stan – Survey and Test Ltd

ISO 14001 case study: The Bar Council of England and Wales

stan — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 15:30:31 +0000

Background

The General Council of the Bar serves as both the regulator for the judiciary in England and Wales and the representative body for approximately 18,000 members. Recognizing growing regulatory pressures and its responsibility to lead by example, The General Council of the Bar committed to strengthening its environmental management practices. To formalize this commitment, an ambitious goal was set to achieve ISO 14001 certification within 12 months.

“As an organisation with 18,000 members, it was important to us to demonstrate careful environmental stewardship as part of our day-to-day operations. An internationally recognised management system was the right solution for us.”
— Andy Curtis, Head of Facilities & Property

Challenges

Before embarking on this journey, the organisation faced several hurdles:

Unstructured processes: Existing environmental practices lacked a formalized system for consistent management.
Data management issues: Tracking and reporting environmental performance metrics was difficult.
Limited awareness: While staff were well-versed in data security and health & safety, environmental responsibilities were not widely understood or prioritized.

Objectives

Survey and Test Ltd was engaged to design and implement a comprehensive Environmental Management System (EMS) that would:

Serve as a driver for continual improvement.
Align internal processes with external sustainability expectations.
Enable ISO 14001 certification within a year.

The Approach

Gap Analysis: Current practices were assessed against ISO 14001 standards to identify compliance gaps.
Stakeholder Engagement: Meetings with employees were held at all levels to aid an understanding of their awareness, needs, and expectations.
EMS Development: Collaboration took place with the facilities team who were found to have the greatest influence over operational emissions in order to tailor the EMS including policies, objectives, and procedures.
Training & Awareness: Targeted sessions were delivered to key individuals to embed environmental responsibility into the organisational culture.
Monitoring & Measurement: KPIs were stablished to track progress and ensure continuous improvement.

Results

In summer 2025, The General Council of the Bar achieved ISO 14001 certification and earned the prestigious BSI Kitemark. This milestone delivered:

Enhanced Engagement: Staff awareness and participation in environmental initiatives significantly increased.
Embedded Compliance: Environmental management is now integrated into daily operations.
Sector Influence: The General Council of the Bar is positioned to inspire its 18,000 members toward better environmental practices.

“Our initial challenge was balancing environmental compliance with operational duties. Survey and Test made this seamless, and now these requirements are part of our everyday business.”
— Chiara Begg, Facilities Manager

Impact

Achieving ISO 14001 certification underscores The General Council of the Bar’s commitment to sustainability and demonstrates the power of a structured, collaborative approach. Beyond internal benefits, this success sets a benchmark for environmental leadership within the legal profession.

Energy management at Christmas

stan — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 15:21:09 +0000

By Stan Rayfield.

Back in 1990 I installed some town centre illuminations and at the same time reduced consumption by 11,070 kWhs in the first season.

What was the driver?

It wasn’t CO2 that was the driver back then, it was money. The electricity bill was paid for from the donations raised through collecting tins. The money was precious.

How was it done?

Control: Repairing and carefully setting time clocks so that the lights were switched on only when needed. For instance, some lamps previously stayed lit during daylight and others long after midnight when the high street had emptied.
Reduction: Reducing the wattage of the display where ever possible
Efficiency: Getting more from less. Thinking of new ways to add some sparkle without adding wattage

What would we do now?

Here’s the thing, 31 years on, and for a first step we’d still be aiming for the same thing. Of course, a much larger reduction would be possible now with new technology such as LED, but we’d still be aiming for closer control, reduction in lamp wattage, and we always want to get more from less.

What are the principles?

The first stage in managing energy and emissions is always reduction. On the journey to net Zero, The Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting set out the principles involved. Reduction is the first stage whether it is Christmas illuminations or all year around building energy consumption.

Captain Kirk, a spaceship and a shopkeeper

stan — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 21:19:08 +0000

By Stan Rayfield

I’ve always liked Captain Kirk. Back in the day, my whole family would watch Star Trek – not just because there were very few channels to choose from, but because it was exciting. It was the future.

Of course, America has a surprisingly efficient way of blurring the line between movies and reality. In fact, of the last 7 American Presidents, 2 have been screen personalities in their own right. Were they actors first and politicians second? I’ve never worked that one out.

With this in mind, as William Shatner, the actor that plays Kirk, approached a real life spaceship today, I anticipated a little showmanship that would help blur the line between the 90 year old actor and a real life space astronaut.

I watched on. He rang a bell and was photographed with Jeff Bezos, the billionaire Amazon mogul and owner of the spaceship he was about to ride on. He clambered through the hatch.

