BCIA signs up for Smart Buildings Show 2024

The BCIA has already signed up to attend Smart Buildings Show 2024 after the organisation attracted plenty of interest over the two days at this year’s event.

Andy Camsell, BCIA Technical Consultant and Trainer, delivered a talk on “Understanding Smart Communication using BACnet” – the Young Engineers Network’s first ever seminar on Day 1. On Day 2, BCIA President Graeme Rees concluded the conference programme in the Controls & Networks Theatre, hosting a panel discussion titled “Building Controls – powering a zero carbon built environment”, with both sessions being very well attended.

Joining Graeme on the panel were Fay Holland, Senior Policy Advisor at Energy Systems Catapult, Signe Norberg, Head of Public Affairs and Communications for Aldersgate Group, Ilias Vazaios, Director of Low Carbon at Gemserv, and Dan Hopkins, Technical Manager at ebm-papst UK Ltd (a BCIA member company).

After some interesting conversations centred around the integration of industries, Government stability, clarity over green policies and the benefits of building controls, Graeme brought the seminar to a close by asking the panel, “What is the one thing that needs to happen within policy to enable a successful decarbonisation programme for the built environment?”

In response, Dan Hopkins highlighted how the Energy Technology List (ETL) is there to promote energy saving but “requires some financial incentive”. He also emphasised that carbon reduction and energy efficiency do not have to be delivered at the sacrifice of a comfortable internal environment, but that the latter can be made possible, and the former facilitated, by good building controls system. Signe Norberg called for a “more holistic vision for the built environment from the Government” so that policy and regulation can be optimised. Ilias Vazaios said he believed that a “mandate was required on high quality building controls” in the Building Regulations, and Fay Holland concluded by suggesting that focusing on how we measure the energy performance of a building “will incentivise the uptake of smart technology”.

Afterwards Graeme Rees said: “The panel discussion went very well. The audience that it attracted, even right at the end of the day, really goes to show that people are listening and want to know more about how we can make our buildings more efficient using building controls. I would like to thank our team of expert panellists who all contributed to a really engaging and informative session.”

BCIA Executive Officer Catherine Walker received many enquiries on the BCIA stand throughout the event and commented: “Some of the leading names in smart buildings technology were in attendance with strong interest in what BCIA is doing to drive forward the industry and its people. As the unified voice for the sector, we are committed to returning next year to optimise the opportunity Smart Buildings Show gives us.”