energy future trends F
rom the beginning of the industrial revolution, Britain has had a thirst for energy. The huge development in engineering technology meant that Britain was able to provide mass
production to the world, but at a cost. One hundred years later it is again engineers that are tasked with solving the problem of energy production without affecting the planet.
Climate change fact or fiction?
Some say that it is the over-development in the early 1900s that paved the way for the climate change crisis. Whatever your beliefs, there is scientific proof that the climate and environment has altered drastically within the UK. According to the MET Office, the temperature in central England has increased by 1°C since 1970. The unpredictable snow blizzards that hit in the early part of 2010 made the climate problem more apparent. Around the world countries are being
held responsible for their part in climate change. Surprisingly, Norway is the biggest user of energy per capita in the world, followed by Iran and the Netherlands. Despite being a small country, the UK is only 7th, between bigger countries Japan and India. Business and organisations - both large
Whether you measure in-house, using the ISO16001 system or through a low carbon consultant, it is clear that energy policy is going to have an effect on FMs now and in the future.
and small - have realised that they have a duty of care to reduce their energy output. This change in corporate social responsibility (CSR) has had a huge impact on other areas of a business. Company policy on sustainability and environmental issues has been passed down to facility and estate managers to implement. Generally it is now the FM’s responsibility to not only maintain a building’s performance, but to minimise energy usage in doing so. Climate change, aka global warming,
will have two major influences on FMs. The first is physical: The change in our
environment and weather will cause added problems to the functionality of a building. For example, some roofs were not built to sustain extreme heavy rainfall (with high levels of acid) which could mean leaks or flooding. Higher temperatures in the summer could result in brown-outs (areas losing power sporadically) and thermal discomfort as equipment runs outs of capacity. The second is in the shape of
regulations and cost: The dramatic change in our climate has forced governments to put into place regulations to control our country’s energy usage. Facility managers will have to be forward thinking about meeting legislation and how it will impact their building. Only 11% of the FSE 350 can verify their green credentials.
Energy costs are bound to increase with CRC efficiency tariffs.
What legislation should we be aware of?
The European Union implemented a directive that all EU states have had to put onto their parliamentary statute book. The UK has decided to control this directive through the EPBD (Energy Performance Building Directive.) New building constructions have to comply with the building regulations, which now consider the energy and environmental impact of the construction. Current buildings have to comply with the EPBD. This means that under this directive, occupiers may have to have a DEC (Display Energy Certificate) or a EPC (Energy Performance Certificate). A DEC shows the actual energy usage
of a building, the operational rating, and helps the public see the energy efficiency of a building. The certificate is only required for a building with a total useful floor space over 1,000m2
, and which is
either occupied by a public authority or is visited by a large number of the public.
But how long before this is applied to the rates?
EPCs were brought in to help those buying and selling property. The certificate
36 l Property Management Select l july/august 2010 l
www.pm-select.co.uk
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