All was going well until there was a gap in the proceedings, the TV cut to a time filler from a previous interview. Complete with uplifting background music, Shatner said his voyage was important, and that Jeff Bezos’s concept was to live and build in space and make pollution a thing of the past. He wanted to look back at the earth that was sustaining our lives.

Fellow passenger Chris Boshuizen, a co-founder of the satellite company Planet Labs, went further, ‘The ticket is for the view’ he said, ‘to feel like we’re part of this tiny planet, this little civilization that frankly has a lot of work to do to make earth work better, to make it more sustainable’.

‘Make it more sustainable’?

Their 180 seconds floating in space were thought to pollute more than 300 tonnes of CO2. To put this into perspective, the household waste from a UK family would produce a similar level of pollution – over a 900 year period.

Why am I blogging?

I’m tired of greenwash. Don’t tell me the answer is to pollute more by sending tourists into space on the basis we might think of a solution once we’re up there. The problem is here and now and the solution is already known.

If the rocket trip added another 300 tonnes of CO2e to our stratosphere today, it will stay there for up to 300 years, trapping more of the sun’s heat and driving our climate in a way we can’t control. Already it’s warmed 1.1 degrees C above pre-industrial levels.

When we reach 1.5 Degrees C above pre-industrial levels (about 10 years’ time) 700 million people will be at risk of severe heat waves and 70% of the world’s coral reefs will be dead.

Far from reporting on space tourism, sea level rise, biodiversity loss, extinction of species, mass populations shifts and wars over resources such as water will start to become regular BBC news topics.

Will space tourism help us be more sustainable and reduce our emissions in the next 29 years? Will it help in time to avoid the conveyor of catastrophic warming that will threaten us and our future generations?….Nope.

But in the spirit of optimism, I’ll make the space tourists an offer. If Shatner and friends would like to join me in a few weeks time in Glasgow at the COP 26 UN climate change conference , we could boldly go where very few space tourists have gone before. They could discover (by train), a new world they hadn’t known existed. It’s called reality.

Kirk out

Are renewable electricity tariffs really green?

stan — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 21:31:57 +0000

By Lydia Newman

What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy is clean energy from a natural source such as wind, hydro and solar, that doesn’t involve burning fossil fuels, such as gas, oil or coal.

What is a renewable energy tariff?

Most buildings receive their electricity through the national grid which is a network of energy generators all feeding into the same system. It means that in reality, the electricity we consume is from a mixture of fossil fuels and renewable sources.

A renewable energy tariff is a consumer option offered by an energy supplier that matches the electricity you consume with the purchase of renewable electricity – but often this is only in theory.

So what’s the problem?

Many suppliers have been accused of offering ‘green-wash’ tariffs, where in some cases the company has had no real direct purchases of renewable energy.

Instead, the supplier purchases Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) as an offset. This creates doubt, because the consumer doesn’t actually know whether this is a legitimate purchase of renewable energy that has been fed into the national grid on their behalf or just a cheap offshore certificate without a transparent chain of custody.

A recent report by the consultancy, Baringa, shows that few suppliers can prove that their electricity is 100% renewable.

Can I buy renewable energy?

For most customers, it’s possible to only buy energy through a renewable tariff and that’s different to directly purchasing renewable energy.

Renewable energy tariffs are similar to an offset, where consumers are receiving electricity generated from a range of sources including the burning of fossil fuel while their suppliers commit to purchase extra renewable energy as an offset.

What can we do about it?

We can honour the environment by being more sceptical and looking beyond what many energy companies claim. We must ask ourselves whether the energy we are purchasing is truly renewably sourced.

Those that do, include Scottish Power, Ecotricity and Good Energy who all purchase energy direct from renewable generators with power purchase agreements rather than buying cheap REGO certificates.

Many domestic homeowners may not have time to research the multitude of acronyms that mask the true situation behind renewable energy tariffs.

Will purchasing a renewable tariff help the climate?

Most customers don’t know what they’re getting. Everyone receives broadly the same mix of electricity. A percentage of consumers will be using a tariff that is genuinely linked to real purchase agreements – these tariffs are likely to be the most expensive but be the cleanest.

If you’re thinking of switching your energy supplier, it’s worth researching carefully. It is easy to fall victim to greenwashing!

When sustainability became sellable

stan — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 18:27:06 +0000

By Lydia Newman and Stanley Rayfield

2020 was the first time in living memory that we have been asked to remain in our own homes. It was also the first time that many had considered the sustainable features of those homes – so we ask the question, were our homes really designed with our best interests in mind?

How do building standards impact our health?

