Looking back

january
Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) reveals thinking on UK energy policy to the year 2050 (contents leaked to press). Reveals that government support for the nuclear industry not unconditional and that the government aims to create a £1 billion renewable energy market by 2010

Brian Wilson calls for removal of technical, commercial and regulatory barriers to use of renewable energy.

MP Claire Curtis-Thomas reopens the retentions debate by urging and end to retentions on central and local government work.

Largest UK wind farm opens in Wales. Parc Cynog has five 720 kW turbines and produces enough power to supply 4000 homes.

Insurers put up the cost of indemnity insurance by around 60% in wake of World Trade Centre destruction.

february
Wilson predicts 2002 will be the year for renewables. Talking about the Renewables Obligations which forces electricity companies to purchase a proportion of power from renewable sources at a premium price.

march
Disappointing PIU report which says that there is a need to cut emissions 'over the next century' but there's no reason why the UK should incur the costs if other countries aren't doing the same.

Wilson challenges the construction industry to integrate renewable energy into buildings.

april
Oscar Faber, Maunsell Europe and Metcalf & Eddy UK merged to form FaberMaunsell, one of the largest consultants in the UK.

UK Emissions Trading Scheme kicks-off. Participants sign up to reduce their organisation's emissions, and can buy and sell their emissions quotas to meet their target at minimum cost. Successful bids to enter the scheme included BP, Ford Motor Company, Blue Circle and Shell

Launch of the CIBSE Carbon Task Group, and its aims – to enable and ensure that CIBSE initiates and adopts processes that will redirect society to a low carbon future in pursuit of the mitigation and eventual reversal of man-made climate change.

BSJ salary survey with Hays Montrose figures shows a healthy upward trend for engineers' pay.

may
Depressing news that CO₂ emissions have risen in the last two years, after falling during the 1990s. Wilson calls for less complacency in face of continued rise of CO₂ emissions.

The government plans to make changes to the New Electricity Trading Arrangements (NETA) in order to help smaller (renewable) generators operate more effectively. The Emissions Trading Scheme is underway, but it is difficult to see how individual buildings can take part in it.

june
The next generation of building controls is now hooking up to the internet, making them more powerful than ever. Rather than allowing the IT fraternity to hold the power in controls, engineers should start learning about this technology, so they can better serve their clients.

Government publishes its chp strategy which includes exemption from the Climate Change Levy, and inclusion in the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme. The aim is to deliver at least 10 000 MWe of capacity in the UK by 2010.

Egan introduces the consultation document on Accelerating Change.

july
Partnering is the way forward for the construction industry, in spite of industry cynicism.

University of Reading study on employment in construction, says women are 'the untapped resource' of the industry.

Movement for Innovation projects outperform industry averages against all Key Performance Indicators.

CIBSE joins with a number of bodies including BSRIA, FETA and ACE to form the Specialist Engineering Alliance. The aim is to take forward the agenda set by Accelerating Change.

A report from the British Council of Offices and Arup asks how commercial property development can be reconciled with sustainable design, and offers some suggestions.

august
The issue of building labelling raises its head as the European Directive on building energy efficiency is ratified at June's Council of Ministers.

Winners of the Building Services Awards are announced. Hoare Lea scoops Engineers Taking the Lead; WSP won large consultancy of the year Eden was major project of the year.

The Construction Industry Council introduces an assessment tool to measure the design quality of buildings. The Design Quality Indicator is intended for use by all parties involved in the design and construction of the building.

september
CIBSE delegation, lead by vice president Terry Wyatt, represent UK engineers at the Johannesburg World Summit. The team includes Chris Twinn of Arup, Richard John of FaberMaunsell, Andy Ford of Fulcrum Consulting and David Strong of BRE.

The Carbon Trust takes on running of the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme on behalf of DEFRA. The Trust also expands the Energy Technology List which aims to help manufacturers, suppliers and purchasers promote and identify qualifying equipment. Additions include heat pumps for space heating, and warm air and radiant heaters.

BSJ launches its Online Experts service

october
The Strategic Forum for Construction introduces its Accelerating Change report. The document sets out new targets for reforming the construction industry including a call for 20% of construction projects by value to be undertaken by integrated teams and supply chains by the end of 2004.

BSJ Think Tank on collaboration and how the industry can work together better to meet the objectives of Accelerating Change.

november
Alan Crane, chairman of Rethinking Construction says that the industry must develop greater respect for people working in the industry if it is to improve performance.

The Birmingham construction sector will be using innovative ways of working to redevelop the city. The city council challenged those involved in construction locally to set up a Centre of Excellence to deliver the new Birmingham using: "innovative procurement solutions, multi-disciplinary approaches, public/private partnerships, finance partnering, and best practice."