Time for the industry to take

The Home Condition report has been dropped from the Seller’s Pack, while the Sustainable Communities Summit planned for February 2007 has been scrapped. A major review of Competent Person Schemes has been announced, to last until early 2007. The DCLG will be carrying out research into the first 18 months of current schemes approved in January 2005 to see if they are securing appropriate levels of competence and compliance with building regulations. No new applications will be invited, neither will existing applications be processed, until this review is completed. CIBSE’s application for a Part L Competent Persons’ scheme was made in July and is now affected by the review.

In the last few years, energy prices have risen above all predictions and whilst our government looks for solutions in another energy review, the statutory route to enforcing conservation of fuel and power in buildings is now on ice. It seems that it is up to the industry and its clients to take the lead in this season of government torpor.

The launch of the new Register of Low Carbon Consultants (LCC) could not be more timely. From the beginning of this month, clients and building control officers will finally be able to access suitably qualified professionals who are able to confirm compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations for England and Wales.

So far, 150 people have undertaken the training and exam to qualify for the register and we should be proud of these pioneers. It is vital that we do something about our building stock and the LCC Register is a major step towards achieving this. My thanks go to the Carbon Trust for its ongoing support of the project.

The CIBSE 100 Days of Carbon Clean-up campaign has exceeded all expectations, with over 500 companies signed up and more joining weekly. This proves that clients want better energy performance of buildings and are seeking the measurement tools and design solutions to achieve it.

The focus of the CIBSE scheme is on the compliance of buildings with the overall requirements of Part L, not just energy performance calculations. The training provided is intended to underpin existing skills, taking a holistic approach to all elements of a building that contribute to conservation of fuel and power. This is surely what our industry should be demanding of construction professionals at this level. The innovation that low carbon consultants can bring is vital in reducing carbon emissions and achieving energy efficient, economically attractive buildings.

I have spent much time in the run-up to my presidency considering how best to serve our members across the world. Low carbon design is an area in which many members outside the UK are excelling and we have much to learn from you. Likewise, there is much interest in the register and how it was developed from places as far as Australia, Hong Kong and the Middle East. The competences we devised will be available to any CIBSE branch wishing to develop something similar.

Back in England and Wales, discussions are still taking place informally with the DCLG regarding statutory backing for the scheme in the long term.

For now, it is up to CIBSE and the members of the LCC Register to demonstrate their ability and professionalism in this area and for the up and coming Energy Performance in Buildings Directive. I know you will rise to the challenge.

David Hughes, President