Standards that homes are constructed to have a direct impact on our health and well-being. Homes that have adequate daylight, limited noise pollution, access to outdoor space and sustainable transport options, such as cycling, have a positive impact on our health.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has also exasperated the negative impact of homes and caused rates of depression to double. In the UK, studies show that 84.9% of people have experienced the impact of stress and anxiety on their mental well-being. Furthermore, 12.9% have experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms.

Its clear that design standards play an important part in creating sustainable lifestyles and that Intelligent design standards are crucial. The wider impact of sustainable design does not just impact the occupier but also society in general.

Was classifying sustainability as ‘Red tape’ really justified?

However, design standards have not always been implemented in the best interests of the occupier. With a race against time to meet the Net Zero target by 2050, it seems incomprehensible that when we look back to only 2015, the government discarded 80,000 pages of environmental legislation that it deemed as ‘red tape’. This included withdrawing the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH), a comprehensive standard that would have changed living conditions for many.

The Code for Sustainable homes was an environmental assessment method for rating building performance and included issues that would have a direct impact on being locked down in a flat or house, such as:

•Daylighting • Noise pollution

• Security • Cycle storage • Outdoor drying space

• Reducing carbon dioxide emissions • Water efficiency

The government defended their 2015 decision to scrap CSH – the main incentive at the time for enhancing the sustainability of homes – by the fact that their actions would cut housebuilding regulations by 90% and reduce the complexity and costs of building homes in England. The decision sought to standardize housing standards across authorities in England. In March 2015, the Code for Sustainable Homes was replaced by BRE’s Home Quality Mark, a five-star rating scheme that tests the performance of homes with consideration towards comfort, wellbeing, construction quality and running costs. However, although similar to CSH, this scheme was not made compulsory.

Life for home workers – could sustainability have changed things?

Move forward to 2020 and this story could be viewed differently. The benefits of sustainability to the occupier, and the saleability of those benefits in our post lockdown world would likely be considerable.

The advantages of sustainability are plentiful and wide ranging. For example, if spaces with work surfaces in the home are not sufficiently lit then we become susceptible to fatigue, eyestrain and headaches. The provision of daylighting also helps to relieve stress in addition to boosting morale and productivity. The Code for Sustainable Homes analysed the level of the distribution of daylight in rooms by calculating the no-sky line. Overall, daylighting is a great way to reduce energy bills through minimizing the need for artificial light.

During the lockdown, many have worked from home. But new working conditions have in many cases also been detrimental to physical health. At the peak of the March 2020 Lockdown, 60% of the UK population were working from home, many of whom did not have adequate working facilities – and anecdotally, descriptions of individuals hunched over coffee tables or sitting at the end of their bed seem commonplace.

Of course, within a workplace, health and safety assessments deter injury from unsafe working practices, but homeworking is usually without this type of consideration and as a result, the lack of adequate workspace is likely to exacerbate musculoskeletal conditions such as those caused by poor posture.

The code for sustainable homes recognised the importance of having a compliant home office space that conformed to health and safety standards. The code specified what would be needed to make these spaces successful, such as good daylighting design, stating a minimum daylight factor in home office spaces of 1.5%, adequate ventilation, (with minimum openable casket, 0.5m²); two double power sockets; and a choice of a cable connection or broadband availability.

What about the wider issue of well being?

As the government advised against the use of public transport during the peak of the coronavirus outbreak, many people began to opt for sustainable transport which led to the rise of bike sales. In fact, London experienced a 120% rise in cyclists. The CSH would have ensured appropriately sized cycle storage space dependent on the number of bedrooms in one’s home and space standards advised by the Metric Handbook. Security provisions to protect against theft as well as weathering were also considered in the criteria. This benchmark could have ensured more people were better equipped during lockdown, especially in terms of encouraging distanced social interaction, not to mention improving both physical and mental health.

People with access to private open space found their lockdown experience to be better than those living without this privilege. The CSH promoted the inclusion of private gardens, balconies, roof terraces and patios in the design of a building, ensuring a direct connection with fresh air.

Did you have to compete with any noisy neighbours over lockdown? Did you have your work, leisure or sleep disrupted? The CSH would have alleviated this issue by encouraging a level of airborne sound insulation of 3dB to 8dB higher than minimum building regulations and an impact sound insulation of 3dB to 8dB lower.

At a time when many businesses found energy costs and emissions have reduced, many home workers are finding their consumption is rising. Enhanced energy performance was another driver towards achieving a high CSH rating and when considering other policies that have held back home energy performance, such as those that led to the 95% drop in retro-fit insulation since 2012. It is now welcome but slightly ironic that Government is having to invest public money into the renovation of homes with the £5000 green homes grant to achieve higher energy performance levels. Improved standards that benefited the occupier and would have reduced the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions not to mention saving taxpayers contributions would have resulted if sustainability had taken precedence.

