IN CONTROL
B&ES head of sustainability David Frise joined celebrity presenter Selina Scott on stage at the presentation of the BCIA Awards to present the Engineer of the Year Award to Pep Niemeijer of Priva Building Intelligence.
During the conference that preceded the ceremony, Mr Frise led a session on Occupant Behaviours: Controls to Make Change Easier, which was well received by delegates.
’ONE BUILDING A MINUTE’ EFFICIENCY PROGRAMME
David Frise, B&ES’s head of sustainability was a keynote speaker at this year’s national conference organised by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).
The event focused on the challenge thrown down by Government’s chief construction adviser Paul Morrell to improve the energy efficiency of buildings at an unprecedented rate – ie, “one per minute” – over the next 40 years, in order to meet the UK’s energy and carbon reduction targets.
CIBSE President Rob Manning reminded delegates that the building engineering services sector had always been good at fitting out new buildings, but that the main focus should now be on the 24 million existing buildings that would still be in use in 2050.
Mr Frise pointed out that case studies which provided accurate performance figures were required to help the sector to deliver sustainable projects.
And he condemned the practice of recognising the sustainability of buildings based on “projected” performance, as this was damaging to credibility.
“We don’t believe the numbers being quoted, and they are not supported,” he told the conference. “There are too many unrealistic or impossible claims being made about renewable technologies. Delivery is everything – and, all too often, real performance benefits are simply not being delivered.”
B&ES SPONSORS HVR AWARDS FOR THIRD SUCCESSIVE YEAR
B&ES has confirmed its lead sponsorship – for the third year in succession – of the HVR Awards 2012, presentation of which will take place at a prestigious central London venue in October.
During the next 12 months, the Association will also be sponsoring the Heat Pump Champion category in the Heat Pump Awards 2012, the Gold Award for outstanding industry service in the H&V News Awards 2012 and the Contribution to Training category in the 2012 Building Controls Industry Awards.
Pictured on the Association’s table at this year’s HVR Awards event, which was staged on the evening of Tuesday 11 October at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2, are (left to right): deputy chief executive Roderick Pettigrew; president elect Sue Sharp; president Bob Shelley; chief executive Blane Judd; immediate past president Martin Burton; press relations consultant Ewen Rose; communications and public affairs executive Brigitte Faubert; past president Graham Manly; and John Marsh, managing director of national contractor MJN Colston.
DINING OUT IN STYLE
The Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow, provided the venue for B&ES Scotland Annual Dinner 2012.
Pictured (above left) during the event are: Alastair Henderson, chairman, B&ES Scotland; Stuart MacPherson, Scottish regional chairman, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers; B&ES president Bob Shelley; and Tom Galloway, president, Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation (left to right). Pictured (above right) with Alastair Henderson are B&ES Scotland immediate past chairman Eddie Myles (left) and vice president Duncan Sibbald.
RNLI HONOURS MEMBER FIRM
Dundee-based B&ES member Specialist Mechanical Services (SMS) has been awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Royal National Lifeboat Association (RNLI) in Scotland.
The award, which recognises “ten years’ dedicated technical Support to RNLI Scotland”, was presented to the company at the organisation’s annual meeting in Perth.
“We are extremely proud to have been honoured in this way,” commented SMS managing director Graeme Fox, who is also president of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration European Association (AREA) and a member of the B&ES council.
“Coming as I do from a seaside town like Broughty Ferry, where the local lifeboat is an integral part of the history of the town, the RNLI has long been one of my personal charities of choice,” said Mr Fox.
And he added that, in 2010 alone, RNLI lifeboat crews made 8,313 rescues – an average of 22 a day – and saved 309 lives.
Pictured (right): Michael Ian Currie, coxswain of the Mallaig lifeboat, whose entire crew won the Operational Award for Outstanding Endeavour for their prevention of an environmental catastrophe off the Western Isles of Scotland; Graeme and Bill Fox of SMS; and Sir Andrew Cubie, chairman of the Scottish Lifeboat Council.
