VOICES | STEVE ADDIS Safely towards net zero Embracing a new safety culture in buildings should not hamper our efforts to deliver carbon neutrality. In fact, it should help, says Lochinvars Steve Addis T he biggest change to construction practices in half a century is racing towards us with the enactment of the Building Safety Bill later this year. This will introduce such a profound change to manufacturing, planning, procurement, installation, inspection, competence and compliance that many are arguing it will derail our carbon-reduction plans. Delivering a 75% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035 on the road to net zero by 2050 seemed pretty ambitious even before adding the burden of totally revamping the safety culture of an entire industry at the same time. However, the transformation of building culture in this way should prove exactly what we need to revamp our energy and carbon performance. Poor energy performance is often the most obvious symptom of a building that is not fit for purpose. Making our buildings better will bring benefits all round. As well as setting much higher professional competence standards through the new bill, the government has set the tone through its approach to revising our Building Regulations. For example, it has joined up the ventilation and heating targets by running consultations on Parts F and L in tandem. As a result, new homes will have to cut their carbon emissions by 30% and nondomestic buildings by 27% to meet the requirements of the revised Part L while, at the same time, tackling poor indoor air quality and overheating. recirculating ventilation systems in all new offices. The government is proposing three performance metrics against which new non-domestic buildings will be measured: primary energy; a CO2 emission target; and minimum standards for fabric and fixed building services. The introduction of a primary energy metric is designed to make energy efficiency of each building a priority, regardless of the heat source. There will also be considerable commercial incentives for building owners and managers to do the right thing for their occupants and the planet. For example, more UK developers are adopting the Australian NABERS model because it incentivises whole-life performance and, therefore, drives down the life-cycle carbon. We also have Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), which could be transformational because they place a regulatory requirement on refurbishment. Since 2018, a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E has been in place for new tenancies, but from 1 April 2023, this will be extended to cover existing leases. This will make it unlawful for a landlord to let any commercial property with an EPC rating of less than E. That is just the start, however, as the MEES level is set to rise to B by 2030. Poor energy performance is often the most obvious symptom of a building not fit for purpose Expense STEVE ADDIS is product manager at Lochinvar www.lochinvar.ltd.uk Better energy performance must be delivered, but not at the expense of the ventilation rates essential to protect the health and wellbeing of occupants, so making buildings better all round. These new targets will come into effect next month, with the new regulations regarded as a stepping stone towards the Future Homes and Buildings Standard that aims to make all buildings net zero ready from 2025. All new residential buildings including care and childrens homes, and student accommodation must also be designed to reduce overheating, under changes to Part F and the introduction of Part O. Changes to ventilation will be introduced to improve indoor air quality and reduce the spread of airborne viruses in new non-residential buildings, including the mandating of CO2 monitors and additional standards for Harmony This is an example of how regulation can be made to work in harmony with commercial drivers, by setting the legal benchmarks that underpin better-performing and, therefore, more financially viable building stock. The same principle is at work in the governments Net zero estate playbook. This sets out advice for public sector organisations and procurers about how they can substantially lower their carbon footprint in line with its policy to deliver a 78% reduction in emissions from government buildings by 2035 as well as deliver value for money for the taxpayer. The playbook takes a technology-neutral approach because it notes that different buildings need different solutions. It urges developers to carry out detailed assessments to ensure they use the right solution for the building in question. It is a rapidly changing landscape, but the regulatory requirements are moving closer to the commercial drivers, so we are definitely on the right track. 54 May 2022 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE May 22 pp54 Lochnivar Voices Supp.indd 54 22/04/2022 18:12