OPINION Your letters


Downplaying renewables Although I hesitate to disagree with Professor Colin McInnes (Opinion, February Journal, page 20), I would like to point out some anomalies in his downplaying of renewable energy. Nuclear power is far from


carbon free, if the complete fuel cycle is considered. Additionally, how much CO2 is associated with the Fukushima clean-up, and in constructing the new containment for the Chernobyl reactors? Furthermore, it is universally accepted that no other technology is more heavily subsidised than nuclear power. Professor McInnes makes no mention of energy conservation and energy efficiency that, if applied extensively, reduce the need for fuel and power and make the deployment of benign renewables the preferred long- term solution. Even if all the downsides associated with shale gas (see reports from the Tyndale Centre and Cornell University) are acceptable, it can only be considered as a very limited stop- gap step to real sustainability. Brian Edwards


Flues can get clogged The article in the January Journal makes reference, on page 43, to horizontal flues on biomass systems. These clog with soot and tar, require frequent cleaning, cause flue pressure problems and greatly increase the chance of a flue fire and should be avoided. The forthcoming CIBSE Applications Manual on biomass systems (to which I am a contributor) will include clear guidance to this effect. David Palmer


Solar does make sense I was interested to read about the research from the Centre for Infrastructure Management at Sheffield Hallam University stating that solar panels can save


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households up to £420 a year, but still take between 15 and 17 years to pay back installation costs (February Journal, page 12). Solar thermal is a very cost-


effective option for new-build social housing. Solar thermal really is the cost-effective solution for producing cheap hot water in new buildings. Mike Darvill


Support the diploma Since the government announced it was cutting its Diploma support programme, some have speculated that the demise of the qualification is imminent. The consensus in the built environment is that this would be a damaging blow to training in the sector. The government needs to offer the qualification for at least another three years to assess its real value. Key members of the UK


Contractors Group (UKCG), such as Wates, Kier, Balfour Beatty and my own company, Seddon Construction, are strongly in favour of the diploma and it’s not difficult to see why. As well as supporting young


people in their pursuit of knowledge and sector-specific skills, we are also developing a generation of workers who can solve problems, work as part of a team, and get the best out of each other. For all these reasons, UKCG member companies will be taking on Diploma holders as a priority. To secure a bright future for the construction industry we need robust qualifications. From apprentices to graduates, the Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment will give them all the skills they need for their career. It stands to reason that employers should get behind this qualification to develop the right candidates, with the right skills to take the industry forward. Roy Cavanagh MBE


MANUFACTURER’S VIEWPOINT


Let’s practise what we preach, writes Martin Fahey of Mitsubishi Electric, sponsor of this column


Anyone who has read this column over recent months


will know that I have focused on the building services industry’s impact on reducing energy consumption. With everyone facing rising


energy prices, increasingly tough legislation and the demand for a low carbon future, our industry is at the heart of the debate and, individually or collectively, we can make a difference more than any other sector. Buildings account for 44% of


all UK greenhouse gas emissions (more than industry or transport) and while we are creating new low carbon buildings, it is estimated that around 75% of existing buildings will still be in use in 2050, so to a large degree, our future is already built. Part of the


answer, therefore, has to be improving the energy efficiency of these buildings. But even without the current austere climate, persuading companies to spend money on this area is a major challenge – yet it can quickly make a difference. At our Hatfield headquarters


with every building service so that, step by step, we have improved and upgraded almost every angle. We have only done this when equipment reached the end of its life and needed replacement, or when we could make the business case to justify the expenditure in upgrading equipment. The lesson here is that, as an


industry, we already work with technologies that can help improve the efficiency of almost any building. However, our own journey from


an ‘E’ to a ‘B’ has taken eight years which highlights the business need for an evolutionary approach rather than revolutionary one. We have used a mixture of ground


We have used a mixture of ground and air source heat pump systems


we have taken a building that was originally rated at ‘E’ and upgraded it to a ‘B’ grade, using off-the-shelf equipment to increase its efficiency. The office was built in 1986 and is


a typical, three-storey, steel-framed, glass-fronted building, which acts as the base for around 300 staff. Originally cooled with a chiller


system and heated with a gas boiler, we made the decision to remove the chiller and replace it with a VRF system. This enabled us to use waste heat from cooling one area and offset it against heating needs elsewhere. This is epitomised in the building’s restaurant, where waste heat generated in the kitchen and restaurant area is used to preheat the water that will be used for washing up in the afternoon. We have now developed this concept


and air source heat pump systems including the latest heating-only heat pump units, but all of this equipment is readily available today, so as an industry, we can stop waiting for a silver bullet to arrive and demonstrate what can be achieved with what we already have.


I mentioned financial constraints,


which are real for anyone. In the case of Hatfield, we now need to look long and hard at the building’s cladding, which is starting to reach the end of its natural life. Like any business though, we


can’t just stop everything and vacate, but by looking at those areas where we can make a difference and simply planning accordingly, we have been able to demonstrate where real energy savings can be made. Martin Fahey is sustainable


solutions manager at Mitsubishi Electric and co-ordinator of the company’s Green Gateway programme. Further information is available at greengateway. mitsubishielectric.co.uk


SPONSORED BY


March 2012 CIBSE Journal


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