HVCA president looks to a sustainable future

Sustainability has been identified by Mike Taylor, president of the Heating & Ventilating Contractors’ Association, as one of the greatest challenges facing the building-services industry and the construction industry as a whole. It will be the subject of a special presentation and debate at the next meeting of the association’s council. Speaking at recent industry events as the association’s centenary year drew to a close, he believes that although the principal thrust of the sustainability challenge lies with architects and designers, contractor have a key role ot play. He said, ‘Contractors, too, must be in a position to support and encourage initiatives designed to maximise energy efficiency, minimise carbon emissions and counter the greenhouse effect. ‘We have a responsibility to ourselves, our companies, our industry and mankind to ensure that we have the skills, the imagination and the dedication required to make things happen in new and innovative ways. Mike Taylor’s belief is that contractors must be capable of designing, installing and maintaining services that assist the achievement of environmental targets — and be given the opportunity to put that capability to use early in the construction process. He said, ‘We must recruit, develop and retain management teams of the calibre required to address the challenge facing us — and must be prepared to co-operate with other industry bodies to make this happen.’ Mike Taylor sees embracing the latest technology as vital to a sustainable future — including the accelerating trend towards modular prefabrication. He hopes that the debate at the next council meeting will help the association develop a coherent and joined-up policy on sustainability and clearly define the role of its members in its delivery.