INDUSTRY COMMENT New year, same goals – BCIA
BCIA President Graeme Rees reflects on some important events towards the end of last year and discusses their importance in relation to the BCIA and its long- term ambitions.
I
sat down to write this piece in early December and it already feels like quite a lot has happened since my last column, both for the BCIA and for the industry as a whole. By the time you’re reading this the madness of Christmas and New Year will be over, your memory might be a bit hazy and so you might just appreciate a brief recap on a few things.
The Autumn Statement was announced on 22nd November 2023 by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt MP, and it received what critics might describe as a “mixed” reception at best. From a BCIA point of view, we welcomed the commitment in the Statement to reducing barriers to installing and investing in low carbon technology, with the aim of accelerating the energy transition and we are confident that Building Controls can play a significant role. However, a significant opportunity was missed to incentivise investment from sustainable businesses and drive the decarbonisation of buildings. Looking ahead, it is essential for the Government to recognise building controls as a practical and cost-effective solution to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings, with added health
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and safety benefits. They also offer an effective approach for implementing and developing policy to achieve decarbonisation and energy efficiency objectives. By recognising these benefits and promoting a diverse array of solutions for decarbonising buildings, the Government can facilitate a just transition to Net Zero. This recognition would both instil confidence in the BEMS sector and set the stage for future investments.
A call to arms
The next big event was of course COP28 (the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). One line that struck me the most was delivered by none other than King Charles who gave a call to arms in his opening statement. He said: “In 2050 our grandchildren won’t be asking what we said, they will be living with the consequences of what we did or did not do.” He is, of course, absolutely right and this is a reason why the BCIA and its members are working hard to drive positive change and influence the direction of policy and legislation when it comes to the future of the built environment. One of our goals is that building
controls will be recognised as a technology-led sector that is providing decarbonisation (and building efficiency) solutions. The industry has traditionally been built on proprietary technology. However, as the pace of technology transforms the industry, coupled with the increasing requirements around energy and net zero, there is a need for greater levels of innovation. By harnessing the expertise of its members to identify and grasp emerging innovations, the BCIA aims to be a platform for innovation and knowledge sharing, enhancing the value of membership and enabling a collaborative community-based approach to solving technical and non-technical industry challenges. The BCIA continues to grow – we welcomed 25 new members in 2023 – and while we are well- recognised within the sector, only through greater recognition at government level will we be able to play a key role in setting the direction for the industry and to have a proactive approach to advocacy and positioning.
Time to enter
Finally, as some of you may have already seen, the BCIA Awards 2024 are open for entry. If you have
not attended the BCIA Awards before then I can assure you it is a very special evening and just being shortlisted for an award is an incredible achievement. So, if you would like to showcase your company’s stand out performance and technology, or a deserving employee’s significant talent, efforts, and achievements in the building controls sector, then don’t hesitate to enter using our online entry system. The deadline for entries is Friday 26th January and, as the old adage goes, if you don’t enter you won’t win!
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Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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