It’s fair to say that m&e contractors are not known for losing sleep over environmental concerns. They may forfeit a couple of hours’ shut-eye worrying about whether or not they are going to get paid those long overdue retention monies, but sustainability? What’s that?

The times they are a-changing. The ECA’s recent environment workshop shows just how far the industry has come in recent years. And with a revised Part L of the Building Regulations and the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive coming into force next year, wily contractors are realising that environmental credentials are good for business.

Renewable energy is the next big thing. Already many UK planners are demanding that at least 10% of a building’s energy use is met by renewable sources. The UK Energy Research Centre recently predicted an energy gap of 10 GW by 2020, owing to rising demand and dwindling reserves of oil and gas. It estimates that renewable sources will provide a 15% share of the UK’s energy mix by 2020.

The message is clear. In the future, reputations will not be built on reliability, quality and safety alone: are you up to the environmental challenge?

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor