Monday, 3 November 2008
Monday, 6 October 2008
Knowledge is Power: New EPBD publications to be released
I am most grateful to Wikipedia for the following: “The famous phrase scientia potentia est is a Latin maxim "For also knowledge itself is power" stated originally by Sir Francis Bacon in Meditationes Sacrae (1597), which in modern times is often paraphrased as "knowledge is power." The phrase implies that with knowledge or education one's potential or abilities in life will certainly increase. It is also used as a justification for a reluctance to share information as some form of advantage can be gained through the use or manipulation of knowledge.” I can think of no better way of making the case for CIBSE being in the “knowledge game”.
One of the most important services that CIBSE provides to its members and to the industry is the dissemination of knowledge through its many Guides, Technical and Applications Manuals, Lighting Guides, Knowledge Series publications and Commissioning Codes. Over the years, the publications catalogue has grown immensely and we now offer help and guidance through a huge number of publications bought and read by architects, facilities managers, lighting specialists, designers and contractors, as well as engineers.
Later this year we will add a number of new titles to the existing list. The new guidance will aid compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations and with the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations. They make essential reading for those wanting better knowledge and understanding of how to fully meet the Regulations, create energy efficient buildings and ensure their building projects are truly sustainable
Forthcoming titles include:
Energy and carbon emissions regulations in buildings: a guide to implementation (EPBR) - A comprehensive companion guide to the various regulations relating to energy in buildings, covering Emissions Ratings under Part L as well as Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs) and inspection of air conditioning systems.
Operational Ratings for Display Energy Certificates (TM47) -This comprehensive reference on DECs, includes calculating Operational Ratings and producing Advisory Reports. Useful notes for building managers and owners are also included.
Energy Benchmarks (TM46 - the comprehensive set of building energy benchmarks; with an explanation of what they are, how they were developed and how to use them.
Non-domestic hot water systems (AM14) - this publication enables engineers to design efficient heating systems, covering both new buildings and existing building refurbishment and upgrading.
These join more recent titles such as the Guide L Sustainability Toolkit and Maintenance Engineering and Management (Guide M), as well as old favourites, including the Building log book toolkit (TM31), Energy Efficiency in Buildings (Guide F) and the Energy Assessment and Reporting Methodology (TM22).
To purchase any of these title please visit the CIBSE Bookshop at www.cibse.org or ring 020 8675 5211
Behind all this lies a very important question: it is one thing to possess knowledge but can you apply it successfully? As engineers we have a responsibility to serve society and use finite resources in an appropriate way. Having “the knowledge” in taxi driver slang is only the starting point; can you get the customer to his destination in a safe and effective way and make a profit?
So it is with the Institution, we may be able to help with the Knowledge but what about sharing best practise, demonstrating exemplars, providing benchmarks and showing case studies. Hence we are turning attention to our “Knowledge Network”, starting with putting our research journals, Building Services Engineering Research & Technology and Lighting Research and Technology on-line. Our target is to make the knowledge contained in them more widely available to you all. And this is in addition to the annual distribution of a volume of the CIBSE Guide, and a growing range of publications available to the membership online.
A final thought. Rod Powers, in his book, US Military: The Orderly Room states "Knowledge is power in the military." Powers argued that in the military, a person with the highest rank is not always the one in charge of a given situation, but that the person with the "real power" is the person who knows the regulations. As Building Services Engineers, with the knowledge, we could be the ones with “real power”… what do you think?
Stephen Matthews
CIBSE Chief Executive
One of the most important services that CIBSE provides to its members and to the industry is the dissemination of knowledge through its many Guides, Technical and Applications Manuals, Lighting Guides, Knowledge Series publications and Commissioning Codes. Over the years, the publications catalogue has grown immensely and we now offer help and guidance through a huge number of publications bought and read by architects, facilities managers, lighting specialists, designers and contractors, as well as engineers.
Later this year we will add a number of new titles to the existing list. The new guidance will aid compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations and with the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations. They make essential reading for those wanting better knowledge and understanding of how to fully meet the Regulations, create energy efficient buildings and ensure their building projects are truly sustainable
Forthcoming titles include:
Energy and carbon emissions regulations in buildings: a guide to implementation (EPBR) - A comprehensive companion guide to the various regulations relating to energy in buildings, covering Emissions Ratings under Part L as well as Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs) and inspection of air conditioning systems.
