INDUSTRY COMMENT Community spirit in the workplace
BCIA Graeme Rees believes that creating a more collective, ‘can- do’ attitude among staff can help workplaces reduce their energy costs and improve their environmental credentials
W
e are in that time of year that traditionally feels the coldest in the UK, with the fun and fuzziness of Christmas disappearing behind us, not to mention the first ‘Winter World Cup’, as we begin to hope that spring will arrive a little earlier to warm us all up. In years past some
households have chosen to keep their exterior Christmas lights up for the duration of January and even into February. Whether that’s to your liking or not it certainly brightens up a cold, dark street, but with the cost of living and spiralling energy costs tightening budgets it remains to be seen how quickly the inflatable snowmen and dazzling displays are taken down this year. Unsurprisingly, the energy price increase has been trending frequently on my social media timelines in the past few months with several companies involved in the building controls industry articulating on the steps that can be taken with a Building Energy Management System (BEMS) to help make a positive difference. Financial support packages aside, the response
from the Government has been rather slow. However, with regard to commercial premises I believe communication within an organisation is key, however big or small its building is or how many staff it employs. My thinking is that generally if people think something is being done to them against their will they tend to react negatively. For example, if the facilities manager just drops the temperature unannounced in order to save energy, at least one occupant will go and buy a fan heater to pop under the desk, counteracting the facilities manager’s cost-saving intentions. However, if there is a collective business initiative to save energy and this is communicated
effectively so that every member of staff is brought into the wider initiative, a more collective spirit can be created, ensuring there is less of a “rebellion” response and more of an “all in it together” mood. This will hopefully result in temperature drops and other energy saving measures being more accepted and more constructive reactions seen (wearing a warm pullover for example rather than switching on a personal heater). If this spirit is successfully instilled it will hopefully lead to staff taking more responsibility around their workplace, such as turning off lights and only part filling the kettle - actions they may also follow at home to make personal savings.
It’s all basic stuff but is often overlooked. This will all contribute towards our larger, long term goal of the net zero target. By reducing energy usage we are not only reducing costs, but also reducing carbon so it’s a ‘win win’. This will also be received positively as we continue to adopt a more environmentally conscious mindset.
Have you entered?
In just a few weeks’ time the BCIA Awards are closed for entry and we are hoping again for some highly impressive shortlists in all of the categories. I am particularly looking forward to seeing who the candidates are for the inaugural Apprentice of the Year award. Many past winners of the Young Engineer of the Year award have gone on to rewarding careers in the building controls industry. Some have also cited the award as a huge stepping stone in their career and I am sure we’ll see a similar pattern with the Apprentice award. If the Young Engineers Network continues to flourish as it did last year then I can see the Apprentice award becoming a very competitive category in the future. Don’t forget to get your entry in by 19th January!
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EM100 and EM300 series: simple set up and fast installation
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Carlo Gavazzi UK Ltd. - 4.4 Frimley Business Park, Frimley, Camberley, Surrey GU16 7SG - Tel: 01276 854 110 -
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Jan23.indd 1 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JANUARY 2023 7 2/12/22 10:45
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