platforms to make the industry more productive and effi cient. However, several speakers and panellists highlighted skills shortages as a major barrier to widespread adoption of new approaches and to improving the performance of existing buildings. A session chaired by BESA President Neil Brackenridge concluded that
apprenticeship programmes would have to be updated to refl ect the drive to net zero and that co-operation between contractors, manufacturers, colleges, and schools, was critical to ensure the right skills were being delivered. The panel agreed that so-called ‘soft’ skills, like communication, would also be important so that engineers could better explain emerging technologies and the benefi ts of new approaches to clients. They also said it was not just apprentices that needed training, but that continuous upskilling was vital to make sure the whole workforce could drive low carbon solutions. Wyn Prichard, director of construction and skills strategy for NPTC Group
of Colleges, said: “The real challenge is that colleges are good in terms of teaching in green building and energy skills, but we do need cooperation with manufacturers, industry and government to ensure that those are the right skills. “Traditional apprentice programmes need to be updated to refl ect these
new requirements and the occupations now available.” However, Rab Fletcher, BESA president-elect pointed out that not all the
required skills are in new areas: “Where I work at Fife Council, we are mainly looking at retrofi t work and we have a signifi cant number of houses in our area. We have used modular on some projects, but on the whole we still need the traditional skills.”
Generation
There was strong representation from young engineers, whose expertise will be vital in delivering many of the COP26 pledges, the BESA Conference heard. CIBSE president-elect Kevin Mitchell chaired a panel featuring fi ve young engineers who said their generation needed to be part of the wider debate. Jennifer Cox, electrical engineer at AECOM, said that young engineers would play a key role: “You are more fundamental than you think. “You come into the industry with knowledge, and we need to make sure that managers are aware that younger members of the team can contribute. Young engineers must be part of the discussion.” The panel also agreed that delivering net zero was an opportunity to bring
about real engineering change: “This is an opportunity to start afresh as built environment professionals and reassess how we approach our designs,” said Alex Hughes, operations analyst at MCS. “Sustainability, energy effi ciency and net zero are no longer ‘nice to haves’
they are fundamental standard requirements.” “The Conference was a great showcase for our sector and showed that
we have real grounds for hope,” added Frise. “We are at the heart of the big debates around climate change and building safety – and are providing plenty of impetus for the government’s ‘building back better’ agenda. “The skills issue continues to be a concern and the need for much more
robust competence and compliance, but these are right at the top of the Association’s agenda – and the fantastic range and depth of presentations at our conference proved that we are on the right track.” All the BESA Conference sessions are available to view on demand at:
www.theBESA.com/conference
ViewPoint M
SUPPORTING ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST PVT PROJECTS
by Neil Hope, head of technical services at NIBE Energy Systems
uch has been said by world leaders and the Government over the past few months about the need for communities to reach net
zero, but less perhaps on how to actually achieve it. We are delighted to be part of a tangible solution for the University of West London (UWL), which is transforming its energy usage and saving 500 tCO2e annually through the introduction of low-emission heating and ventilation systems. UWL’s ambitious retrofi t across its four sites includes the replacement of old gas boilers with ground source heat pumps, upgrading to low-energy lighting, and installing solar PVT panels. At the heart of the transformation is the St Mary’s Road Campus, which features 580 NIBE rooftop solar PVT panels. The PVT collector system works innovatively with NIBE GSHPs, harvesting solar energy from the sun to generate electricity while extracting aerothermal heat energy to drive the heat pump process. In short, combining these low carbon technologies showcases how existing technologies can be matched to ensure maximum energy effi ciency, and a minimum carbon footprint. This project highlights what can be achieved across the built environment
for a community within a relatively short period of time, and with funding support from the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. The University is now capable of generating enough energy to heat an estimated 70 homes every year, and the removal of gas boilers and their harmful nitrogen oxide pollution will help improve air quality around UWL’s main sites in Ealing and Brentford.
None of this would be possible without expert installers such as JKN
Renewables, who have been trained to install heat pumps and PVT solutions specifi cally. There has been anxiety in the press recently in regards to a possible onslaught of poorly installed heat pumps following the Government’s offi cial deployment targets for the next decade - it is crucial that we as an industry limit this from happening wherever possible. Through our partnership scheme NIBE Pro, installers can receive quality
training and support when making the transition to low carbon technologies. The scheme off ers a streamlined, personalised route for plumbing and heating installers to become an MCS Certifi ed heat pump installer, giving you an industry recognised mark of quality and your customers the confi dence to join the energy revolution. Better still, training costs towards becoming a NIBE Pro are fully redeemable through the NIBE Pro cashback voucher scheme. You can fi nd out more by visiting our website,
https://www.nibe.eu/en-gb/ nibe-pro-installer
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