ACR Journal

June | July 2023 In February this year, the Prime Minister announced the disbandment of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as part of his cabinet reshuffle. Since the United Kingdom left the European Union, the department for BEIS has been responsible for setting the environmental, net zero and sustainable goals for the future. In its place, three new departments have been established; the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; the Department for Business and Trade. I am optimistic that the new Government departments will help galvanise investment in Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) and present an opportunity to illustrate the positive effect building controls can have on the built environment. Data from the BCIA’s latest Market Information Service report has estimated DECARBONISATION 30 BCIA President Graeme Rees highlights the role that building controls can play in the decarbonisation of the built environment. Taking control of our future that the BEMS sector is now worth around £835.8 million to the UK economy. The latest growth reflects an upturn in the market, representing an increase of 8.0% from the 2021 figure. With a greater demand for better energy performance and a reduction in energy costs, the building controls sector has the potential to be a huge asset to the Government’s decarbonisation agenda. Hidden asset It is often said that if you are watching a game of football and you haven’t noticed the referee it means they are doing a good job (VAR might have made that almost impossible in recent years but we won’t get into that!). Building controls are like that as when they are done very well, nobody really notices. If you are inside a building and feeling too hot or too cold then you notice it because you are uncomfortable. Unlike an impressive example of architecture, a well designed and maintained building controls system is not ‘visible’. What people certainly do notice when building controls are not done well is their energy bills going up. The energy crisis has caused real concern for households and businesses across the UK, particularly in the winter months, and the situation remains unpredictable certainly for the foreseeable future. The most effective way to deal with future price increases is to prepare our buildings and make them as energy efficient as possible. With a robust energy management strategy in place that not Volume 9 No.4 Graeme Rees