[ Report: ECA Electrical Industry Conference 2011 ]


Getting it together with building management systems n


Eric Anderson, business manager for Siemens


Building Technologies, delivered an interesting and informative presentation on the business imperative for integrated building management systems. He started by insisting that the Green Deal initiative represented ‘a


fabulous opportunity’. Anderson outlined global


demographic trends and how this affected energy supply, consumption and carbon emission issues. As the drive to meet carbon emission reduction targets gathers pace, businesses will have to show what their carbon footprint is and demonstrate what they are doing to reduce it. Anderson described this as: ‘A phenomenal opportunity for us all to sell more products, install more products – and to contribute to achieving these lower carbon emission targets.’ Even if targets are missed, the industry should strive to achieve them, ‘rather than say “oh dear, another opportunity missed”,’ he said.


He remarked on the huge


potential of the refurbishment market and the commercial sector to install more energy efficient solutions. He also looked at how the increasing pace of technological development is leading to more automation interconnected devices and quicker mainstream adoption. However, while businesses may be looking to boost green credentials, the financial imperative and payback is always the main driver for decisions. Energy efficient solutions make sound financial sense for businesses, he said: ‘So, if it makes good economic sense – and helps the climate – it’s got to be good,’ Anderson concluded.


Safety first for sustainable solutions n


Phil Buckle, director general of the Electrical Safety Council (ESC),


updated delegates on the important work the charity is carrying out to increase consumer awareness about electrical safety. He outlined the strategic priorities of the


ESC, working with industry partners and government. He reminded delegates that ‘more people die from electrical-related incidents than gas-related incidents’, and that electricity is also the most common cause of fires in the home . He explained the ESC’s role in pushing


forward its message about electrical safety support for consumers in innovative ways to make them think about their own safety, such as through its RCD campaign for the home, and ESC’s role in supporting competent,


safe and sustainable electrical installations. Turning to government plans for rollout of smart meters in all UK homes, he said that this was a ‘golden opportunity’ to get into peoples’ homes and give a ‘health check’ on their electrical installations. He warned that it was crucial that the smart meter rollout was not hampered by bad publicity relating to sub-standard installations, so it was essential that there was a safe installation underpinning it – which is where ECA members can deliver. He also told delegates that ESC is continuing to lobby for an isolating switch to be built into the smart meter on the outgoing terminal as a neat safety solution. Buckle also commented on the review


of Part P. Acknowledging that it wasn’t the perfect model, and it needs improving, he


THE CONTRACTING INDUSTRY


meet energy efficiency requirements in buildings, for electric vehicles and for energy management. ‘Energy is the lifeblood of our society,’ she said. ‘The wellbeing of our people, industry economy depend on safe, secure, sustainable and affordable energy. But the real challenge facing us is maintaining our existing electricity lifestyle and meeting CO2


reduction targets,’


Schellekens said. ‘The future consumer will want to use energy more efficiently. This will generate business opportunities in our sector that we have to seize,’ Schellekens stressed. She then went on to explain how Europe ‘is designing your


future’ via its common policy for energy and setting of key targets, resulting in strategic energy plans and directives. The


ELECTRA communication from the EC recognises the electrical engineering industry as being one of the keys to a competitive and strong industrial base in the European Union, she told delegates. Europe has taken initiatives that have direct impact on buildings and the electrical sector, including directives such as the renewables and energy performance of buildings directives. As well as presenting challenges, they address many areas where there are opportunities for contractors. She concluded that the role of the electrical contractor


was crucial to install new energy efficient and intelligent technologies, and that businesses should profile themselves as an adviser and a solution provider for the customer.


Domestic installations


Opening his presentation on the changing face of domestic installation, Andrew


Leech, executive director of the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) expressed his scepticism about the Green Deal. He said he didn’t think it would work, with too many targets that couldn’t be met, and upfront costs that were unaffordable for many homeowners. Maintaining existing housing stock


in top energy efficient conditions is paramount and a major concern of the NHIC, Leech told delegates. It would cost more than £400 billion over the next four decades – a lot of which will go to electrical improvements in existing homes. ‘There’s a hell of a lot of work to be done’ to meet 2050 carbon reduction targets, Leech told delegates. The NHIC estimates that the cost of


said that it had helped ‘put a focus on the importance of competence’. He warned that, in a worst-case scenario, the removal of Part P would undermine efforts to implement the new energy efficient technologies we require. ‘It’s incumbent upon us to make Part P work,’ Buckle concluded, ‘but to make it better.’


bringing the average semi-detached up to the required standard for zero carbon emissions would cost householders £20,000, and Leech questioned whether it was feasible to achieve this with the limited government resources currently available. The scale of the refurbishment


required to meet targets is unprecedented in both the challenge and the opportunities it provides for the construction and electrical industries, Leech stated. Statistics suggest that in order to achieve this, 700,000 homes a year need to refurbished – something that Leech felt wasn’t achievable; currently only 13,000 a year are being refurbished to standards, he said.


July 2011 ECA Today 45


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