In addition, other government and local authority efforts and resources are now beginning to focus on the very issues that Code would previously have encouraged, such as tree planting or reducing the number of log burners.

We must consider, did the removal of sustainability requirements cause the quality of British housing to deteriorate? It seems that this decision was for the benefit of the construction industry rather than the users. This is apparent in the conclusions drawn from the 2014 Housing Standards Review. The reduction of mandatory environmental regulations was predicted to save builders £500 per home, but many users may now wish that this cost had been invested in their homes to optimize their quality of living.

What is interesting is that the 2014 Housing Review questionnaire released by the Department for Communities and Local Government showed that the smallest percentage of people surveyed for the review were the building occupiers. It’s clearly concerning that the very people with the least input were the most affected by sustainability not being prioritised. With a lack of mandatory incentive, well-being has not been safeguarded and many have lived without modern design which could have stimulated us both mentally and physically. From the sustainable options for transport that an easy to access cycle store brings or the availability of a private outdoor space, to having homes with healthy levels of natural daylight and carefully planned home working areas, there is much scope for improvement.

Lockdown, for many of us, has opened our eyes to the value of good quality homes.

Whilst the UK needs a mandatory sustainable framework for new homes, will the lockdown experience of occupiers now overtake this and drive a consumer led demand for developers to surpass basic standards for building regulation and offer the chance of genuine sustainable living.

When one day we look back, could this be the moment when sustainability became sellable?

• Lydia Newman studies Architecture Cardiff University
• Stanley Rayfield is an Environmental consultant @surveyandtest.com

What do I get from the Green Homes grant scheme?

stan — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 22:15:48 +0000

By Lydia Newman. The COVID-19 outbreak has meant that many of us are spending more time at home. As we approach winter months it is essential for our mental and physical health that we are kept warm and protected by our homes. There has never been a better time to invest in low carbon heating solutions and energy efficiency in our homes. Conveniently, now is your chance to achieve this at a fraction of the cost!

The UK government has been providing vouchers with a maximum value of £5000 since 30th September 2020. This will subsidise up to two-thirds of your household improvements. Moreover, low-income households where homeowners receive any qualifying benefits could be eligible for 100% of their improvement costs up to £10,000.

What improvements does the Green Homes Grant include?

What is the difference between Primary and Secondary Measures?

Secondary measures will only be covered by your voucher if a primary insulation or low-carbon measure is installed. Your chosen secondary measures, however, must not exceed the cost of your primary measures. Did you know that 20-40% of heat in your home is lost through your doors, windows, and floors? Therefore, it is worth following a primary measure with a secondary measure.

What are the benefits?

It is promising that the UK Government is providing support to meet the goals outlined in the Clean Growth Strategy; striving for as many homes as possible to reach EPC band C by 2035 as a step towards reaching Net-Zero. As we move towards Net-Zero by 2050, it is likely there will be an expectation to have EPC ratings in Band A+. If you take advantage of this scheme you could save yourself up to £600 a year on energy bills whilst helping to overcome our climate change crisis.

Our economy has suffered from the effects of COVID-19, the construction industry, in particular, has experienced a decrease in workload and therefore reduced income. The Green Homes Grant generates business opportunities for local installers.

To be eligible to carry out work under the scheme, installers need to be registered with TrustMark.

If you are interested, do not miss this opportunity to achieve a greener home and energy savings. The deadline is on the 31st of March for both your voucher to be redeemed and your improvements to be complete.

You can check eligibility and apply here: https://www.gov.uk/check-eligible-green-homes-grant

What do the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 mean for ISO 14001?

stan — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 19:31:09 +0000

By Stanley Rayfield and Lydia Newman

Imagine this – your organisation has had minor plumbing works carried out. The first job included repairing a waste pipe behind a WC and the second was an alteration to a cold tap at the tea point.

The same hacksaw was used, but the plumber had limited understanding of the water supply regulations and as a result, introduced the bug E.coli into drinking water supply.

Issues such as disinfection, flushing and correct selection of water fittings are critical to reduce the risk of contamination and to control the growth of legionella.

What might seem a simple mistake may have severe and long lasting consequences – it’s a disturbing point to note but many defects that lead to bacteria growth in water systems such as Legionella are often introduced by the plumber at either design or installation stage.

Your ISO 14001 consultant will be able to advise when the Water Supply Regulations 1999 should be included within your organisation’s compliance obligations register. For organisations that have responsibilities to control the growth of legionella in particular, it is difficult to fulfil those responsibilities without understanding, and carrying out internal auditing of how the water supply regulations have been applied.

