The low cost of energy continues to be a major stumbling block on the road to persuading property developers to be more energy efficient. Figures from the Jones Lang LaSalle report show that show that the cost of energy continues to fall.
The UK bid for the Olympics is the subject of a News Analysis, in which BSj concludes that there must be a purpose for any construction projects beyond the Olympic Games – lessons can be learned from Manchester's successful Commonwealth bid.
February
BSj hosts its first conference for many years. Secrets of Success deals with the thorny issue of partnering, and how to take a practical, profitable approach.
An Audit Commission report condemns PFI schools as worse than 'best practice'. Criticisms include the lack of innovative design, poor classroom layout and size. The Commission highlights the need for providers to bring learning from past projects to new work, and to understand client needs better.
March
A new look for BSj. The redesign is a big change for the magazine and reflects an energetic, forward-looking industry. It is designed to be easier to read and easier to use as a reference. Our bold new masthead also reflects the more confident attitude of services engineers.
April
The Energy White Paper is published at the end of March. The report is titled Our energy future – creating a low carbon economy and sets out key aims and objectives for government energy policy. Four goals are: maintain the reliability of energy supplies; promote competitive markets in the UK and beyond; ensure every home is heated well and affordably; to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050.
May
Terry Wyatt delivers a hard-hitting Presidential address in which he challenges CIBSE members to 'adapt or die'. Wyatt's speech is a wake up call to the industry to face the challenges of a changing construction industry and global warming. He says: "Adapt quickly and our future is only limited to the horizons we set. But fail to adapt and we, with 150 years of heritage, will fast fade into obscurity."
June
Michael Meacher lays down a new challenge to CIBSE members. The then Minister for the Environment says that CIBSE should build on its action plan to deliver greater energy efficiency to the built environment. The Institution and its members should 'provide evidence of delivery against your action plan across all of the sectors that you represent."
The Building Services Awards go into action for their sixth and most successful year ever.
July
Engineering Council (UK) publishes the specification for the standards that will replace SARTOR 97 as the basis for recognising professional engineers in the UK.
The KPI results show continued performance in the construction industry. Eleven out of fourteen indicators were up on 2002.
Haden Young scoops the Major m&e contractor of the year award for the third time running; and Max Fordham LLP wins Project of the year for its Lighthouse arts centre.
August
A second round of UK wind farms is announced by Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt. Three sites off the UK coast are pinpointed, and will provide up to 6 GW of energy by 2010 – enough to power 15% of UK homes.
A report by HM Treasury proposes changes to PFI. The publication, PFI: meeting the investment challenge, doesn't abandon PFI principles but acknowledges that the process needs improvement.
While all this is going on, the UK experiences one of the hottest summer's on record, with London reaching 38ºC on one blistering day.
September
The government issues a consultation document on the UK Emissions Trading Scheme which is due to start in January 2005. This first phase will run until 2007, with further five year phases to follow.
CIBSE holds a hugely successful joint conference with ASHRAE in Edinburgh. Almost 800 engineers attend, and the result is a lively, forward-looking forum.
October
Follow up from the CIBSE/ASHRAE Conference... CIBSE president Terry Wyatt makes no bones about stating the case for greater sustainability in the built environment: "I wouldn't be doing my job if I stood here and made a few bland statements. The storm is coming."
Other news from the conference was construction minister Nigel Griffiths saying that government and industry must work together to solve the problems of energy efficiency and climate change.
And RIBA past-president Paul Hyett said that architects must alter their thinking to help produce more sustainable buildings: "The modern agenda of architecture is fundamentally flawed."
November
The Construction Industry Council puts its Design Quality Indicator online. This is a qualitative assessment tool for buildings, with a quantitative framework.
Hoare Lea's Bristol office becomes part of a European project on energy efficient buildings. Measures to be implemented include a installation of low power luminaires with integral controls that aim to reduce power consumption by at least 35%.
Source
Building Sustainable Design
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