Sustainability & Construction Newsletter #17
Mitsubishi Electric Living Environmental Systems UK
Cooling, Heating, Ventilation and Controls
Welcome to the 17th edition of the Sustainability & Construction newsletter!
As always, we're bringing you industry highlights such as the recently released London Tall Buildings Survey 2023 from the NLA, and the pressing issue of the UK's retrofit crisis, exploring barriers and potential solutions to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in existing buildings.
Our guest feature, 'Construction Voices,' presents insights from Kooltech, shedding light on the role of construction professionals in driving sustainable change and shaping the industry's future.
Stay informed, be inspired, and join us as we navigate the latest developments, trends, and conversations surrounding sustainability in construction.
Latest Mitsubishi Electric News:
Join Chris Newman, Zero Carbon Design Manager, and Dan Smith, National Sustainability & Construction Manager from Mitsubishi Electric, in an engaging conversation with Bradley Bennett, Mike Linehan, and Paul Sullivan from ISG. Together, on the Ask ME podcast, they discover the challenges construction firms encounter in the retrofit sector as we strive towards a Net Zero future.
As proud partners of this important campaign, we implore you to find out more about air pollution, share information and make the air cleaner and healthier for everyone. The theme for this year is: “Clean up our air to look after your mind this Clean Air Day.” See how you can get involved here.
Holly Hansen-Maughan from the Supply Chain Sustainability School was a recent guest on the Ask ME Podcast, discussing the school's impact on companies working in the built environment and the challenges the Industry faces in meeting sustainability targets. The Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS) is an award-winning, industry-wide collaboration, led by Partners and Members whose Vision for the School is to be: “An industry where everyone will have the skills and knowledge to deliver a sustainable future.”
Latest Industry News:
NLA’s London Tall Buildings Survey 2023 presents insights into planning policies, attitudes towards density and the climate agenda in London. Under the theme “Sustainable Skylines”, the report features best practices in the planning, design and construction of sustainable high-density developments.
'Our Shared Understanding: a circular economy in the built environment’ was published recently by the UKGBC and provides a vision for the circular economy in the built environment.
Despite organisations and the Government setting environmental targets, when it comes to buildings, there remains a lack of commitment to prepare for Net Zero. For a new report, The Role of Retrofitting our Non-Domestic Buildings in the Race to Net Zero, Ridge spoke to over 100 property and facilities heads from leading UK organisations to highlight the scale of the problem and what needs to change.
Banking giant NatWest has pledged to provide more than £1bn in lending to support UK manufacturers develop new clean energy and low-carbon technologies.
The UK can unlock more than £70bn of benefits annually if it introduces policies that push “beyond” the Net Zero target for 2050, new research has found.
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"The demand for district heating is exploding," says Raymond Decorvet, MAN ES. An urgency to move away from fossil fuels is leading to a rush - particularly in Europe - for bigger and beefier heat pump systems that can power entire towns. But who has the biggest, megawatts-wise?
As issues continue to flare up regarding the use of corporate carbon offset credits, edie explores whether the burgeoning use of plastic credits can deliver tangible progress towards a circular economy or lead to more greenwashing as business as usual continues.
UKGBC's Clare Wilde reflects on their two most recent reports that have been designed to accelerate our transition to a circular economy, considering how they can be used together.
A group of built environment groups including Vinci and Mace have come together to create a new organisation to deliver high-quality retrofit at scale across the UK’s housing stock. The National Home Decarbonisation Group (NHDG) will support retrofit installations across all tenure types, representing tier-one contractors and energy suppliers on a membership basis.
Construction Voices
Each week we invite industry figures to generously share their invaluable insights and expertise in shaping a sustainable built environment. This week, we're hearing from Kooltech, a leading distributor for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration industry, about their new Head of Sustainability, Scott Mason.
Scott Mason Appointed Head of Sustainability at Kooltech to Lead the Charge in Decarbonising UK Commercial Buildings
Scott Mason has been named Head of Sustainability at Kooltech Limited. As the exclusive distributor of Mitsubishi Electric for nearly three decades, Kooltech operates nationwide with the aim of decarbonising commercial buildings in the UK. In his new role, Scott outlines two key objectives: empowering the team to effectively engage with clients, architects, and consultants on sustainability matters, and accelerating the nation's sustainable energy transition through an environmental, social, and governance mission.
The primary focus lies in equipping new buildings with low-carbon heating and climate-friendly cooling solutions, however retrofitting existing structures is also essential. The UK's existing building stock is plagued by energy inefficiency and contributes to a significant portion of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. Kooltech plans to leverage its partnership with Mitsubishi Electric to access top-tier products in the air-conditioning and heat pump industry. Benefiting from their expertise in air-conditioning technology, Kooltech is well-positioned to contribute to the heat pump revolution.
Kooltech's heat pump business is witnessing rapid growth, driven by the escalating demand for low and zero carbon heating and hot water solutions. While maintaining their expertise as cooling specialists, the company also recognises the significance of expanding access to cutting-edge district heating systems, including integrated heating and cooling solutions. Through their partnership with Mitsubishi and a nationwide distribution network, Kooltech can deliver these solutions to communities across the UK.
Kooltech specialises in supplying heating and cooling systems, installation is beyond their scope. However, like many industries, the sector faces a shortage of skilled workers. To address this challenge and support the broader UK economy, a focus on skills training and development is crucial. The Government's introduction of the Heat Training Grant provides support for trainees pursuing relevant courses in heat pump technology. Nevertheless, greater emphasis on reskilling, cross-skilling, and upskilling is necessary to achieve ambitious targets. Kooltech is enthusiastic about attracting new talent and nurturing the skills of their existing team members. The company is actively recruiting for various positions and establishing a new branch in Cambridge to provide closer support and distribution to installers in the East of England and neighbouring counties.
Scott Mason's appointment as the Head of Sustainability at Kooltech aims to apply sustainability, contribute to the UK's energy transformation, and tackle the challenges associated with retrofitting existing buildings. Scott commented, “Kooltech is committed to playing a significant role in the heat pump revolution. We are expanding access to sustainable heating and hot water solutions nationwide, leveraging our partnerships and expertise whilst retaining our focus on skills development”.
Jonathan Brown, commercial director of Kooltech, said: “Scott joins us at an incredibly exciting time. Kooltech is experiencing strong growth and reaching new customers from across the sector and the UK. Scott’s appointment reflects Kooltech’s desire to succeed in applying sustainable products and tackle net zero targets”.
We hope you've found the content of this newsletter useful and relevant. In each edition, we'll focus on bringing you the latest news and topics around sustainability and construction. If there are any news articles you would like us to feature, please get in touch with us, and we'll make sure your news is included.
Find out more about our new Sustainability and Construction team here.
Helping the built environment achieve Net Zero | National Sustainability & Construction Manager at Mitsubishi Electric 🌱🌏♻️
1yGreat edition to Construction Voices - Thanks Scott Mason, encouraging to see Kooltech Ltd onboard the Sustainability train! P.s. nice Chooks!