Operational Ratings for Display Energy Certificates (TM47) -This comprehensive reference on DECs, includes calculating Operational Ratings and producing Advisory Reports. Useful notes for building managers and owners are also included.
Energy Benchmarks (TM46 - the comprehensive set of building energy benchmarks; with an explanation of what they are, how they were developed and how to use them.
Non-domestic hot water systems (AM14) - this publication enables engineers to design efficient heating systems, covering both new buildings and existing building refurbishment and upgrading.
These join more recent titles such as the Guide L Sustainability Toolkit and Maintenance Engineering and Management (Guide M), as well as old favourites, including the Building log book toolkit (TM31), Energy Efficiency in Buildings (Guide F) and the Energy Assessment and Reporting Methodology (TM22).
To purchase any of these title please visit the CIBSE Bookshop at www.cibse.org or ring 020 8675 5211
Behind all this lies a very important question: it is one thing to possess knowledge but can you apply it successfully? As engineers we have a responsibility to serve society and use finite resources in an appropriate way. Having “the knowledge” in taxi driver slang is only the starting point; can you get the customer to his destination in a safe and effective way and make a profit?
So it is with the Institution, we may be able to help with the Knowledge but what about sharing best practise, demonstrating exemplars, providing benchmarks and showing case studies. Hence we are turning attention to our “Knowledge Network”, starting with putting our research journals, Building Services Engineering Research & Technology and Lighting Research and Technology on-line. Our target is to make the knowledge contained in them more widely available to you all. And this is in addition to the annual distribution of a volume of the CIBSE Guide, and a growing range of publications available to the membership online.
A final thought. Rod Powers, in his book, US Military: The Orderly Room states "Knowledge is power in the military." Powers argued that in the military, a person with the highest rank is not always the one in charge of a given situation, but that the person with the "real power" is the person who knows the regulations. As Building Services Engineers, with the knowledge, we could be the ones with “real power”… what do you think?
Stephen Matthews
CIBSE Chief Executive
Campaigns & celebrations
It is time to clean up your act once again with CIBSE’s annual carbon reduction campaign – this year challenging organisations across the UK to pledge 100 hours of staff time to commit to energy reducing activities. Participants have been able to sign up to the 100 Hours of Carbon Clean up Campaign since 15th August and can still sign up now. To mark the start of the campaign, CIBSE held an afternoon reception at City Hall on London’s Southbank on the 15th, welcoming industry representatives, press and past participants. Guests enjoyed the spectacular views from the 9th floor balcony before listening to speakers from CIBSE, the Federation of Small Businesses, CBI, I prophets and Hoare Lea. We already have a number of organisations signed up and aim to beat last year’s total of 700 companies.
A special campaign ‘learning day’ will take place later this month. As part of this day, there will be a workshop on ‘Low Carbon Champions as Motivators’ - focusing on how the carbon champions within an office can really get other employees involved and enthusiastic. Expert speakers will cover the theory, how it works in practice, case studies and also the tips & advice that CIBSE will provide as part of the campaign. Low Carbon Champions are an integral part of the campaign – taking responsibility for rolling out the initiative and its activities within their building and we think it is important to train them up and get them ready for action.
This is the third year that CIBSE have run a carbon saving campaign, with the previous 100 days campaigns proving very popular, and we still feel that the key messages of the campaign need to be spread even further. There is so much that can be done to reduce the amount of carbon emitted from commercial buildings and getting employees motivated and involved is vital in getting both short-term and long-term results.
So, it is our third carbon campaign but there is a much bigger anniversary to celebrate this month – the 30th anniversary of the Building Services Journal. For 30 years the journal has kept CIBSE members up to date on the latest industry news, on new and existing projects, on technical information and of course on the latest from the Institution. In the CIBSE feature we have looked at some of the key people, projects and initiatives that have shaped CIBSE over the last 30 years and that will impact on the next 30 years. If the last few years are anything to go by then it is going to get even busier – for the Institution, for members and for the industry in general.
