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elcome to your new look BSEE, which is crammed with stories, opinion and features. We have introduced a new Talking Point column on this page and, this month, with ‘Brexit’ the word on everyone’s lips, legal eagle Simon Colvin looks at the ramifications of a UK EU exit on the environment.
On the run up to the June 23rd referendum, we will be inviting further industry comment about how remaining in, or coming out of the EU will impact on the building services and environmental engineering sector.
A number of trade bodies have already been lobbied by the ‘Vote Leave’ campaign and we await the views of those within our own industry.
Interestingly, the Electrical Contractors’ Association has decided NOT to support “a particular position in the EU referendum” but will provide relevant and supporting information to members to help inform the debate.
The CBI, which advocates remaining in the EU, reckons a Brexit could cost the UK £78bn annually, a drop of around 4-5 per cent of GDP.
On the flip side, eurosceptic think tank, Open Europe, believes leaving the EU could potentially benefit the UK with an annual 1.6 per cent rise in GDP.
Not an easy decision. Let me know what you think.
Debbie Eales
deales@datateam.co.uk
16 ENERGY MANAGEMENT Power quality for the smart generation.
TALKING POINT
media storm has been brewing following the announcement that June 23rd this year will see Britain vote to decide the future of its role in the European Union. As a result, many utility companies are beginning to question what a Brexit would mean for their businesses and what lasting effects it may have.
A
If Britain votes ‘yes’, one of the key impacts on the utility sector will be in relation to the environmental controls that operators are subject to. The exit process would need to be managed and, contrary to popular belief, would also take time – the European Treaty provides for a two-year negotiation period, throughout which the Brexit model would be implemented and, depending on the model that is chosen, could then take up to a decade to complete.
Many businesses will be wondering what changes the
Government would make following the Brexit. The
negotiation period – during which it is unlikely the Government will make any wholesale changes to environment controls in the UK – would no doubt leave certain regulatory gaps such as where EU- wide schemes exist, e.g. the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, or where directly applicable controls are no longer in place.
In the medium to long term the UK Government could look to re- package UK environmental controls, but only after the Brexit model was finalised and the UK’s long-term future was certain. The Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has already looked into what a re-write of environment controls could look like post-Brexit, and has considered that it could feasibly
15
From the
CONTENTS BSEE THIS MONTH 4 INDUSTRY NEWS
7 BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING Matt Crunden of Legrand talks readers through the basics.
8 INSTALLATION NEWS Case studies and installation stories.
11 TALKING POINT Our cities have become battlegrounds, writes George Adams.
13 THE BCIA COLUMN Energy management and building controls ‐ the vital link.
13 INDUSTRY COMMENT Protecting workers from fire and explosion
14 INDUSTRY COMMENT BSRIA responds to claims in air pollution report.
15 THE SMART BUILDINGS &
CONTROLS SHOW Energy management adds a new dimension to this year’s show.
18 INDOOR AIR QUALITY Evaporative cooling systems – the pros explained.
19 CASE STUDY Variable speed pumps slash office block’s energy use.
20 HEAT PUMPS Gas absorption heat pumps: the perfect partner.
22 THE BIG INTERVIEW Challenges and opportunities in the pumps sector, with BPMA President, Peter Reynolds.
24 HEAT PUMPS How heat pumps can help to secure the future of historic buildings.
25 BOILER MAINTENANCE How to ensure the optimum performance of a large heating system.
26 CLIMATE CHANGE Heatrae Sadia explores the opportunities presented by the Paris Agreement on climate change.
28 SOLAR ENERGY Hoval explains the benefits of using solar energy to pre‐heat domestic hot water.
29 INDUSTRY COMMENT Exploring the future of solar PV after the government’s tariff cut.
30 INDUSTRY COMMENT Moving UK money towards the sun.
31 PEOPLE & APPOINTMENTS 32 CASE STUDY 33 WHAT’S NEW 36 CLASSIFIED & RECRUITMENT
by Simon Colvin, Partner, Weightmans LLB The impact of Brexit on environmental controls
mean a single Environment Act, similar to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
At present, the UK has a high influence over all content of the EU environmental controls. Should Britain exit the EU, the ability for the UK to have a strong influence over the content of EU
Environmental controls would be lost, yet through the post-Brexit model, Britain may have to keep complying with Environmental controls over which it has little influence.
The general consensus is that Brexit would be bad news from the perspective of environmental regulation. Not only would businesses find themselves unclear as to the environmental controls that might apply during the interim hiatus while the Brexit model is finalised, but the ongoing uncertainty while the Brexit model is implemented could also be very damaging.
www.weightmans.com
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BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MARCH 2016 3
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