OPINION
Your letters
Rapid climate change is primarily caused by the excessive combustion of fossil fuels. Therefore, if we are to mitigate climate change, we must reduce the amount of fossil fuels we burn. Put simply, we must aim to keep as mu ch fossil fuel in the ground as possible. So, fi nding new, clever ways to extract more fossil fuels is counter - productive. Mr Cameron promised to lead the ‘greenest government ever’ ; in my efforts to resolve this statement with his declaration that we should be ‘going all out for shale’, I am forced to conclude that he is irrational. I understand that fracking may bring
The value of good lighting
The Journal’s readers discuss value engineering, what constitutes a ‘rational’ response to fracking, and problematic CHP connections
Benefit analysis It is high time to put value back into engineering, as David Fitzpatrick argues in the January issue of CIBSE Journal. As Mr Fitzpatrick says, value engineering is currently all about cost reduction. Assuming value can be defi ned as the ratio of benefi ts to costs, reducing costs does increase value. The value ratio can also be increased by increasing the benefi ts. But here’s the rub – we don’t measure benefi ts in building services. We meet recommended standards and, by doing so, we implicitly hold the benefi ts constant while we reduce cost. So, in fact, the only way to increase value is to decrease cost. In lighting, we are trying to develop
benefi t metrics that, by defi nition, can be measured. If the benefi t can be measured, it can be engineered. But this means we have to go beyond the standards by specifying the benefi ts and then engineering them.
24 CIBSE Journal March 2014
So, to extend Mr Fitzpatrick’s argument, value engineering is presently synonymous with ‘cost reduction while meeting the standard’, and this approach to building services will not change until we formally come to grips with measuring the numerator of the value proposition for buildings. Only then will value engineering maximi se value. Mark S Rea, PhD, FSLL, director of the Lighting Research Center and professor of architecture and cognitive sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Rea is the author of Value Metrics for Better Lighting, which looks at how the effective use of light can benefi t society and the environment
Fracked off I am deeply offended that, as someone who has expressed their opposition to fracking, David Cameron ha s dubbed me ‘irrational’. My objections to fracking are purely rational:
www.cibsejournal.com
about a short-term reduction in gas prices. But a longer -term solution is to reduce our need for gas by insulating buildings more effectively. Insulated buildings stay warm. So when gas prices go up, the effect on our ability to heat our buildings is minimised. The article about fracking in the
I am deeply offended that David Cameron has dubbed me ‘irrational’ for my
opposition to fracking
February edition seems to muddy the waters somewhat (forgive the pun) regarding the effects of fracking on water. The article seems to be trying to allay fears that fracking will use a lot of water. The real concern here is that fracking will pollute groundwater with the toxic chemicals used in the fracking process. I have not heard of anyone discussing a water - consumption issue before. I did enjoy the picture that accompanied the article, though: two nodding donkeys. The one in the foreground is nodding compliantly at the energy companies that want to pillage our planet for profi t. Ewan Jones, MCIBSE, Leeds
LI CHAOSHU / SHUTTERSTOCK
WPA POOL / GETTY IMAGES
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