As we are now halfway through the last quarter of 2022, I thought it might be helpful to look at what’s ahead of for 2023.
At Mitsubishi Electric, we’ve already produced scores of free CPD Guides on the important topics and technologies available to help anyone understand the important issues that affect the construction industry as a whole, and building in particular.
We constantly update our free CPD library to capture some topics that we think will be important for our sector in the near future, so a quick visit will help you understand everything relevant, from updates to the Building Regulations, to decarbonisation and the role of heat pumps in replacing gas.
We can provide technologies such as high-temperature heat pumps and heat pumps for ambient heat loops
Tom Bowland M&E Contractor Business Development Manager
Net Zero
The first of these issues is net zero, which will continue to hold center stage in 2023 as the UK moves one year closer to its net zero deadline of 2050.
This will put more pressure on the built environment to lower its carbon footprint through measures such as enhanced energy efficiency and embodied carbon reduction.
We will also be nearer the 2025 introduction of ever-tighter carbon emissions reductions in a new Part L for homes and commercial buildings.
Our existing commercial building stock also faces updated Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) requirements for a minimum EPC of B by 2030. With only seven years before that deadline arrives, we can undoubtedly expect continued interest in refurbishing commercial buildings for energy efficiency, particularly around HVAC systems.
Related to this topic is decarbonising our heating and hot water systems. It is a crucial component of the net zero goal, and I’m sure there will be rising numbers of commercial and residential heat pump installations.
We can provide technologies such as high-temperature heat pumps and heat pumps for ambient heat loops - both options are increasingly important as we move away from fossil fuel boilers and CHP.
Indoor Air Quality
Occupant wellbeing and indoor air quality (IAQ) are equally crucial for homes and commercial buildings.
It’s a topic that dominated headlines in the past year, even in the national press, as researchers raised awareness that COVID-19 is an airborne virus. But while this remains a crucial health issue for everyone, the link between general occupant wellbeing and indoor air quality is also now well established.
Mitsubishi Electric was very proud to work with BESA on its campaign to raise awareness of IAQ and how to optimise it in all buildings – making them ‘safe havens’ from outdoor pollutants.
An award-winning series of guides written jointly by Mitsubishi Electric and BESA for designers, installers and building managers explains how to optimise IAQ in new and existing buildings.
This includes the BASH (Buildings As Safe Havens) Guide, which gives building owners and operators all the questions to ask their ventilation supplier, and the simple steps they can take to measure and improve IAQ in their school, office, hotel, shop, or any other building.
We predict that IAQ will continue to be a hot topic in 2023 as BESA and other groups lobby hard for the government to raise indoor air quality standards and increase expertise around this area among building engineers and installers alike.
2022 also saw the introduction of a new Part O on preventing overheating in homes.
This is an essential part of mitigating the effects of climate change, especially in our cities where heatwaves are likely to become more frequent - and a danger to health.
Mitsubishi Electric’s Lossnay range of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) is designed to provide homes with excellent indoor air quality while balancing the need for energy efficiency.
F-Gas phase down
Another critical issue to watch for in 2023 will be developments in cooling technologies, such as chillers.
A significant influence is the continuing F Gas phase down of high GWP refrigerants (explained in our CPD Guide).
At Mitsubishi Electric, we continue to push the boundaries of performance with new low-GWP refrigerants in our chiller range.
Multi-residential buildings
In terms of building sectors that we expect to grow, the multi-residential market is one to watch.
This can take the form of student accommodation or build-to-rent (BtR) projects.
Since these are often part of mixed-use sites, there can be opportunities to use ambient heat loop technology that uses heat rejected from retail buildings or gyms to provide a source of heat for nearby dwellings.
It’s a great alternative to reduce the carbon emissions from the site.
How to keep on top in 2023
At Mitsubishi Electric, we focus on helping the industry stay ahead of these and other issues.
We have developed our extensive library of free CPD guides to share knowledge across the sector.
We also have this blog site, which we update weekly with both our own experts and independent contributors such as industry editors and TV architect, George Clarke.
Here you can read trimmed down thought leadership and reactive opinion pieces, so it is worth bookmarking the site.
If you’d like to plan some training for yourself and your team in 2023, our experts can also deliver presentations on any of these topics at your offices, all you need to do is get in touch.
To contact Tom to discuss your project, please email him on Tom.Bowland@meuk.mee.com or visit our webpage for further information
Tom Bowland is M&E Contractor Business Development Manager in the North East of England.
