BUILDING SERVICES FORUM
Collaboration is key to public sector decarbonisation
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The Building Services Forum held in May at the Building Centre in London shone a spotlight on the crucial subject or decarbonising public sector buildings and brought together key speakers from government and the built environment to impart their knowledge
he event, sponsored by Mitsubishi Electric is attended by decision makers from across the sector and is held twice yearly with the aim of unpicking key topics affecting the building services sector.
Hosted by freelance journalist Ewen Rose, the event saw eight key speakers address varied angles of the day’s topic, including the Deputy Director of Public Sector Decarbonisation in the Department of Energy Security & Net Zero, Paul Chambers.
Through 3rd Party Certification in a Complex Sector Ready for Innovation.” She addressed the challenges of interpreting compliance and product selection while emphasizing the importance of balancing technical rigor with the encouragement of innovation. Hannah McCarthy, business development
Buildings.” He highlighted the importance of effective ventilation in meeting Net Zero targets, offering expert insights into hybrid and mechanical strategies for creating healthier, energy-efficient environments in schools and commercial spaces.
Mr Chambers provided an update on the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, government heat decarbonisation strategies. He highlighted finance, capacity, capability, and incentives as key barriers. Initiatives include £80 million for rooftop solar in schools, with over £250 million awarded to schools and academies across PSDS phases, excluding local authority grants. He said the focus is on addressing these barriers to promote effective decarbonisation in the public sector.
Harvey Loyal, market & product intelligent specialist at headline sponsor Mitsubishi Electric noted that as the push for low-carbon buildings intensified, the design and operation of HVAC systems faced increased scrutiny regarding their carbon impact. He highlighted that building services contributed 21% to the whole-life carbon footprint, according to benchmarks from the Greater London Authority. His presentation explored the evolving air conditioning landscape, including the potential of R32 VRF technology to optimise energy performance while meeting new legislation and carbon reduction targets. Targeted at consultants and designers, the session provided insights into specifying R32 VRF solutions and showcased Mitsubishi Electric’s latest innovations. Neil Parry, global head of district energy at Alfa Laval addressed the importance of delta T maximisation in achieving decarbonisation. He demonstrated that necessary building modifications remained consistent, whether decarbonisation was achieved through heat pumps or district energy networks. With 80% of existing buildings projected to still be in use by 2050, he said it was crucial to focus on upgrading this stock to meet the UK’s Net Zero requirements, applicable to both domestic and commercial properties.
manager, Zero Bills at Octopus Energy explained that Octopus Energy’s Zero Bills promise combines a heat pump, battery, and solar technology to eliminate energy bills indefinitely, ensuring customers have no energy costs for at least 10 years. This innovative approach aims to provide sustainable energy solutions while offering long-term financial benefits to users. Nick Atkinson, director at Ambar Kelly,
Tim Mitchell, sales director at Klima-Therm, discussed “Lessons Learned from Widescale Commercial Heat Pump Deployment.” He reflected on 20 years of growth in the sector, covering design, installation, maintenance, and technological advancements. He advocated for the broader use of natural refrigerants, disputing common misconceptions about their safety.
delivered an address entitled “Shaping the Future of High-Risk Building Safety: The Key Building Safety Act Impacts on Gateways Two and Three.” He discussed the phasing out of BS476 Parts 6 and 7 and its significant implications for combustible materials in high-risk buildings. He also introduced guests to Ambar Kelly’s Risersafe solutions.
Steve McGregor, executive chairman of DMA
Group, presented on “Digital Transformation in Building Services & FM.” He discussed successful strategies for transitioning to an AI-driven future, highlighting common mistakes in software investment and emphasizing the importance of training and maintaining a human touch in implementation.
Mr Loyal summed up proceedings saying the day had offered a consolidated message of collaboration to combine diverse expertise, align policies, and pool resources for effective solutions.
“The sooner you collaborate with different people in the design process and the chain, the knowledge is there. We all just need to talk more frequently – so collaboration would be my main message from today.”
Matt Cooper, business development director
Julie Bregulla, COO, spoke on “Navigating Construction Compliance and Governance
6 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JULY 2025
of Breathing Buildings, presented on “Low- Carbon Ventilation for Schools and Commercial
The next Building Services Forum will be held on September 24 at the Building Centre, London. To participate, contact Jacqui Henderson at
jhenderson@datateam.co.uk
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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