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secretary@cibse.org President: Rob Manning BSc (Hons) ENg FCIBSE Chief executive: Stephen Matthews
How we are meeting future challenges
CIBSE is already addressing the RAEng’s report on engineering, says Stephen Matthews, chief executive
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In January, the Royal Academy of Engineering
(RAEng) published the report, Engineering a low carbon built environment, subtitled The discipline of Building Engineering Physics. Written by Prof Doug King, visiting professor at Bath University and a CIBSE member, the report was widely distributed and received an almost unprecedented level of interest. Naturally, not everyone
agreed with the findings and recommendations, but arguably the most important aspect of this report is that it has raised the profile of building engineering physics (BEP) and created a framework of recommendations going forward. The report argues that, if we are
to create low carbon buildings, then we must have a fundamental understanding both of the science of how buildings perform – building physics – and of what impacts upon the design, construction
and operation of the building in order to deliver a low carbon footprint. Furthermore, much of our understanding is gained by working practice and experience – which, while very valuable, also needs the underpinning of building engineering physics (BEP). Consequently we need to create centres of excellence to focus this BEP knowledge, disseminate it and develop our understanding quickly if we are to meet the challenges society now faces. The report made 23
recommendations, with a significant proportion of these directed at CIBSE and the profession. What follows is an overview of how CIBSE is addressing these recommendations, and the action plan that CIBSE is now following in collaboration with the academy: • CIBSE to be the focus for low carbon/BEP in the industry;
• Funding additional visiting professors (VPs) to promote BEP in universities;
• Support for a skills survey to identify capability gaps and a case for centres of excellence (CofE); and
• Support the RAEng in preparing a case for government funding to establish CofE. The report has been widely
discussed within the institution; the need to be the focus for a low carbon built environment falls naturally within our sphere of influence and this aim underpins a considerable part of our activity, while recognising that professional skills and knowledge are required
18 CIBSE Journal November 2010 March 2009
at many levels and across a broad spectrum. The report also recommended
that the institution should change its name, and though widely discussed, there was no clarity on a new title, and so the board has decided to retain ‘CIBSE’. The Visiting Professor (VP) in
BEP scheme has been running for some years. Its aims are: • To introduce building services engineering and building physics to the brightest students at the best universities;
• To encourage some of the brightest students to take up a building services engineering career; and
• To ensure that future industry leaders are familiar with building engineering physics. Currently there are four VPs –
at Cambridge, Sheffield, Bath and Bristol universities – and, while the first three are coming to the end of their current funding, the intention is that these posts will become permanent. Additionally, the CIBSE board has agreed to fund VP posts for four years – at a cost of £100,000. With RAEng support, this means that we can now fund two new VP appointments. Plans are developing quickly: one
VP will be based at UCL – where there are strong CIBSE links – and the second is yet to be announced.
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