Stephen Matthews
CIBSE Chief Executive
A special campaign ‘learning day’ will take place later this month. As part of this day, there will be a workshop on ‘Low Carbon Champions as Motivators’ - focusing on how the carbon champions within an office can really get other employees involved and enthusiastic. Expert speakers will cover the theory, how it works in practice, case studies and also the tips & advice that CIBSE will provide as part of the campaign. Low Carbon Champions are an integral part of the campaign – taking responsibility for rolling out the initiative and its activities within their building and we think it is important to train them up and get them ready for action.
This is the third year that CIBSE have run a carbon saving campaign, with the previous 100 days campaigns proving very popular, and we still feel that the key messages of the campaign need to be spread even further. There is so much that can be done to reduce the amount of carbon emitted from commercial buildings and getting employees motivated and involved is vital in getting both short-term and long-term results.
So, it is our third carbon campaign but there is a much bigger anniversary to celebrate this month – the 30th anniversary of the Building Services Journal. For 30 years the journal has kept CIBSE members up to date on the latest industry news, on new and existing projects, on technical information and of course on the latest from the Institution. In the CIBSE feature we have looked at some of the key people, projects and initiatives that have shaped CIBSE over the last 30 years and that will impact on the next 30 years. If the last few years are anything to go by then it is going to get even busier – for the Institution, for members and for the industry in general.
Stephen Matthews
CIBSE Chief Executive
Thursday, 28 August 2008
CIBSE 100 Hours of Carbon Clean Up
We all like to be recognised for our hard work, to feel like we are being rewarded for our successes and CIBSE is no exception. As an Institution we obviously like to receive awards but we also acknowledge the importance of rewarding others and of drawing attention to their achievements. As it happens, CIBSE has won quite a number of prizes and commendations recently but in the past I have thought that some awards were mainly about marketing rather than substance - it is very good news to say that I have been proved wrong.
Specifically, we were delighted to hear that the CIBSE Young Engineers Network has won the Outstanding Contribution category at the Building Services 2008 Awards. Normally awarded to an individual, the judges agreed that the prize should go to an initiative that is the work of a group of individuals – the CIBSE Young Engineers Network. The network is a voluntary group of regional centres established to provide a forum and support network for engineers new to the profession. The network was praised for its ongoing work in promoting a positive and welcoming image of the industry and for providing a knowledge exchange. Initiatives such as this also help to raise awareness of building services careers in schools and universities, as well encouraging more women to enter the profession.
CIBSE strongly believes that more must be done to target young engineers and potential new engineers, and initiatives such as this are vital in winning their loyalty. To give the whole thing even greater piquancy, Michael Norton, Chairman of the Young Engineers was then asked to address the audience at the BSJ Awards dinner by Jon Snow – as they say ‘Well Done the team’!
This wasn’t the first trophy to be awarded to the Institution this year – the ’100 Days of Carbon Clean Up Campaign’ won ‘Environmental Initiative of the Year’’ at the 2008 H&V News Awards back in May, highlighting the success of the initiative which encouraged UK workplaces to cut the amount of carbon emitted from their buildings. It is the success of the 2007 and the 2006 100 days campaigns that have motivated us to launch a new carbon saving initiative for 2008.
The ‘100 Hours of Carbon Clean up Campaign’ launches on the 15th August – a new and exciting development for the annual energy reduction campaign – urging organisations to sign up and pledge 100 hours of staff time to dedicate to specific energy reducing activities. These activities will be centered around reducing energy use, reducing carbon and reducing costs – preparing organisations for the work involved in energy certification. Our wonderful new minisite www.100hours.co.uk allows participants to log in and access their very own check-list of activities and Time Card – so they can tick off the hours as they complete them, watching the progress on the energy bar.
As with last year’s campaign, we aim to highlight the achievements of participants at the next Low Carbon Performance Awards, which will take place on Wednesday 4th February at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. The event, which is held as part of the traditional CIBSE Annual Dinner, celebrates proven achievements in delivering carbon savings in buildings. Categories will be open to participants of the 100 Hours campaign and to CIBSE Low Carbon Consultants and Low Carbon Energy Assessors. Who knows, some of our members may be the ones to win the awards, let’s hope it’s you!
