ACR Journal

rising, and this means that maintaining utility systems and keeping them in good working order should ensure the industry remains buoyant. It’s crucial that we engage with young people and explain how something we all take for granted today, like air conditioning, has had a profound impact on our lives. It has revolutionised architecture and the places in which we live and work - for instance the upper floors of glass- fronted o ces and skyscrapers would be insu erable without air conditioning. More productive Studies have shown that air conditioning can make us more productive and that the technology behind it is getting cleaner CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai acrjournal.uk 19 RECRUITMENT and greener, something that is hugely important if we want climate-conscious young people to join our ranks. Yes, we know that the heating and cooling of buildings accounts for a high proportion of carbon emissions. But we know, too, that the HVAC industry has a key role to play in providing energy-e cient and sustainable technologies to drive the net-zero future of the industry. Not only that, but as we emerge into a post-Covid world and employees start returning to their old o ces there is going to be increased focus on healthier working spaces and the role of HVAC systems is going to be crucial in combating not just covid but other airborne bugs. The future proofing of our buildings and ensuring they are fit for purpose for the next 30 years is going to require bright new talents entering our industry. So, we must now find ways of ensuring that we are at the top of the pile when graduates and apprentices are deciding where, and for whom, they want to work. If we can do that it will not only benefit our businesses but also the planet.