Future shock

This time of year always sees us looking to the future and trying to change the status quo, if not quite as far ahead as those in our M&E 2030 report (pages 17-18). Whether retentions will be gone in 25 years' time remains to be seen, but we can be sure that the likes of nanotechnology will transform the building services sector.

BSRIA's head Andrew Eastwell predicts that new construction materials will require fully integrated designs that will bring services, structure and architecture much closer together. The current fit and forget philosophy will have to change to construct and cherish.

What energy we will be using in the future will have a massive impact on building services technologies. BEAMA's Kelly Butler is calling for a clear energy policy statement from the government (page 21). Three years on from the Energy White Paper and we are no closer towards understanding what our generation mix will look like in 2020 and beyond.

One thing is certain: fossil fuels are running out and regardless of the future for nuclear power, carbon fuel depletion is set to be more influential than climate change in setting the agenda.