Modern Building Services

6 MODERN BUILDING SERVICES AUGUST 2022 INDUSTRY NEWS Mental health must ‘wash through’ the whole business with managers who are ‘hungry, humble and smart’ This sector has long been known to contain workers who are reluctant to talk about their mental health, which is why we are building a psychologically safe workplace into our working culture from top to bottom. We now have 18 Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA), to send a clear message that mental health is important. Mental health has always been a priority, but post-Covid we believe everyone has seen more examples of people struggling with their wellbeing. Our top sixty-five managers are all going through the hungry, humble, and smart process, which encourages them all to come together, rather than work in silos. This is because we want our people to support each other and give each other the confidence to do their best work and be themselves, because we genuinely want to be a place they want to work and where they want to stay. www.polypipe.com Coalition of leading industry bodies join forces to develop UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard A cross-industry steering group, representing stakeholders across the built environment, have joined together to develop a standard for verifying UK buildings as net zero carbon. The UKGBC’sWhole Life Carbon Roadmap demonstrates that buildings are directly responsible for around a quarter of carbon emitted by the UK. There is therefore no credible pathway to net zero for the UK economy without tackling emissions associated with the construction and operation of our buildings. Whilst significant progress has been made in defining what ‘net zero’ means for buildings in the UK, a process of market analysis showed a clear demand for a single, agreed methodology. The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard will enable industry to robustly prove their built assets are net zero carbon and in line with our nation’s climate targets. Leading industry organisations BBP, BRE, the Carbon Trust, CIBSE, IStructE, LETI, RIBA, RICS, and UKGBC have joined forces to champion this initiative. The Standard will cover both new and existing buildings and will set out performance targets addressing operational energy and embodied carbon emissions to align with the UK’s 2035 and 2050 emissions targets (78% reduction and net zero respectively). It will also cover the procurement of renewable energy and the treatment of residual emissions, including carbon offsetting. It will be for anyone who wants to fund, procure, design, specify, or occupy a net zero carbon building and anyone wanting to demonstrate that their building is net zero-aligned with an industry-agreed standard. www.nzcbuildings.co.uk Altecnic release two new issues of technical magazine, Idronics UK The two new issues of Idronics UK aim to enhance industry knowledge of modern plumbing and heating best practice, covering topics such as, Heat Interface Units, systembalancing, net-zero building and heat network design. In Issue 3, the ‘Multi-Occupancy Issue’, readers can explore topics such as: • What is Heat Interface Unit (HIU)? • Precise & Efficient System Balancing • Case Study: HIU Installation Leads to Free Energy for Tenants • The New Heat Network Design Guide from Altecnic In Issue 4, the ‘Net-Zero Issue’, readers can find out more about: • Hydronic Systems for Low Energy & Net-Zero Buildings • How to Protect & Optimise Heat Pump Installations • Dispelling Myths about HIUs on Heat Pump Led Networks • Solar & Biomass Solutions www.altecnic.co.uk