newcomer to the sector, he was said: “There’s a strong future base picture to date of global warming
aware of the frustration it felt about of demand for your industry.” triggered by carbon dioxide, and
its public profile. Responding to a call from CIBSE illustrates the extent of the changes
“We should be bigger than we are technical director Hywel Davies the UK might face in the absence of
and should punch harder than we Livsey: sector should “punch harder” to look at the issue of inspection global action to cut emissions.
do. We’re a big sector in terms of of air conditioning systems, A report by the Department
impact,” he said. are building Britain’s future.” Brennan said his department would of Environment, Food and Rural
“Frankly there is no renewable Claire Curtis-Thomas MP, discuss the matter with CIBSE and Affairs (Defra) noted that the
agenda without the building chairman of the parliamentary All SummitSkills. change in climate will have a serious
services engineering sector.” Party Building Services Engineering CIBSE and the Heating impact on buildings: “Offices are
He added: “I would like to see Group, which hosted the meeting, and Ventilating Contractors’ more likely to overheat as a result
us feeling more confident and agreed the sector “should punch Association have warned that of warmer summer temperatures.
saying more about how good we above our weight”. some organisations are promoting Methods of passive cooling, such
actually are. I’m sure this sector She said: “The whole issue of training for those interested as the use of blinds and external
has a healthy future. I believe that protection of the environment and in becoming air conditioning shading, will be needed so as not
building services engineers make getting more for your investment inspectors before the bodies to increase the reliance on air
the world we live in tomorrow – we really is our world – we can deliver have been accredited. conditioning, which will increase
energy consumption.”
Engineering consultancy
Sport The projections also predict a rise
triumphs in World Cup
in average summer temperatures of
between 2 and 6 deg C in the south
Engineering
AECOM FC are winners of the CIBSE Trophy east of England. The projections
after triumphing in the 2009 Building show a range of climate changes
Services World Cup held in Liverpool recently. across the UK up until the end
The club, managed by John Dickinson, won of the century, based on three
the final against Crown House England FC possible greenhouse gas emissions
on penalties, netting all five shots. Both pathways – high, medium and low.
teams won all their group-stage matches. The world’s emissions are
Third place in the tournament was taken by currently equivalent to the medium
Flakt Woods FC. The winner of the Everyman pathway, although there is a risk we
Shield was Liverpool One FC. could still be heading for the high
www.buildingservicesworldcup.com scenario, according to scientists.
www.defra.gov.uk
www.cibsejournal.com August 2009 CIBSE Journal 9
CIBSEaug09 pp08-09 news.indd 9 23/7/09 15:52:58
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