The regulations are a national requirement for the design, installation, and maintenance of plumbing systems. They have been put in place for the purpose of ensuring the contamination of drinking water is prevented and the efficient usage of water is optimised.

When did they come into force?

Although there is often a lack of awareness amongst installers, the Regulations came into force on the 1st of July 1999, and Scotland followed with Byelaws on the 4th of April 2000. All stages of plumbing systems, water fittings and water-using appliances are accounted for, from design stage, through to installation and maintenance.

Internal audits

An ISO 14001 internal audit of the water supply regulations focuses strongly on both competence and risk category. During the audit it will be determined which works may have triggered requirements under these regulations and objective evidence sought that the correct arrangements or type of device for water system have been put in place. The regulations use Fluid Risk Categories which are defined by contaminants in water flow, often as a consequence of backflow, where the water direction can oppose the designed flow.

Who has to comply?

The regulations place a legal duty on users, owners or occupiers and anyone who installs plumbing systems. If your organisation hires someone, using a member of a water Industry Approved Plumbers’ Scheme (WIAPS) will give peace of mind that all will be executed correctly. It should be noted that a plumber that has WIAPS membership and a traditional plumber are often found not to be the same thing and as a result, will have demonstrated different levels of competence.

Water fitting regulations do not apply to premises that do not have a public water supply connection.

Which type of work require consent?

Some works have requirements of consent needed before the works can begin. Consent must be given via water undertakers before work is carried out on the following:
“ 1. The erection of any new building or structure
2. The extension or alteration of the water system in any premises except a domestic dwelling.
3. The material change in use of any premises
4. The installation of:
(a) A bath larger than 230 litres (measured to the centre of the overflow);
(b) A bidet with an ascending spray or flexible hose;
(c) A shower unit of a type specified by the Regulator (none are currently specified);
(d) A pump or booster drawing more than 12 litres per minute;
(e) A reverse osmosis unit;
(f) A water treatment unit producing a waste water discharge or requiring water for regeneration or cleaning;
(g) A reduced pressure zone (RPZ) valve or other mechanical device for protection against backflow in fluid category 4 or 5;
(h) A garden watering system unless designed to be hand- operated;
(i) Any water system laid outside a building and either less than 750mm or more than 1350mm below ground level;
5. Construction of an automatically-replenished pond or swimming pool of more than 10,000 litres. “
Be aware that in Scotland and Northern Island there are additional types of work that require notification.
However, The Water Fitting Regulations do not cover wastewater pipework such as from bidets, sinks, WCs, showers, washbasins and baths, and requirements should be alternatively found in building regulations documentation instead.

What are the fluid risk categories?

There are five fluid risk categories with the regulations. Plumbing fittings that are used for each fluid category are typically WRAS rated and meet the requirements of each category:

Fluid category 1

Wholesome water supplied by a water undertaker and complying with the requirements of water regulations

Fluid category 2

Water in fluid category 1 whose aesthetic quality is impaired owing to–
(a)a change in its temperature, or
(b)the presence of substances or organisms causing a change in its taste, odour or appearance,
including water in a hot water distribution system.

Fluid category 3

Fluid which represents a slight health hazard because of the concentration of substances of low toxicity, including any fluid which contains–
(a)ethylene glycol, copper sulphate solution or similar chemical additives, or
(b)sodium hypochlorite (chloros and common disinfectants).

Fluid category 4

Fluid which represents a significant health hazard because of the concentration of toxic substances, including any fluid which contains–
(a)chemical, carcinogenic substances or pesticides (including insecticides and herbicides), or
(b)environmental organisms of potential health significance.

Fluid category 5

Fluid represents a serious health hazard because of the concentration of pathogenic organisms, radioactive or very toxic substances, including any fluid which contains–
(a)faecal material or other human waste;
(b)butchery or other animal waste; or
(c)pathogens from any other source.

It is a criminal offence to contravene the regulations?

If regulations are breached then offenders may be prosecuted as it is a criminal offence, consequences may include a fine and a criminal record.

To avoid this, if water undertakers identify that any regulations have been neglected, then amendments must be made as soon as practically possible. Furthermore, if regulations are not complied with and threaten the health of users, or water is being adversely wasted, then an immediate disconnection of water supply to the premises may occur. If you do not receive consent within 10 working days of your Notice, then one must assume permission has been granted.

Before purchasing a fitting or appliance, be confident that it is suitable. Selling unsuitable items is legal, but installing one would not be. Appropriate standards for water fixtures and materials can be found in the regulations and WRAS provides a list of a variety of current items that conform to requirements if installed and used properly.

