CUTTING THE COST OF INACTION
By Andrew Boothroyd, Energy Upgrade and Service Director, Armstrong Fluid Technology
End of a long year
"There are some years that really do seem longer than others, and 2018 is one of them. Lets be honest, Brexit is straining everyones nerves. Our Annual Survey shows it as top of the list of concerns for businesses in our sector.
The Customer is always right
A phrase now truer than ever as the digital age has empowered every consumer to review their experience at every shop, café, and restaurant. These positive or negative reviews may have the ability to make or break a business. This does however raise standards for business owners as they compete to increase customer satisfaction. Now, this culture of improved customer service is spreading to other industries including commercial and residential building landlords.
A sound business case
At our Round Table discussion this month, the conversation quickly came round to the topic of wellbeing. It seems to be a theme that is working its way across the industry, whether were looking at building controls, indoor air quality or heating.
Did you know that energy and carbon reporting regulations are changing?
From April 2019 the rules on energy and carbon reporting are changing. What does this mean for you and your organisation?
Evolution in action
Theres often an unintended underlying theme in our features, even though they deal with different aspects of building services. This month, the motif is transformation.
What will it take to meet Government ambitions for new buildings?
The government's plans for the construction sector are ambitious. Earlier this year Theresa May announced that her government aims to bring about a 50% reduction in energy use of new buildings by 2030, saying that, By halving the energy use of new buildings both commercial and residential we could reduce the energy bills for their occupants by as much as 50 per cent.
MBS partners with EMEX 2018 event
On behalf of our media partner, Modern Building Services, Id like to invite you to join us at EMEX where MBS will have a strong presence at the event bringing MBStv cameras along to film whats going on and carry out interviews on their stand E11.
The Challenge of Flushing an HIU
With over 30 years experience in the industry, Alan Barber, Technical Director of Heatlink, has a wealth of experience and is frequently offering advice and support on Heat Interface Units. One of the biggest problems that he sees time and time again is the issue of contaminated water and the difficulty of flushing systems installed with an HIU. But is there a simple fix?
Wellbeing and HVAC systems
The Health, wellbeing and productivity in offices report shows that staff costs typically account for 90% of businesses operating costs, so any factor that impacts their ability to produce should be a major concern for any organisation. If the true value of the office environment included a calculation for good wellbeing, then the systems being specified would certainly offer an incentive to go far beyond legislative requirements. Going further than legislation provides further benefits, particularly when energy performance is improved and operating costs are reduced.
Is there a difference between a Facility Manager and an Energy Manager?
Energy management needs to be embedded into all sectors of British Business, but the sector that should be most clearly focused on efficiency seems to a degree to ignore the issue. Why is the FM industry often ignoring leading on energy management?
Collaborative approach
In our features this month, the themes of integration and a collaborative approach are high on the agenda.
A glimmer of hope
I have to admit that its hard not to feel a sense of deja vu when I read a government report thats calling for greater collaboration and allround better performance in the UK construction industry. We have really heard it before from Sir Michael Latham (Constructing the team, 1994) and Sir John Egan (Rethinking Construction,1998).
Climate change: "we're doomed!" or perhaps not!
Private Frazers catchphrase in Dads Army reflects the mood at many Climate Change discussions. The decarbonising targets of an 80% reduction by 2050 are challenging, to put it mildly. However, it may be possible to reach our targets on emissions, although there is a mountain to climb.
DON’T FIND YOURSELF ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW
As specialists in HVAC, building engineers are used to tracking the regulatory requirements around M & E. Over the last year, however, it has been a regulation relating to the construction side of our industry that has caught a number of companies on the hop. I am referring, of course, to EN 1090 which dictates requirements for CE marking for the Execution of steel structures and aluminium structures.
From space to service
This month, industry experts offer their views on indoor air quality. Its one of those topics that has been around for quite some time, but now it is combined with a greater emphasis on wellbeing and is rising up the agenda for our built environment.
The heating challenge
As government moves to decarbonise the UK's heating, MBS looks at a brief history of our move to gas, and why it's going to be such a challenge to find new sources of heat for homes, industry and commercial buildings.
Optimal Solutions for HVAC engineers
LG Electronics Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions division offers several engineering tools focused on HVAC, during the overall life-cycle of a building, relating to three categories.
Catalysts for change
"Its been a tough week for the construction industry. Not only did we discover more about the awful management practices at Carillion, but Dame Judith Hackitts final report on the Independent Review of Fire Regulations and Fire Safety did not pull any punches when it came to our sectors working practices: Ignorant; indifferent; inadequate.
Tracking changes
As youll see from our front cover, MBS is celebrating 15 years of bringing its readers the broadest coverage of this sector, with insights from experts in all areas of building services - designers, contractors, installers and end-users.
Tough talking
"At Ecobuild this year, representatives of the Better Buildings Partnership were making it known that clients are fed up to the back teeth of buildings that dont deliver what they want efficiency, maintainability, operational effectiveness. These werent just general moans, but a clear message that enough is enough. (See our News Analysis)
Hydro kits and VRF
One of the most topical areas currently for VRF installations is the specification of Hydro Kits, which extract heat from a VRF Heat Pump or Heat Recovery system, air-cooled or water-cooled; for the production of domestic hot water.
Top Tips: Make MEES work for you
In our continuing Top Tips series, we offer an infographic of insights from experts who have written for MBS or taken part in our round table. This is a quick summary of some of the advice that leading engineers and consultants have offered in the run up to the introduction of MEES.
Engineered solutions
In the March issue we are looking at a number of solutions to familiar problems how to ensure that homes and businesses have affordable, reliable heat with minimal impact on the environment. Or how to keep temperatures in data centres within tight margins in the face of rising energy costs and planning requirements.
Top Tips: Building controls
In our February issue, expert authors shared their thoughts on building controls, and how to make the most of todays tech. Heres our summary of their top tips.
Rising to the energy challenge
Lord Rupert Redesdale talks exclusively to MBS about the important issue of the UK's energy challenge and how we might balance our energy requirements with the shift to renewable generation.
Energy is about to become expensive and there is little the government can do about it
Politicians make vocal cries that consumers should switch supplier. This has been a traditional refrain, but the reality is that energy supply and costs are entering the perfect storm bringing a headache for British business.
Welcome
When you go to our digital edition, you can also access the archive of digital editions.
January 2019: DIGITAL EDITION
ARCHIVE OF DIGITAL EDITIONS
Modern Building services has a group
on Linkedin - join us!