Stephen Matthews
CIBSE Chief Executive
Specifically, we were delighted to hear that the CIBSE Young Engineers Network has won the Outstanding Contribution category at the Building Services 2008 Awards. Normally awarded to an individual, the judges agreed that the prize should go to an initiative that is the work of a group of individuals – the CIBSE Young Engineers Network. The network is a voluntary group of regional centres established to provide a forum and support network for engineers new to the profession. The network was praised for its ongoing work in promoting a positive and welcoming image of the industry and for providing a knowledge exchange. Initiatives such as this also help to raise awareness of building services careers in schools and universities, as well encouraging more women to enter the profession.
CIBSE strongly believes that more must be done to target young engineers and potential new engineers, and initiatives such as this are vital in winning their loyalty. To give the whole thing even greater piquancy, Michael Norton, Chairman of the Young Engineers was then asked to address the audience at the BSJ Awards dinner by Jon Snow – as they say ‘Well Done the team’!
This wasn’t the first trophy to be awarded to the Institution this year – the ’100 Days of Carbon Clean Up Campaign’ won ‘Environmental Initiative of the Year’’ at the 2008 H&V News Awards back in May, highlighting the success of the initiative which encouraged UK workplaces to cut the amount of carbon emitted from their buildings. It is the success of the 2007 and the 2006 100 days campaigns that have motivated us to launch a new carbon saving initiative for 2008.
The ‘100 Hours of Carbon Clean up Campaign’ launches on the 15th August – a new and exciting development for the annual energy reduction campaign – urging organisations to sign up and pledge 100 hours of staff time to dedicate to specific energy reducing activities. These activities will be centered around reducing energy use, reducing carbon and reducing costs – preparing organisations for the work involved in energy certification. Our wonderful new minisite www.100hours.co.uk allows participants to log in and access their very own check-list of activities and Time Card – so they can tick off the hours as they complete them, watching the progress on the energy bar.
As with last year’s campaign, we aim to highlight the achievements of participants at the next Low Carbon Performance Awards, which will take place on Wednesday 4th February at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. The event, which is held as part of the traditional CIBSE Annual Dinner, celebrates proven achievements in delivering carbon savings in buildings. Categories will be open to participants of the 100 Hours campaign and to CIBSE Low Carbon Consultants and Low Carbon Energy Assessors. Who knows, some of our members may be the ones to win the awards, let’s hope it’s you!
Stephen Matthews
CIBSE Chief Executive
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Help us deliver real value...
In this fast moving industry of ours it is very easy to overlook the importance of basic housekeeping and paying your professional institution’s subscription could be one of them. If you are anything like me I put the paperwork to one side, keep meaning to find that ten minutes to fill out the form but somehow the deadline goes by and I still haven’t done it. However I hope you will agree that the benefits of CIBSE membership are well established and being part of a respected Institution really can have a positive impact on both your career path and personal development. I guess if you are reading this it is a statement of the obvious. However we have almost 2,000 members who haven’t yet paid their subscriptions.
CIBSE sends out renewal reminders at the end of every year in the aim to have subscriptions paid up by the first week of January or at the very latest-end of January. The annual subscription runs from January to December. Unfortunately, every year we are required to send out frequent reminders to late payers, finally ending with a telephone call or at worse members being struck off.
This takes time and uses valuable resources which, in essence, could be avoided completely. CIBSE offers a number of ways for you to make that payment including a discounted direct debit payment method or paying on line. If your company pays for your professional institution’s subscription we believe that it is also in your interest to follow up any late payment so that this is addressed. Equally our processes are not foolproof and with members changing e-mail addresses, jobs and telephone numbers we do make mistakes and chase people that have paid or call them by the wrong title. We aim for perfection but it simply is not that straightforward to track the 25,000 or so “live” names and addresses.
If you are about to retire please write to us and we will see that you are offered concessionary retired rates and if you are leaving the industry we will amend our records accordingly. Please help us to help you.
Many important changes are taking place in CIBSE such as the growing register of Low Carbon Energy Assessors, changes that will benefit individual members and the industry as a whole. Professional Learning, an integrated programme of courses which matches the very best training and development programmes available, aims to provide you with the underpinning knowledge you need to take on greater responsibilities, prove your competence in the workplace and achieve a higher grade of CIBSE membership and the associated additional benefits. A new Course Programme for 2008/2009 is now available.