The London Environment Strategy: what can we expect for the future?

stan — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 09:31:07 +0000

The London Environment Strategy predominantly focuses on how to reduce the effect of air pollution in London by firstly exploring which areas specifically causes our pollution and then by setting out aims that will reduce harmful emissions. The benefits of living in an overall cleaner environment are plenty and lead to significantly enhanced well-being.

What are the main concerns of the London Environmental Strategy?

There are a number of Mayoral plans that the Strategy is concerned with, these include:

Culture
Economic development
Health inequalities
Housing
London Plan
Transport

What challenges does the London Environment Strategy plan to undertake?

The London Environment Strategy recognises challenges, such as the detrimental effects of climate change and the unacceptable levels of harmful pollutants that cause the toxicity of our air. The strategy communicates other risks. For example, both flooding and conversely water scarcity, devaluation of river water quality (only 2 out of 47 rivers in London are classed as ‘good’). There is also a heat risk of the centre of London increasing in temperature by up to 10°C, this is called the Urban Heat Island Effect, which increases emissions due to an intensified demand for cooling. London’s biodiversity is also under threat due to the paving over of green spaces and therefore the loss of habitats. Furthermore, it is of concern that by 2026 landfill capacity is expected to expire. Building infrastructure to cater for an increasing population of what is now 8.7 million, expected to increase to 11.1 million people in 2050, has the potential to push the impact on our environment further, not least by noise pollution, especially with the proposed expansion of Heathrow airport, exposing a further 200,000 people to the current 2.4 million people exposed to the ambient noise.

What causes air pollution?

When biofuels, biomass and fossil fuels do not completely combust, black carbon remains in our air, it is comprised of fine particulate matter which is a composite of the non-gaseous material of mixed chemical composition. Black carbon heats the atmosphere by absorbing sunlight. Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is another adverse air pollutant to be wary of. Nitrogen oxide (NO_x) is mostly derived from heating systems and road transport. In the air nitrogen oxide can easily be converted to nitrogen dioxide, therefore it is vital to control NO_x emissions in order to scale down the concentration of NO₂. The London Environment Strategy states that 37% of NOx emissions is sourced from the built environment.

“More than 9000 Londoners die prematurely every year as a direct consequence of our air”

Air pollution has a negative impact on our health, increasing our chances of having a stroke, developing heart disease, asthma, dementia and causing underdeveloped lungs in young people.

How can we strive towards cleaner air?

Vehicles are fundamental contributors to air pollution and therefore choosing to drive less and use public transport or walk/cycle instead will benefit our atmosphere. Infrastructure can improve our motivation to make this choice and if cycle routes were more accessible, we might feel more compelled to cycle. Plants naturally capture and store carbon and therefore green spaces should be expanded, 33% of London is built up of farmland, parks and woodland and 14% of London consists of private domestic green space. In 2017 this ranked London 10th out of 30 world cities in terms of its percentage of green space. Green spaces should be integrated and made more accessible in London’s urban landscape, green roofs, green walls and sustainable drainage can optimise our air and water quality.

The London Environmental Strategy aims for the following:

London should aim to be a zero waste city. This means no non-biodegradable waste will be sent to landfill after 2026 and Londoners should recycle 65% of their municipal waste by 2030.
Londoners should develop resilience against extreme weather, such as drought, heat risk and flooding.
By 2050 London should be a zero carbon city.
By 2050 tree canopy cover should increase by 10% and more than 50% of London’s area should be green.
There should be an improved quality of life for all Londoners, keeping noise pollution to a minimum and encouraging more quiet and peaceful spaces
London should aim to have the greatest air quality by 2050 amongst all major world cities.

How will making environmental improvements impact our lives?

At present London’s economy suffers a £3.7 billion loss due to air pollution. If the strategy is successful this money can be invested elsewhere; hopefully to solve other environmental issues. Our lives should be broadly benefited by the London Environment Strategy. Cleaner air and water will improve our mental and physical well-being, therefore improving our productivity levels and, most importantly, our health. The King’s Report (2015) addresses an inadmissible statistic of 20% of Primary schools being situated in areas that infringe the legal limit for NO₂. The London Environment Strategy seeks to rectify this by working in accordance with the framework composed by the London Local Air Quality Management (LLAQM) to prohibit future generations from suffering with under developed lungs. The sale of non-smokeless fuels in London may be banned in the future, however the changes we make in our lifestyles to accommodate this strategy will entice a healthier and more sustainable way of living for all.

Is it possible?

