President’s Blog - Climate Chance Committee underlines importance of BEMS in energy efficiency reductions

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) recently delivered its recommendations for the Seventh Carbon Budget (CB7) – setting out a clear emissions reduction target for the years 2038 to 2042. However, there was one particular stat that caught my eye – building energy management systems (BEMS) will account for 60% of energy efficiency reductions in the balanced pathway.

Of course, for those of us in the sector this comes as no surprise – utilising technology such as BEMS can make a huge difference in the carbon footprint of a building. However, the verbiage in these recommendations and the focused emissions reductions targeted by the CB7 give the BEMS sector a superb opportunity to increase the adoption of building controls and automation across the built environment.

Even more so when you consider that the demand for smarter buildings – and consequently, advanced building controls and automation solutions – will rise to help facility managers and building owners to optimise their building’s energy efficiency with these stringent targets in mind.

Sustainability-conscious building owners are also increasingly looking into the implementation of renewable energy sources and low-carbon technologies, such as heat pumps and solar panels. With BEMS able to streamline and simplify the management and monitoring of these technologies and ensure generated energy is used most efficiently, the importance of such technology cannot be understated.

With a sharper focus on sustainability and energy efficiency as a result of the CB7 recommendations, there are also likely to be increasingly stringent building regulations introduced in the coming years. Again, ensuring compliance with these regulations will require the energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction benefits that building controls and automation provide.

The importance of increasing BEMS awareness

With more eyes expected to be on BEMS than ever before as a result of the CCC’s recommendations, the work that the BCIA is doing to increase awareness of the benefits of utilising such technology is gaining even more significance.

Indeed, the association will be working closely with the government to shape policy and encourage an increased understanding of the multitude of advantages of implementing BEMS into commercial buildings across the UK.

Alongside being focused on delivering against the strategic priorities members agreed when developing the BCIA’s three-year corporate plan, the association will be taking a comprehensive approach towards recruitment and training of young talent. With demand for building controls and automation likely to increase in the coming years, increasing the number of available work placements and developing apprenticeship programmes to better promote the exciting opportunities in the sector will be absolutely vital.

Furthermore, the association will be implementing campaigns to highlight careers pathways in the industry and support knowledge and learning with intermediaries and specifiers.

Additionally, the BCIA will be collaborating with the government to identify ways in which skilled workers can be retained. This holistic approach will encompass helping BCIA members provide attractive paths for career development and a supportive work environment – ensuring workers remain engaged and motivated.

An encouraging future for the BEMS sector

As an industry that’s heavily focused on sustainability and decarbonising the UK building stock, the BEMS sector already has a hugely important role in improving energy efficiency through the implementation of building controls and automation systems.

In fact, with demand for smart buildings on the rise, the adoption of BEMS has been on the increase in recent years.

However, the CB7 recommendations will heighten the importance of building controls and automation in the future. Consequently, the BCIA and the industry must work together to not only ensure more both inside and outside the built environment are aware of the benefits of utilising BEMS but also encourage more talented professionals into the sector to cater for the increased demand. The CCC’s recommendations – and advocation of the importance of building controls – offer us all a superb opportunity to ensure a greener and brighter future for the built environment.