With the growing need for a competent and knowledgeable work force, a progressive organisation is now expected to be trained and informed to a high standard in this competitive industry, don’t be left behind!
So in quite blunt terms we need your help to deliver real value for you and the Institution. It would be very helpful if you can pay on time and keep your records up to date. As we grow in numbers and activities it is a challenge for the staff and our processes to keep pace. CIBSE, you will be glad to know, is one of the very few Institutions that has grown both in number and in standing and we would like you to help us to build on this success. Please contact the Accounts Department on 020 8772 3655 and pay by credit card or set up a Direct Debit or pay on line at www.cibse.org
Stephen Matthews
CIBSE Chief Executive
CIBSE sends out renewal reminders at the end of every year in the aim to have subscriptions paid up by the first week of January or at the very latest-end of January. The annual subscription runs from January to December. Unfortunately, every year we are required to send out frequent reminders to late payers, finally ending with a telephone call or at worse members being struck off.
This takes time and uses valuable resources which, in essence, could be avoided completely. CIBSE offers a number of ways for you to make that payment including a discounted direct debit payment method or paying on line. If your company pays for your professional institution’s subscription we believe that it is also in your interest to follow up any late payment so that this is addressed. Equally our processes are not foolproof and with members changing e-mail addresses, jobs and telephone numbers we do make mistakes and chase people that have paid or call them by the wrong title. We aim for perfection but it simply is not that straightforward to track the 25,000 or so “live” names and addresses.
If you are about to retire please write to us and we will see that you are offered concessionary retired rates and if you are leaving the industry we will amend our records accordingly. Please help us to help you.
Many important changes are taking place in CIBSE such as the growing register of Low Carbon Energy Assessors, changes that will benefit individual members and the industry as a whole. Professional Learning, an integrated programme of courses which matches the very best training and development programmes available, aims to provide you with the underpinning knowledge you need to take on greater responsibilities, prove your competence in the workplace and achieve a higher grade of CIBSE membership and the associated additional benefits. A new Course Programme for 2008/2009 is now available.
With the growing need for a competent and knowledgeable work force, a progressive organisation is now expected to be trained and informed to a high standard in this competitive industry, don’t be left behind!
So in quite blunt terms we need your help to deliver real value for you and the Institution. It would be very helpful if you can pay on time and keep your records up to date. As we grow in numbers and activities it is a challenge for the staff and our processes to keep pace. CIBSE, you will be glad to know, is one of the very few Institutions that has grown both in number and in standing and we would like you to help us to build on this success. Please contact the Accounts Department on 020 8772 3655 and pay by credit card or set up a Direct Debit or pay on line at www.cibse.org
Stephen Matthews
CIBSE Chief Executive
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
CIBSE Young Engineers win Outstanding Contribution Award
I am delighted to say that the CIBSE Young Engineers Network (YEN) won the “Outstanding Contribution” at the The Building Services 2008 Awards this week. This is a great achievement for the YEN and all those associated with it. Well done to all those involved! See more details and pictures at BSJ online
Stephen Matthews
Stephen Matthews
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Water – the new carbon
A large number of Members and guests joined us at our Annual Meeting and Presidential Lecture in May. They gathered to recognise the achievements of our latest medalists, to thank our outgoing President, John Armstrong, for his service, and to welcome our new President, Professor John Swaffield, and hear his Presidential Address: Living with the Albatross.
It will surprise nobody that a major theme of the Address was the need to apply CIBSE’s skills of providing design guidance and knowledge dissemination to address the water based causes and effects of climate change. John argued that water based issues should increasingly become an integral part of CIBSE’s response to the challenge of climate change, with associated guidance to support this.
It is very timely that we have in our new President a worldwide reputation in fluid mechanics and water engineering. This year sees the launch of a consultation on changes to Part G of the Building Regulations, dealing with water supply. It also co-incides with the launch of the government’s Water Strategy, in March. And it also occurs when CIBSE is producing a range of new guidance on the theme of water, to address some of the current water supply and public health issues relating to water.
