NEWS & APPOINTMENTS Building for a greener tomorrow
Following World Green Building Week, Andrew Leah, general manager of Duraproducts says it’s imperative to reflect on the industry’s progress and the challenges that lie ahead. He said: “The shift towards sustainable construction is driven by a growing awareness of the urgent need to address climate change and reduce our environmental impact. “However, sustainable construction is more than just building green infrastructure. It’s
about designing, constructing, and operating buildings in a way that minimises their environmental impact throughout their entire lifecycle. This requires a holistic approach that considers factors such as materials sourcing, energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste management.
“One of the key challenges facing the industry is the need to balance sustainability with
affordability. While sustainable building materials and technologies can sometimes have higher upfront costs, their long-term benefits, such as reduced energy consumption and lower maintenance expenses, can offset these initial investments and cannot be disputed. “Another challenge is the lack of standardised metrics and guidelines for measuring sustainability. This can make it difficult for building owners and developers to compare options and make informed decisions. Developing a common framework for assessing sustainability can help to drive innovation and promote best practices. “We believe Lifecycle Assessments (LCAs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are essential tools for our sustainability journey. Duraproducts received these certifications in 2023.
“It’s also been encouraging to see a growing demand from architects, engineers, and designers for EPDs and LCAs, as they too recognise the importance of measuring and mitigating the whole-life carbon footprint of their projects.
Appointments
Condair appoints area sales manager
Condair has appointed David Chisnall as its new area sales manager for the north of England. David joins Condair with over 25 years’ experience in the HVAC sector, having worked in air filtration and AHU manufacturing sectors.
Dave Marshall-George, Condair’s UK & Ireland sales director, comments: “It’s great to have David join the Condair team. He brings a wealth of experience with him, and I’m delighted that he’s now representing Condair in this important sales area covering Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire and some of the surrounding areas.”
David commented: “I’m greatly looking forward to getting to know Condair’s customers and supporting them with their humidity control needs. I’m very happy to be joining the market-leader in the humidity control sector. It’s amazing how many different industries Condair works across, for both humidification and dehumidification, and I’m keen to start engaging with our partners across contractors, consultants, OEMs and end-user clients.” The Condair Group is a leading specialist in humidity control and evaporative cooling, with energy efficient, hygienic and innovative technologies for commercial, industrial and heritage applications. Condair is represented in the UK by Condair Ltd, which offers system design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning, maintenance and spares. You can find out more by visiting the company’s website at
www.condair.co.uk.
Daikin UK makes series of key strategic appointments
New BESA President calls for
Adrian Hurley C. Eng has been elected as President of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) for 2024-25.
He told the annual BESA President’s Lunch that the Association would continue to press the new government to commit to a national programme of commercial building retrofits adding that BESA members would be essential “to this now urgent work”. Hurley pointed out that the UK has around 30 million existing buildings many of which are “in dire need of an upgrade – and it is widely acknowledged that this will be a fundamental building block of net zero”.
“The deployment of new technologies, like heat pumps, is exciting and progressive, but there is so much we could still do to improve the performance of what is already built and installed,” he told his audience at the Oxo Tower in London. However, he said he was concerned that the “enormous task” of retrofitting and refurbishing millions of buildings would be hampered by a serious skills shortage. “It will take a combination of innovation, more strategic use of digital technology, and better recruitment to address this.”
The new President also expressed concern that the number of women coming into the industry remained low and that many others were leaving early and before realising their full potential.
“So, BESA is relentlessly pursuing ways to improve training and attract new talent as well as accentuating the opportunity for people already working in our industry to learn new skills,” said Hurley.
He explained that the Association was restructuring its training and skills service and revamping how it helps members provide evidence of their technical and professional competence and compliance with legislation, industry standards and best practice. Speaking just a week after the publication of the final report from the Grenfell Tower disaster public inquiry, Hurley urged BESA members and the wider industry to prove their commitment to the Building Safety Act which he described as “groundbreaking legislation that goes far beyond safety into every aspect of our work”.
Daikin UK, a specialist in the heating, cooling and ventilation industry has made a series of strategic appointments across its business to further support the industry in its journey towards decarbonisation.
The new strategic appointments will ensure
that Daikin’s industry leading products, solutions and services are fully supporting the needs of a continuously evolving market, with a key focus on collaboration across the sector for decarbonisation and new build projects.
Among the appointments to note, Matteo Dall’Ombra, takes on a new role as national specification manager. This builds on his 12 years of experience with Daikin and will see him develop and implement Daikin UK’s specification strategy. Meanwhile, Steve Molloy is now Daikin’s sustainability & commercial solutions manager. He is responsible for helping the industry realise sustainable solutions through the continued development and management of its Commercial Product Portfolio. Finally, Sam Cannon, has been promoted to regional sales manager, Central London, taking responsibility for the central London team, overseeing the London specification sales team, the construction team and the M&E Division.
Daikin UK’s strategic appointments further underpin the company’s commitment to low carbon solutions, along with key collaboration across the industry to provide more stringent data to provide contractors and developers with an accurate insight into low carbon heating, cooling and ventilation.
Geberit appoints new product and
Geberit, a manufacturer of sanitary products and piping systems, has appointed Danielle Lillis as its new product and marketing director for the UK. Lillis brings over 20 years of industry experience to the role, having previously held senior positions at major bathroom distributors and manufacturers. Most recently, she served as Sales and Commercial Director at Ideal Bathrooms, where she was responsible for its extensive supplier portfolio, and both the sales and marketing teams.
In her new position, Lillis will lead Geberit’s product management and marketing departments, focusing on driving growth in key segments like wall-hung sanitaryware and shower toilets. She aims to leverage Geberit’s reputation for innovation and quality to further strengthen its market position.
“I’ve always admired Geberit as a best-in-class manufacturer,” said Lillis. “I’m excited to join such an innovative company and look forward to enhancing our product offerings and marketing strategies to deliver even more value to our customers.” “We’re thrilled to welcome Danielle to the Geberit team,” said Mark Larden, Managing Director of Geberit UK.
“Her extensive experience and customer-centric perspective will be invaluable as we continue to develop premium products and services for the UK market.” Lillis took up her new role in August 2024. She will be based at Geberit’s UK headquarters in Warwick.
4 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER OCTOBER 2024 Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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