NEWS & APPOINTMENTS Slow progress in reaching Net Zero N
ew findings on critical plant and equipment data usage within the UK’s hi- tech manufacturing industries have revealed slower-than-expected progress toward achieving sustainability and Net Zero carbon reduction goals.
According to The Energy Blind Spots, a new report from building analytics specialist CIM, that surveyed facilities managers at life sciences and micro-electronics manufacturers, only 35% of FMs believe HVAC costs are a priority. Yet with HVAC often constituting up to 45% of energy consumption at these sites, analysing consumption should represent a significant opportunity to hit decarbonisation targets and reduce costs.
Despite this, only 30% of those surveyed admitted to continuously monitoring CO2 emissions, though 63% of respondents’ sites are certified to the ISO 50001 standard for energy management. Furthermore, 62% of FMs surveyed believed they are deficient in day-to-day collection and analysis of building data and 40% were still undertaking maintenance on a reactive rather than proactive footing. Paul Walsh, general manager at CIM, commented: “This research clearly
demonstrates that further action is required to alleviate pressure on facilities management teams, and further support is needed from senior stakeholders to drive efforts to improve plant sustainability and energy efficiency. “Additionally, with 87% of survey respondents identifying CAPEX constraints as a major barrier to improving energy performance, steps must be taken to make OPEX savings that could help alleviate these concerns.” The report’s findings also highlighted that FMs are experiencing an average of 12.5 BMS
alarms per day, with 50% suggesting they received as many as 30 in the same time period. More worryingly, a quarter of those interviewed said that 40% of alarms were not actioned, demonstrating strong evidence of ‘alarm fatigue’. Mr Walsh continues: “The fact that a sizable sample of the facilities managers said BMS
alarms are effectively being ignored shows how teams are caught in a cycle of day-to- day firefighting. The sheer volume of alarms demonstrates how a smarter approach to data is needed. “Yet it cannot be denied that plants and buildings generate huge amounts of data, and this report highlights the difficulties of using this data to prioritise day-to-day pressures, including managing alarms and addressing high energy consumption. There is therefore clearly a need for innovative platforms, such as CIM’s Peak Performance, that can ingest data and raise actionable insights to reduce emissions and OPEX costs.
Reliance on predicted outcomes poses serious risk to Net Zero ambitions
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uilding performance considerations must be embedded into the architecture process, from pre- design stages on into operation, in order to achieve Net Zero targets, representatives from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and climate technology firm IES have warned. Pressure is mounting on architects, urban designers, and planners to play their role in tackling the climate crisis by helping to decarbonise the built environment, which currently accounts for nearly 40% of global energy related emissions. Over 1,200 architects have now pledged their support for the UK Architects Declare Climate and Biodiversity Emergency, more than 1,000 firms have committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2030 with the AIA 2030 Commitment, and more than 300 RIBA Chartered Practices have signed up to its RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge. However, the performance gap – the disparity between the predicted energy performance of a building and its actual in-use performance – will continue to render these ambitious pledges impossible without more widespread adoption of an outcomes- based design approach and performance modelling tools.
Gary Clark, RIBA member and sustainability expert said: “Despite clear encouragement in our Sustainable Outcomes Guide, we’re not seeing the routine employment of building performance studies on projects in their entirety. These studies are invaluable – helping clients to improve their briefing process, contractors to improve their build process, and us all to generally improve building performance and quality. “Embedding building performance considerations into the process right from pre-design stages through to operation is
4 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER APRIL 2022
essential. We cannot continue to allow the use of predicted outcomes as the absolute measure of success if we are serious about delivering a step change in sustainability.” Don McLean, founder and chief executive at IES, said: “Architects, urban planners and designers are in a privileged position to be able to make a real, tangible difference to the global climate crisis. It’s time to seize this opportunity, maintain core control over critical design decisions, and help our buildings become part of a zero carbon future. “There are now a range of building
performance evaluation techniques and tools specifically designed to meet these challenges, and help achieve a crucial golden thread of building performance data for use across a building’s lifecycle.”
Appointments Secon strengthens heat pumps team
Specialist renewables distributor Secon has further strengthened its support team with the appointment of Nick Eastwood as technical manager – heat pumps.
Mr Eastwood has worked in the heating sector for 17 years, initially with a national heating company and, more recently, in the commercial installation and servicing sector. He said: “It’s great to be part of a team with such a strong passion for renewable technologies. Part of my role at Secon is to be able to offer technical assistance on heat pumps. I come from an installation and repair background and know the issues faced when installing and working on these technologies. “I have worked on many heat pump projects, from large scale social housing schemes through to bespoke domestic and commercial systems. I hope to be able to pass my knowledge on to our current renewables customers and the future ones wishing to make the transition from fossil fuels to renewables.’’ Secon Renewables managing director Kevin Carling, said: We are delighted to welcome Nick to the team to further strengthen the support for our heat pump range. Utilising Nick’s experience and Knowledge we can help further improve the support we can provide our existing and new customers.”
Construction technology specialist appoints chief people officer
Construction technology provider Causeway Technologies has appointed Leisa Docherty as the business’s new chief people officer. Leisa will define and deliver the company’s people strategy and continue to develop ways to make Causeway a great place to work.
She brings extensive experience working across the people spectrum in growing technology businesses, including six years as chief people officer for the UK and Ireland at computer software company, Sage. Phil Brown, chief executive at Causeway Technologies, said:
“We are excited to welcome Leisa, with her wealth of experience, to our board.
“Leisa is passionate about the need to encourage diversity and attract more women to traditionally male-dominated sectors such as construction and technology, particularly in senior roles.
“She is also keen to build on Causeway’s commitment to supporting the emotional wellbeing of our people and raising awareness of mental health issues, particularly those affecting workers in the construction industry.”
Leisa said: “I am thrilled to be joining the Causeway team and look forward to defining and implementing a people strategy which will enable the business to create a high performing culture.” Causeway is a provider of software solutions to the construction industry and plays a
key role across the phases of the built environment from design, bidding, trading and contracting through to operation and maintenance.
The company has supported various initiatives focusing on mental health and wellbeing, including donating funds to community support services and campaigning to tackle the taboo around such issues in the building sector.
Biometric access control specialist announces new leadership
Biosite Systems (Biosite), the UK specialist in biometric access control and workforce management technology for construction, has appointed Mike Rimmington as managing director. Previously, Mike held the title of chief financial officer, after joining the company in 2019. Prior to his tenure at Biosite, Mr Rimmington held senior positions in finance across the IT and engineering sectors, with a proven track record of delivering transformation programmes for businesses. During his time at Biosite, revenue has increased 27 per cent year on year. Now, Mr Rimmington will be focusing on international expansion and bringing Biosite’s offering to a wider audience. He commented: “My time at Biosite has been the most
rewarding of my career so far and I’ve been inspired by the ingenuity and adaptability of the team and our ability to provide effective solutions for construction, which improve efficiency, safety and compliance on site. As well as performing consistently financially, we have also adapted to changing conditions and responded to the needs of the market – introducing facial recognition technology as a contactless method of access control, for example.
“Now is the time to take Biosite to the next level and I’m excited to bring our innovative
proposition for technology-enabled solutions for construction to a much wider audience.” The announcement follows the appointment of former managing director and co- founder Li Wang to vice president of Hospitality at ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions, part of the ASSA ABLOY Group. Biosite was acquired by ASSA ABLOY in February 2020.
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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