INDUSTRY NEWS


YOUNG VOICES AT COP26 ARE AN INSPIRATION, SAYS BCIA


T


he UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) that took place in Glasgow at the start of November demonstrated the passion and determination


of the younger generation to make a real diff erence in ensuring the future health of the planet, according to the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA). The COP26 summit brought parties together to


accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. While leading politicians and celebrities dominated the headlines, what really caught BCIA President Terry Sharp’s eye was the genuine engagement of young climate leaders, from groups such as YOUNGO, Global Youth and Youth4Climate. Mr Sharp also believes that their initiatives are helping to inspire school leavers to consider a career path that will enable them to make a positive diff erence to the environment around them.


Mr Sharp said: “COP26 and its aims and objectives


captured the minds of many, but perhaps the most alert to the situation facing us are those who are inheriting the planet from our generation. Energy effi ciency in buildings is one of the biggest factors aff ecting climate change and the building controls sector has a vital role to play in creating a greener built environment.” Meanwhile the fi rst two BCIA BEMS Controls


HVAC EMISSIONS REMAIN LOW PRIORITY FOR ENERGY-INTENSIVE INDUSTRIES


T


he carbon emissions of HVAC systems in energy- intensive manufacturing industries are seen as a top priority by only 21% of UK senior management,


despite accounting for up to 40% of a site’s energy consumption. Recent research among facilities managers from


across the life sciences, pharmaceutical and high- tech manufacturing sectors has revealed that for 79% of companies, the primary HVAC concern for senior management is a system’s ability to deliver thermal comfort, low running costs or uninterrupted operation. Worryingly, in the wake of a series of Net Zero pledges


affi rmed by both governments and manufacturers alike at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, 81% of those surveyed would class their site as effi cient despite less than a third (31%) admitting to continuously monitoring a facility’s carbon emissions.


Engineer Apprenticeship programmes were fully booked and Mr Sharp believes this is a promising sign for the future. He added: “The engineers of tomorrow are learning from mistakes we’ve made in the past and are more aware that the technology that goes into buildings today will have a signifi cant bearing on their environmental credentials and this has been refl ected in the number of people signing up for the BEMS Controls Engineer Apprenticeship.” The BEMS Controls Engineer Apprenticeship Standard


is a three-year technical training programme delivered through Group Horizon, the BCIA’s training partner. Isabel Lamb, a BEMS Apprentice at AIMTEQ, is among


the fi rst cohort of apprentices on the programme. She said:“I have always been fascinated about engineering and enjoy problem solving. I didn’t really know much about the BEMS industry until last year when I was given the opportunity to do work experience with AIMTEQ. “Following this experience, I enjoyed learning how to


communicate with controllers, creating graphics and meeting new customers. This year I was off ered an apprenticeship with AIMTEQ. With the course and the support from Group Horizon and BCIA, I have found the modules both interesting and challenging.”


Paul Walsh, general manager EMEA at building analytics specialists CIM, which commissioned the research, commented: “Life science, pharmaceutical and hi- tec manufacturing are all notoriously energy- intensive sectors, with HVAC accounting for up to 40% of site’s overall utility consumption. However, due to the nature of the sector and its ultra-tight cleanroom controls, once the temperature, humidity and diff erential pressures have been validated, alterations are rarely made. “Worryingly, this ‘set and forget’ mentality can easily


pervade into all areas of a manufacturing facility, with settings having the potential to deviate signifi cantly from the intended parameters over time. All of this leaves HVAC costs – and their associated carbon emissions – at best unregulated and, at worst, increasing to unnecessary levels. “The solution lies in better use of Building Management


System (BMS) data, especially in non-validated areas of a plant. Identifying and rectifying ineffi ciencies here can play a tangible role in wider industrial decarbonisation strategies.”


Inbrief


To celebrate the fi fth anniversary of its move to new Watford- based headquarters, Uponor recently undertook an Employee Survey which revealed a ‘very good’ rate of employee engagement, scoring 8.6 in the survey, which is 0.9 above the national benchmark. www.uponor.co.uk


Daikin UK has opened its fi rst Sustainable Home Centre in Scotland, in partnership with The Natural Energy Company, the renewable installation company based in Scotland. www.daikin.co.uk


The latest version of BSRIA’s Water Treatment for Closed Heating and Cooling Systems - BG50/2021, for the fi rst time acknowledges dissolved oxygen (DO) as one of the key contributing factors to corrosion in closed systems and specifi es real-time monitoring technology as a mitigating factor. www.bsria.com


New analysis by Ingleton Wood shows actual carbon emissions for electrically heated buildings are around 60% lower than predicted by EPCs, mainly because EPC methodology uses carbon factors set by the 2013 Building Regulations rather than up-to-date fi gures. www.ingletonwood.co.uk


A new report by the not-for- profi t body Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) fi nds customers are typically facing a fi ve-fold cost increase to install a heat pump, compared to a hydrogen- ready boiler. eua.org.uk


Kensa Group, the manufacturer of low carbon ground source heat pumps, was among a global cohort of winners of the Ashden Awards handed out at CO 26. The company was recognised for its ongoing commitments to the decarbonisation of heat. www.thekensagroup.com


Spirotech is acquiring the Austrian family business EDER for its technology, knowledge and experience in the fi eld of pressurisation in HVAC installations. www.spirotech.co.uk


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December 2021 7


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