two routes forward – the penalisation of owners of large homes on grounds of social equity, or that we build more energy effi ciently and better, like the Viennese. We could do either, or both, but easing up on energy targets when others are achieving them in much more challenging climates would seem perverse. Oliver Griffi ths, CEng MCIBSE
Nuclear deterrents The news that EDF’s Hinckley Point nuclear power station project will take twice as long as anticipated reveals a worrying trend in the energy sector. While energy companies focus on maintaining profi tability, and the government treads carefully to avoid agreeing fi nancial deals that will overburden energy users, we are slipping closer and closer towards an energy crisis and losing valuable time to put in place the infrastructure required to address the problem. The latest concerns follow Centrica’s revelation that
EDF’s £14bn nuclear scheme will take nine to 10 years to deliver, instead of the anticipated four to fi ve years. The story follows Centrica’s decision to pull out of its 20% stake in the scheme and seems to be part of a culture of energy companies safeguarding their own interests, rather than working together to address the energy needs of a growing and energy-hungry population. Amid this sits a government that is unwilling, or unable, to take charge of the situation and drive forward a cohesive energy strategy that incorporates a clear way forward on the preferred mix of generation methods and the level of payback for those willing to invest in low carbon infrastructure. For standby power specialists like us, this is a business development opportunity, as companies across a wider range of sectors than ever before begin to realise how likely power cuts will be over the next few years and the impact these will have on their business. However, standby power ought to be a last resort insurance, not a back-up that companies need to resort to on a regular basis. While having an installation is a sensible precaution, it should neither be considered, nor used, as a substitute for mains power. Isn’t it about time that there was a more co-ordinated approach to answering the low carbon agenda while managing costs and maintaining a serviceable generation infrastructure? Or is it just me that thinks that this all looks more like playground politics than a serious response to a looming energy crisis? Paul Moore, managing director, Dieselec Thistle Generators
CIBSE Journal welcomes article proposals from any reader, wherever you are – whether it be letters, longer opinion pieces, news stories, people or events listings, humorous items, or any ideas for possible articles.
Please send all letters, and any other items for possible publication in the CIBSE Journal, to:
editor@cibsejournal.com, or write to Alex Smith, editor, CIBSE Journal, CPL, 275 Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8JE, UK. We reserve the right to edit all letters. Please indicate how you wish your letter to be attributed, and whether you wish to have your contact details included.
Online feedback READY TO CHANGE?
In George Adams’ first presidential blog, he asked whether the challenge of climate change presented opportunities and whether they could be grasped through behavioural change?
Susie Diamond Our fi rst tactic must be mitigation to lessen the damage; closing the embarrassing performance gap between what we as a construction industry promise and ultimately deliver has to be a priority. Planning developments – not just to withstand the more challenging future weather scenarios, but still to be pleasant to occupy – will defi nitely be a challenge. I think there are all sorts of interesting ideas out there. Simple tactics like painting more roofs white to refl ect heat and reduce the urban heat island effects, more planting (drought resistant and non-foundation- damaging) to increase evaporative cooling and provide shade, seem sensible.
Ant Wilson It is no good saying we want or need more ‘stuff’, as the world only has limited resources. There is scope in the design of building services to select more effi cient equipment, in terms of both the operational energy consumed during their lifetime and the embodied carbon/energy in the system.
Tony Johnstone If you want consistent improvement you have to keep up a constant – and credible – message. You also have to keep up a constant – and credible – feedback. I hesitate to say we need a PR consultant but, as a project-based industry, we do tend to keep ourselves isolated (aka uncommunicative).
Bob Beattie To carry out engineering effi ciency we need compliant and willing clients with
www.cibsejournal.com
a steady fl ow of fi nance, a coherent government energy generating and effi ciency policy, a determination to push it through, and a governing body (multiples) that ensures that what is designed is actually delivered on site.
Eric Asquith There has to be an agreement reached in all areas from architects, building services and M&E consultants and a truce drawn up that all disciplines will work together from the start of a project and keep each other informed of any changes.
John Arntsen I believe there are three stages (I’m oversimplifying) – fi rst the consensus of the general populous (mostly here), second, the political will (now higher on parties agendas and in their manifesto), and the economic will (this underpinned by regulations and standards). The last, the economic will, is the hardest.
Sophie Parry The market for energy-effi cient products and designs is steadily growing in most developed economies and, as time goes by, designing for energy-effi ciency compliance and with corporate sustainability linked to business continuity will become everyday practice – it just takes time for the legislation, technology and mindsets to mature. As I see it, we as a industry are very much in the trial and error stage at this time and still learning our craft.
● Join the debate at CIBSE’s LinkedIn group.
www.linkedin.com The presidential blog is at
www.cibsepresidentblog.co.uk
August 2013 CIBSE Journal
17
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60