Dump the skip

Yet the practice of installing a quick-fix, just-about-get-away-with-it scheme as part of the Category A fit-out for speculative office developments is widespread in the UK. When tenants move in and find they cannot work with the lighting, it is not uncommon for an unused system to be ripped out and thrown in the skip.

British Land deserves credit for breaking with this ridiculously wasteful and unsustainable practice with its York House development (related articles). Here, Hoare Lea Lighting’s creative response was to supplement a simple modular scheme with strategically positioned feature lighting to create an environment acceptable to any new tenant. OK, this approach might use a few extra Watts, but as its designers point out, the savings in embodied energy by not junking the Cat A fittings will more than make up for any difference in running costs.

Exciting times

Looking back, what an exciting year 2007 turned out to be. Rising energy costs and increased public awareness of the potential impact of climate change continued to drive home the message that well designed low-energy buildings are the future. For CIBSE, 2007 saw the Low Carbon Consultants Register going from strength to strength along with the continued growth of the 100 Days of Carbon Clean Up campaign. BSj’s own successes included being named International Building Press subscription magazine of the year, and the successful launch of the Sustainable Building Services Awards.

The dark cloud on the horizon is the credit crunch and uncertainty caused by tighter lending. However, the impact of the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive should at least ensure energy performance shows up on both owners’ and occupiers’ radar. One thing is for sure: we are set for an interesting ride. On behalf of all of us at BSj, I wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year.