The Clean Air Act was put into place over 60 years ago and since then we have seen a decrease in harmful levels of lead, benzene and sulphur dioxide pollution. London has overcome the great stink of the Victorian era and the great smog of 1952 – there is no reason to not be actively reducing the effects of air pollution in our present day. Together with current drivers, such as the Climate Change act’s NetZero target, the Clean Growth Strategy and the planned Future Homes Standard, step by step it is clear that regional plans such as the London Environment Strategy have an important role to play.

What are the new IET Wiring regulations and energy efficiency requirements?

stan — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 09:00:20 +0000

By Lydia Newman and Stanley Rayfield

The new 18th Edition of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) wiring regulations (BS 7671:2018) has been in force since January 2019.

Energy efficiency appears within the 18th edition’s 64 new pages for the very first time. These are set out within appendix 17. Aside from the electrical contracting industry, appendix 17 will be of particular interest to organisations that operate an ISO 14001 environmental or ISO 50001 energy management system and therefore need to be aware of their compliance obligations.

Design: What must be considered?

Consideration of energy performance at design stage is an essential component. The load profile should be determined, for example, by being distinguished over a period of at least 24 hours, whether demand for energy is passive or active. For example, in a supermarket, if an escalator would only be active and require energy during occupancy times, the load profile could otherwise be considered passive. Similar could be true of an active ventilation system that uses passive, free cooling to purge the building of heat at night.

With knowledge of when energy is required, it is important to assess where the energy will come from. In order to make optimum use of renewable energy, the designer must also be aware of the type of local generation available. For example, solar energy, wind power, hydroelectric etc. This will reduce the total losses in the public electricity network.

Furthermore, choosing electrical components with care is an important consideration. For example, if you choose an AC induction motor then surplus energy is given off in the form of heat when used at less than full-load settings. This can be counteracted by choosing products with high efficiency, for example being graded IE2 (high efficiency), IE3 (premium efficiency) or IE4 (super premium efficiency). The installation of wiring systems must also be efficient and reduce energy losses by considering power factor correction and by limiting the voltage drop.

It is important for the designer to really understand the user needs in order to ensure that energy is not wasted on impractical design features. Being informed of the user’s energy needs leads to an opportunity for energy to be rationed as a consequence of load shedding. The user can make a judgement whether a certain zone does not need to consume energy at a particular time of day; the energy can then be cut off in that zone when convenient. This could be described as a controlled blackout to reduce the risk of unpredictable future blackouts throughout the building.

Reducing energy loss

Engineers, designers, heating engineers and builders alike can benefit from the guidance of appendix 17, simply by making intelligent decisions with regard to establishing zones and determining which energy usage is required within those zones. Zones might be based upon different activities such as, lighting, heating, ventilation, or cooling and those familiar with SBEM modelling for Part L of building regulations will see the similarities.

For instance, heating profiles may allow for the creation of heating or cooling zones within a building, or zoning for lighting may take into consideration the level of natural day light, which could lead to separate controls where areas in close proximity to windows give less need for artificial light.

An understanding of thermal performance of a building could be another consideration, such as how the thermal mass of the building could aid either heating or cooling, leading to some simple decisions such as location of heaters. For instance, avoiding external walls for the placement of room heaters in favour of siting on an internal wall can use the capacitance of the building fabric to store and later release heat, rather than to lose heat through the exterior walls.

Why is it important to analyse data?

Organising wiring systems in zones makes measuring and monitoring energy efficiency more accessible. During installation there must be provision to document energy consumption at numerous significant points throughout the building or process. These measurements must be taken with accuracy and precision for later analysis.

It should be possible to measure total consumption for each hour of each day in kWhs and should be collected and stored somewhere accessible to the user for at least one year. The principle here is that ‘what gets measured gets managed’. It is an established principle that metering is the first step to reducing energy consumption and by extension, giving a method for future improvements to be monitored.

In addition, this gives a mechanism to easily collect data towards annual or periodic reporting, such as SECR (Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting) or ESOS (Energy saving opportunity scheme). Both provide government with data to show progress in line with the Clean Growth Strategy and NetZero.

It’s worth noting also that metering has already been a mandatory feature of certain projects or building under Part L of building regulations and the Heat metering regulations – appendix 17 will expand its use further.

What can you implement into your scheme to maximise energy efficiency?

Energy efficiency can be maximised by locally sourcing energy. Energy sensors can further identify where energy efficiency could be improved and should be the same class as the energy performance and monitoring devices. Forecasts concerning weather and occupancy can lead to improved energy performance. And data logging will provide us with historic data that can be employed to determine future energy demand. An accumulation of years of data can depict a diagnostic trend.

Lighting is responsible for a significant level of energy consumption, therefore it is important to take control and only use it when needed. This action can be aided with the use of brightness controls, dimming controls, light sensitive switches, movement detectors and timed switches.

