Newsletter #43
Mitsubishi Electric Living Environmental Systems UK
Cooling, Heating, Ventilation and Controls
Welcome to the 43rd edition of our Sustainability & Construction newsletter!?
In this issue, Dave Archer emphasises the importance of retrofitting in the UK construction sector to meet sustainability goals and carbon reduction targets. Kirsty Hammond explores the role of vegetation in sustainable architecture, advocating for the integration of green spaces and edible plants to enhance environmental sustainability. Jim McClelland discusses the implications of the UK's new Labour government for businesses and the built environment, focusing on green energy initiatives, infrastructure investment, and economic growth.
In the broader industry news, the Labour Party's victory ushers in ambitious plans for a decarbonised electricity grid by 2030. Former Energy Minister Chris Skidmore supports the feasibility of these targets, contingent on firm government commitment. The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE ) backs these initiatives, focusing on energy efficiency and home upgrades. Industry updates include strategies for retrofitting, carbon offsetting, and substantial global investments needed for Net Zero. A new alliance between CIBSE and the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) aims to address key challenges in decarbonisation and the integration of advanced technologies.
Read on to find out how industry leaders are driving the future of sustainability.
We would like to hear from you!
Please take 3 mins to complete this form - as a subscriber to the Newsletter we are interested to know the topics you would like to hear about. We are committed to continuously improving the quality of content.
Click here to have your say on what we feature each fortnight and to elevate your industry knowledge with Mitsubishi Electric.
Latest Mitsubishi Electric News:
LinkedIn Live event
We are thrilled to invite you to an exclusive LinkedIn Live event hosted by Mitsubishi Electric’s leading experts, Chris Newman and Dan Smith. Register here today to secure your spot!
Mark your calendars for 24th July as they delve into the current status and future of sustainable construction in our exciting session, "Ask ME About the Future of Sustainable Construction".
Event Details:
Date: 24th July
Time: 12pm
Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into building a more sustainable future. Tune in, be part of the conversation, and engage directly with our experts. To prepare for the event, download the HVAC Retrofit - Considerations for Commercial Buildings Guide from our Document Library, as it will be discussed during the session.
Dave Archer emphasises the growing importance of retrofitting buildings in the UK construction sector, driven by sustainability goals and legislation like the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES). The article highlights that M&E contractors are crucial in this transition, especially in upgrading HVAC systems to meet carbon reduction targets, with support from companies like Mitsubishi Electric to achieve these ambitious goals.
Jim McClelland discusses the implications of the UK's new Labour government for businesses and the built environment, highlighting a stable governance period and the potential for significant policy implementation. With experienced cabinet members and a strong majority, the government aims to advance green energy initiatives, improve planning processes, and stimulate investment in infrastructure and housing, aiming for sustainability and economic growth.
The article by Kirsty Hammond discusses the critical role of vegetation in sustainable architecture, highlighting its benefits in reducing flooding, controlling erosion, and mitigating heat buildup, while also enhancing mental and physical well-being. It advocates for integrating edible plants and green spaces in building design to promote environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and community resilience against climate change.
Latest Industry News:
The Labour Party has won a landslide victory in the UK General Election, committing to establish Great British Energy and aiming for a decarbonised electricity grid by 2030. Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has promised to "hit the ground running" with these green pledges, marking a significant shift in the nation's climate and energy policies.
Chris Skidmore, former UK Cabinet Minister for Energy, affirmed that Labour's 2030 Net Zero grid target is feasible but requires unwavering government commitment and prioritization of Net Zero goals in policy. He highlighted the need to address grid bottlenecks, expedite renewable projects, and provide strong political leadership to maintain investor confidence and ensure progress towards the target.
领英推荐
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE ) welcomes the new Labour government's ambitious energy and housing pledges, including zero carbon electricity by 2030, upgrading the National Grid, and improving energy efficiency in homes. CIBSE is prepared to collaborate with the government to reduce energy demand in buildings, support the construction of 1.5 million new homes, and upgrade 4 million homes to Energy Performance Certificate band C, contributing to a sustainable and resilient future for the UK.
