Low-carbon register is not a low-key affair

The formal launch of the register of low-carbon consultants by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers marks an important step forward in implementing the spirit of the new Building Regulations. For a long time, Building Control Officers have been expressing concern that they are not equipped to assess whether or not a building meets the requirements of the latest Building Regulations for carbon emissions. Now that expertise gap is being filled, initially by over a hundred professionals who have passed the qualification examination for CIBSE’s register of low-carbon consultants. The plan is that over the next five years the register of low-carbon consultants will swell to 3000 people who are trained and competent to carry out low-carbon design and operation of buildings. With both the design and operation of buildings now being addressed, the chances of carbon emissions being reduced by the 28% required by the latest Building Regulations compared with the previous edition becomes a much more realistic proposition. Previously, as many in the industry freely admit, very few people understood Part L, the part of the Building Regulations relating to the conservation of fuel and power. The CIBSE register of low-carbon consultants addresses that shortcoming and is starting to delivering a body of trained and qualified professionals who can confirm compliance with Part L in England & Wales. Laudably, CIBSE’s vision for this new register goes beyond it being a list of people who can certify that a building complies with Part L. As CIBSE president David Hughes explained at its launch, those on the register will be required to increase their skill and knowledge continuously through the route of continuing professional development and further training in aspects of low-energy design. The can be no doubt that future Building Regulations will seek to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings more and more. With Government policy being to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by 60% by 2050 compared with 1990, can it be very long before new buildings are required to be zero carbon? CIBSE’s policy of continuously growing the expertise of the people on its low-carbon register will avoid future Building Regulations outstripping the industry’s knowledge and expertise. The new approach to the Building Regulations requires that engineers exercise their skills to deliver buildings that comply — both for new buildings and major refurbishment projects. There is also the requirement for buildings to operate efficiently. Practice is joining theory. The future looks good for engineers.



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