The energy performance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) can be maximised by enforcing environmental controls and contemplating which HVAC equipment will be most advantageous for energy performance in terms of the installation, usage and structure.

In terms of reducing volt drop, it could be worth evaluating potential savings from reducing energy losses by expanding the cross-sectional area of conductors, despite the initial installation costs.

The circuit length within the building is also dependent on where the power source is located. If this is positioned optimally then the circuit length is reduced, and the electrical infrastructure optimally installed.

How could appendix 17 benefit your business?

If you decide to use energy efficient products and an energy efficient process, you will save money on energy bills as well as reducing your business’s carbon footprint.

Appendix 17 mentions that tariff structures are to be considered within your design. Many suppliers can offer lower energy rates during off-peak times if a sufficient energy storage system is installed.

This will have a positive impact on air quality as this will allow generators throughout the UK to even out their electrical load as there will be a decreased energy demand during the day and less energy wasted at night. Could this be applicable to your project or company?

It may also allow electrical contractors to become advanced in this field; ahead of when these advised regulations become compulsory, enhancing a contractors business’ reputation as a commendable contributor towards net-zero targets.

Is energy efficiency compulsory?

Energy efficiency is currently present in appendix 17. As an appendix, it is therefore only observed as guidance and is not obligatory. However, with regard to the Government’s Clean Growth Strategy, it is no surprise that in future upgraded editions of the IET wiring regulations intends to develop energy efficiency as a mandatory requirement. Energy efficiency will become part 8 of the IET wiring regulations.

Conclusion

It is clear that the Clean Growth Strategy has had an impact on the IET regulations and although energy efficiency is only currently on an advised level we can take this as an opportunity to build our understanding of which wiring systems will work most efficiently in a range of circumstances. It is promising to know that in the near future it will become mandatory to take energy efficiency into consideration in an indirect way in terms of local production and storage of energy, as well as direct ways by being mindful of how to install energy efficient systems and products while reducing energy losses.

Are you aware of the Boiler Plus Regulations?

stan — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 20:29:06 +0000

The Government’s Clean Growth Strategy put forward the aim for as many homes in the UK as possible to reach Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band C by 2035. The department for Business, Energy and Industry Strategy (BEIS) responded to this with the Boiler Plus regulations, which was legislated on the 6th of April 2018.

What decisions must you make if you get a new boiler?

Did you know that heating is often accountable for 55% of your home’s annual energy bill?

Therefore, it is important that any new boiler installed is energy efficient. New regulations dictate that when deciding on a new boiler, it is important that you choose one that has an Energy-related Products (ErP) rating of at least 92%. Installations that involve an oil or gas boiler require temperature and time controls.

Furthermore, it is essential that combi-boilers are installed with either Load Compensation, Weather Compensation or Flue Gas Heat Recovery (FGHR). It is also advised that smart controls are used so that your energy use can be assessed and controlled from your smartphone.

How do the additional energy saving measures work?

Load compensating thermostat: This device cunningly measures the internal temperature of your home and compares it to the temperature that has been set. It then moderates the amount of gas needed to heat your home and meet your desired temperature. This is a valuable method for those heating their home for a long duration.

Weather compensating thermostat: Weather compensation works by telling your boiler how much heat to produce based on the temperature outside. Together with an optimiser, it allows the boiler to start at just the right time and capacity to reach the required indoor temperature- only with minimal waste. Therefore, user comfort is maintained through increased efficiency.

Flue Gas Heat Recovery Systems: The amount of energy needed to heat up water in the home is reduced by recycling flue gases, which would usually be wasted, to preheat domestic hot water.

What happens if regulations are not complied with?

If these standards are not satisfied when a boiler is installed, such as in a situation when the minimum efficiency for the boiler was below the requirements, then building regulations will not be met. This could jeopardize an installer companies’ reputation, as Trading Standards would determine this act as fraud. Installer and homeowner alike are put at risk of being fined as much as £5,000.

A positive aspect of Boiler Plus regulations is that it allows control and choice over heating our homes. The intention is to provide efficiency and comfort and potentially save money on energy bills. The largest savings are made by the people who currently have the highest heating bills. It is also estimated that an annual saving of £652 could be made from switching from an old boiler to a modern gas condensing version. Could this be you?

Conclusion

For the near future, It remains unknown which combination of heat networks, hydrogen, bio-gas and heat pumps will prove to be the most efficient and cost-effective at scale and therefore the improvement in boiler regulations is a coherent step. Increasing efficiency of existing technology, whilst allowing capacity to adapt to any future changes involving lower carbon heating systems will be a valuable steppingstone toward NetZero.