Call for low energy solutions

This was the stark message coming from BSRIA’s 2003 Briefing. The Government wants to see a 60% cut in carbon emissions by 2050 and, with buildings accounting for half of all emissions, low carbon solutions within building services will have to be more widely embraced.

“If we fail to adapt, we will fast fade into obscurity,” claimed CIBSE president Terry Wyatt. “Adapt quickly, and our future is only limited by the horizons we set ourselves.” Wyatt proposed greater use of renewables and low energy solutions, as well as more standardisation and modularisation.

One of the Government’s mechanisms for raising standards in energy efficiency in buildings is Part L of the Building Regulations, and the next revision has been brought forward from 2008 to 2005. Ted King of the ODPM told delegates at the Briefing to expect the following issues to be contained in the consultation exercise due in July 2004: renewable energy supplies, heating system seasonal efficiency, air conditioning performance standards, lighting efficiency and the correlation between design and as-built performance.

In London, the Mayor is going one step further by using the planning process to meet its energy strategy. Joanna Dawes, principal energy policy adviser at the Mayor’s office, expects to see 10 000 domestic photovoltaics (pv) installed, 100 commercial and public pv applications, six large wind turbines, 500 small wind turbines and 25 000 solar water heating schemes. There is also a target to at least double 2000’s chp capacity by 2010 as part of an overall plan to reduce carbon emissions by 20% by 2010.

Finally, a plea by suppliers: “We have a lot of knowledge,” said Ian Lilley of York International. “That talent isn’t released by being hammered down on price.”