Announcements provide indication on zero carbon effect on FM

This week has seen a number of government announcements confirming its commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Included within these have been its 10-point plan, confirming investment and the main areas of concentration, providing more clarity and indication on how the move is likely to affect the FM sector.

The government has also brought forward the banning of sales of diesel and petrol vehicles from 2035 to 2030, adding further impetus to the increasing number of electrical vehicle (EV) charging points being installed in facilities around the UK.

In addition to increasing offshore wind projects, the government's 10-point plan has committed to investing in hydrogen production for industry, transport and power.

Perhaps one of the most noticeable FM-relevant aspects of the initiative is the focus on improving public buildings and homes to make them more energy efficient, greener and warmer.

A target to remove 10MT of carbon dioxide by 2030 is included within the carbon capture part of the plan, which includes making the UK a world-leading developer of the necessary technology to deliver this. The planting of 30,000 hectares of trees every year will provide further assistance in the net zero carbon journey.

Industry bodies have responded positively to the announcements, with the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) launching its #GetZeroCarbonDone initiative.

This is designed to highlight the main areas where the electrotechnical sector can provide essential contributions to both upskilling the workforce and reducing carbon emissions.

Further enthusiastic support has been seen from the Heat Pump Association (HPA), highlighting the fact that the homes and public buildings part of the plan requires 600,000 heat pumps a year to be installed by 2028.

Further detail will need to be provided on how the government expects its 10-point plan to be delivered and provide further clarity on how this will affect the FM sector.

However, it can clearly be seen that changes to generation and use of power, combined with adjustments to transport, will see a number of changes emerging for the running of facilities and estates in all areas of the UK.

As the established trade association and training body for the safety netting and temporary safety systems industry, FASET – Fall Arrest Safety Equipment Testing – occupies a vital place in the supply chain of the construction and FM sectors.

This news is extremely welcome. Construction is of course one of the most substantial industry sectors in the UK and vital to the economy. We are fully behind all initiatives that will see a net reduction in carbon emissions. We await further government updates with interest.

Image by laurence-ledanois from Pixabay

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