HUMIDITY CONTROL
Skills to lower the nation’s bills
John Barker of Humidity Solutions discusses the HVAC skills gap. T
he 2021 Green Jobs Taskforce report highlighted construction as a vital, but underserved, industry in the UK’s mission to achieve Net Zero by 2050 in a fair and
sustainable manner. More recent studies into the UK workforce following Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic recovery have shown this skill gap in the industry is still a problem. This ‘green skills gap’ has been exasperated by the rising cost of living, making the prospect of living on apprenticeship pay untenable for many, and the eff ects of climate change becoming more evident. Predatory companies providing poor-quality training resulted in thousands dropping out of government-subsided
apprenticeships. Construction has seen a 5% decrease in apprenticeship uptake in the last year alone. While there has been a signifi cant rise in the number of young people interested in and willing to seek work in fi elds which address the climate crisis, this has not translated into an increased interest in construction. Many fi elds in the industry are seen as ‘dirty’-- lesser job roles with few benefi ts and opportunities for a profi table career. Combined with the serious mental health challenges present in the industry, and its increased importance to Gen Z in deciding their career paths, this is not a small challenge and not one that will go away overnight. The HVAC industry has the potential to have great impact in the eff orts to reach Net Zero. Low-carbon technologies designed to preserve heat energy and prevent waste, such as heat pumps, are in high demand and currently, demand outstrips the skill pressure to meet that need. Sensor vents and geothermal options are seeing increased interest, but face the same challenges that newer and more advanced technology doesn’t utilise the same skills as the industry required a decade ago. Without the infl ux of new entrants to the workforce, fi nding specialists with the skills to install, operate and maintain these units is proving challenging. Another of these supportive technologies is humidity control. Close humidity control lowers wastage across industries,
increases effi ciency and prolongs the lifespan of heavy, and often very expensive, machinery by removing corrosion and mould from the environment. By allowing industries to meet product quotas at lower cost, a lower energy expenditure and by prolonging machinery usage, humidity control can improve initial running energy costs, but also provides environmental and economic savings over time. The positive eff ects of controlled humidity on health have been well documented. By controlling the amount of water vapour in the air, we also lower bacterial and viral transmission rates, improve productivity by reducing fatigue and eliminate a contributing factor in Sick Building Syndrome. By creating a healthier working environment, we create a healthier workforce, lower absenteeism and help retain those employees with the relevant skills for longer. No-one wants a workplace that makes them ill.
At Humidity Solutions, we address the skill shortage in two ways. Firstly, our showroom off ers a hands-on investigation Vapac Humidifi er installed within a printing room to keep equipment operating at maximum effi ciency. 10 September 2024 •
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area. This allows our service team physical experience to combine with the up-to-date training provided by our model
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