This podcast episode features insights from the "Portfolio greening through retrofit" session at the #FP24 Retrofit Agenda stage, where speakers discussed strategies to make retrofits appealing and feasible in the market.
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) 's updated Carbon Offsetting and Pricing Guidance provides detailed strategies tailored for built assets to achieve ambitious carbon offsetting goals and align with Net Zero targets. It emphasises the importance of setting internal carbon prices that accurately reflect the societal and economic costs of carbon emissions, offering industry practitioners comprehensive tools and terminology to enhance their carbon offsetting strategies effectively.
The Global Green Building Alliance has launched a pioneering guide aimed at facilitating the $35 trillion investment needed by 2030 for global energy transition goals, leveraging various green building certification standards to ensure compliance across international bond frameworks. This initiative marks a significant step towards aligning finance and real estate sectors worldwide to catalyse sustainable building practices and meet stringent climate targets, highlighting a unified commitment to addressing climate change through comprehensive financial and environmental strategies.
LETI has developed a Specification and Procurement Guide aimed at assisting designers and contractors in navigating the challenge of reducing embodied carbon without a clear roadmap. This comprehensive resource offers practical insights to bridge the gap between design intent and construction reality, emphasising material efficiency, early-stage integration of carbon reduction strategies, and collaborative engagement across the supply chain to achieve significant carbon savings in building projects.
Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE ) have formed a strategic alliance to enhance collaboration on key initiatives such as Net Zero, the Building Safety Act, and the integration of digital and design sophistication in the built environment. This partnership aims to address urgent industry challenges, focusing on decarbonisation, indoor air quality, retrofitting, and the implications of artificial intelligence, while supporting each other's events and fostering stronger connections among professionals and young engineers in the field.
Construction Voices
Here, we invite people to share their valuable insights and expertise on creating a sustainable built environment. This week we include an article written by Jonny Betts, Applications Engineer at Mitsubishi Electric.
Mitsubishi Electric & CIBSE YEN
As its estimated 25% of the UK’s emissions come from the built environment, one of CIBSE’s main goals is to promote environmentally friendly and high-quality design, improving efficiency and reducing embodied and operational carbon in a bid to tackle climate change head on. The knowledge gained from CIBSE events is vital for emerging professionals to engage in industry discussions and access resources to ensure designers can use the latest techniques and technologies.
CIBSE Young Engineers’ Networks (YEN) provide a great platform for learning about the latest trends and challenges within the industry, while bringing fresh ideas and driving innovation. CIBSE YEN London host a range of events once a month to promote engagement and accelerate learning for local professionals. Being part of the CIBSE YEN London committee has been very rewarding. I’ve not only gained insights into the ever-changing landscape of building services but have also had the opportunity to present at events and share specialised knowledge I’ve learnt from my time at Mitsubishi Electric.
With over a century of innovation Mitsubishi Electric is at the forefront of the climate challenge and, as a manufacturer of the energy consuming HVAC equipment that helps keep buildings comfortable, we understand how society can reduce both energy use and carbon emissions while still delivering modern levels of comfort.
Central to that challenge are the consultants and designers who will design our future and help retrofit our past. It’s worth reminding ourselves that around 80% of the buildings we will occupy in 2050, have already been built.
Our comprehensive range of CPD-Accredited guides and presentations are designed to aid CIBSE Members in understanding the changing legislative environment, and the emerging technologies and innovations that can help. We see this as a partnership that helps ensure that innovative, sustainable solutions are developed and implemented effectively.
Being involved in the CIBSE YEN community has allowed me to understand what is required to help the industry meet its targets and the steps Mitsubishi Electric can take to assist the thousands of hard-working engineers and ensure designers and manufacturers can work hand in hand to achieve our net-zero goals.
The London YEN committee and I are looking forward to the exciting upcoming events, encouraging more Building Services Engineers in London join the community and expand to the wealth of knowledge and ideas we can provide.
We hope you've found the content of this newsletter useful and relevant. In each edition, we'll focus on bringing you the latest news and topics around sustainability and construction. If there are any news articles you would like us to feature, or if you would like to be a guest contributor for Construction Voices, please get in touch with us .
Find out more about our new Sustainability and Construction team here .