Interview NG Bailey CEO
‘There were many signs that things were moving quite performance of that building at an almost microscopic
well in terms of end-users of buildings addressing the level.
sustainability agenda and the energy performance issues ‘At present there’s a complete lack of solid data to be
Keeping the
within buildings. But there is an inevitable temptation able to actually run the calculations properly. That’s what sustainability
when times are tight for people to be reluctant to spend we’ve collectively got to build up now. There are various
agenda alive
their money on something that requires an upfront models you can use with data that exist at BSRIA, and
capital injection that’s got a very long-term payback. I’m sure CIBSE have got some data, but I don’t think
in these
‘So I think that keeping the sustainability agenda alive those models are robust enough yet for people to be able circumstances
in these circumstances is going to be a challenge.’ to rely on them.
is going to be a
‘At a conceptual level most of the clients do get it,
Sustainability and I think conceptually, certainly some of the more
challenge
A further issue, which he worries will return to the enlightened end-user clients are quite prepared to
construction industry because of the current economic commit to a higher capital cost if they can see reasonable
climate, is the hostility and confrontation that was evidence that they’re going to have a lower whole-life
prevalent 10 to 15 years ago – as cost pressures force cost. But it’s about coming up with that evidence.’
parties involved to focus only on the commercial merits So how can business be made to comply, even in
of projects. a recession? The answer, says Andrews, lies in the
Andrews says: ‘There is almost an inevitability that in legislation; it’s about providing a little more carrot and
certain parts of the industry there will be a reversion to a little more stick, and government not being afraid to
type as margins get squeezed, everything gets squeezed, enforce the rules.
people start beating each other up and getting more Andrews concedes that government has reneged on
confrontational rather than working together looking some important regulation regarding the environmental
to really add value.’ performance of buildings – particularly the dropping of
So can this problem at least be minimised, if not the ‘consequential improvements’ requirements from Mark Andrews
avoided? Yes, he says, but it’s going to take team Part L 2010 of the Building Regulations, which would
work and understanding: ‘It’s about getting people to have forced homeowners to make energy efficiency
CV
understand what can and what needs to be done, and improvements to their homes when undertaking major
then committing the resources to do it. refurbishment works.
Career: CEO of NG Bailey
‘I do believe that, if you look at UK plc, a lot of people But he adds: ‘I’m not a legislator, I’m not trying to tell
since 2004. Joined from
Pirelli Cables & Systems
understand they need to make their businesses more the government what they should be doing, but if they
North America, where he
energy efficient and to improve their carbon footprint. do want to meet their stated agenda for a reduction in
was president and CEO
They know some of the things need to be done, but the UK’s carbon footprint, it’s not going to happen by
and based in Columbia,
South Carolina. Prior to
when it comes to writing the cheque, that’s a little bit good will alone. In this economic environment we’re
that he ran the power
difficult in the current circumstances.’ going to need sound legislation that’s enforced.’
construction subsidiary
Clients do appear to have a grasp of the ‘whole life According to Andrews, the government has to act
of Balfour Beatty and held
senior positions at BOC
cost’ concept too, but it is something the industry hasn’t decisively in the next year, otherwise it will fail to meet
Gases and Chicago Bridge
been very good at proving, admits Andrews. its own carbon reduction targets. Of course, the other
& Iron Company.
NG is currently collating a range of post-occupancy side of that coin is instigating behavioural change in
Activities: He is a
data from its own purpose-built green building, Solais society. But no one, he concedes, can predict how long
Chartered Engineer and
House in Scotland, so engineers can look at the real that will take. l
a Fellow of the Institution
of Engineering and
Technology, the Chartered
Management Institute
and the Chartered
Institute of Marketing.
He is chairman of the
Regional Work and
Skills Partnership Board
(Yorkshire and Humber)
and of the Advisory Board
of Bradford University
School of Management.
He is a member of
the Apprenticeship
Ambassadors Network,
and the CBI Construction
Council.
Education: The 49-year-
old was born in London
and educated at Imperial
College, London, where
he gained his degree
in engineering, and he
got an MBA at Cranfield
University School of
Management in Bedford.
Solais House, the purpose-built HQ of NG Bailey, is undergoing post-occupancy evaluation.
www.cibsejournal.com October 2009 CIBSE Journal 33
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