It is particularly appropriate that at this time of growing interest in water we have a President with an interest in this area, to support and champion the work of the Society of Public Health Engineers (SOPHE). The CIBSE Societies provide a ready means for the Institution to deliver expertise and specialist knowledge to engage in areas of importance to the wider profession, whilst drawing on the wider awareness and influence which CIBSE enjoys within the engineering and construction communities, and with government. In this way, the impact of the Institution as a whole is certainly greater than the sum of the constituent parts, adding value and enhancing effectiveness for the Societies and specialist groupings within the Institutional family.
The Address also emphasised the role of CIBSE as a Learned Society, and called for us to continue to engage with the Research Councils and research community, to grow the links with EPSRC in particular, and to further engage with the new managed programmes emerging from EPSRC and the other Research Councils. Increasingly, EPSRC and others view CIBSE as a key intermediate between the academic and industrial communities. CIBSE has already taken a key role in relation to the development of climate data to enable professionals to design for the future, and not in the past. The new Adaptation and Resilience for a Changing Climate programme, currently being developed by EPSRC and the research community, will broaden the scope for CIBSE to operate in an intermediary role in this area.
John referred to Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner, so now we know why he has a beard perhaps? In any event the immortal line of “water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink” does not apply to CIBSE, there is much to do as we seek to address these issues and to embrace the challenge of representing our members and the wider community in seeking solutions to these crucial problems that face society. We need to ensure we have a “broad kirk” so that we can provide an organisation that embraces the many strands of the built environment. The challenge and issues are all interweaved into a complex pattern; it really does need the finest engineers to unravel and explain. As I speak we are building the foundations for the albatrosses!
I look forward to working with John as President over the coming year, and I know that the staff will join me in wishing him every success, and in doing all we can to support him during his time in office.
Stephen Matthews
CIBSE Chief Executive
It will surprise nobody that a major theme of the Address was the need to apply CIBSE’s skills of providing design guidance and knowledge dissemination to address the water based causes and effects of climate change. John argued that water based issues should increasingly become an integral part of CIBSE’s response to the challenge of climate change, with associated guidance to support this.
It is very timely that we have in our new President a worldwide reputation in fluid mechanics and water engineering. This year sees the launch of a consultation on changes to Part G of the Building Regulations, dealing with water supply. It also co-incides with the launch of the government’s Water Strategy, in March. And it also occurs when CIBSE is producing a range of new guidance on the theme of water, to address some of the current water supply and public health issues relating to water.
It is particularly appropriate that at this time of growing interest in water we have a President with an interest in this area, to support and champion the work of the Society of Public Health Engineers (SOPHE). The CIBSE Societies provide a ready means for the Institution to deliver expertise and specialist knowledge to engage in areas of importance to the wider profession, whilst drawing on the wider awareness and influence which CIBSE enjoys within the engineering and construction communities, and with government. In this way, the impact of the Institution as a whole is certainly greater than the sum of the constituent parts, adding value and enhancing effectiveness for the Societies and specialist groupings within the Institutional family.
The Address also emphasised the role of CIBSE as a Learned Society, and called for us to continue to engage with the Research Councils and research community, to grow the links with EPSRC in particular, and to further engage with the new managed programmes emerging from EPSRC and the other Research Councils. Increasingly, EPSRC and others view CIBSE as a key intermediate between the academic and industrial communities. CIBSE has already taken a key role in relation to the development of climate data to enable professionals to design for the future, and not in the past. The new Adaptation and Resilience for a Changing Climate programme, currently being developed by EPSRC and the research community, will broaden the scope for CIBSE to operate in an intermediary role in this area.
John referred to Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner, so now we know why he has a beard perhaps? In any event the immortal line of “water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink” does not apply to CIBSE, there is much to do as we seek to address these issues and to embrace the challenge of representing our members and the wider community in seeking solutions to these crucial problems that face society. We need to ensure we have a “broad kirk” so that we can provide an organisation that embraces the many strands of the built environment. The challenge and issues are all interweaved into a complex pattern; it really does need the finest engineers to unravel and explain. As I speak we are building the foundations for the albatrosses!
I look forward to working with John as President over the coming year, and I know that the staff will join me in wishing him every success, and in doing all we can to support him during his time in office.
Stephen Matthews
CIBSE Chief Executive
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