The first successful day of Build2Perform LIVE 2024, hosted by CIBSE at ExCeL London, kicked off with an inspiring address from CIBSE President Elect Vince Arnold. He encouraged attendees to fully engage with the event, share their insights, and connect with peers and colleagues in the building services industry. The opening set the tone for a day filled with thought-provoking discussions, cutting-edge solutions, and vital knowledge sharing.
Among the day’s standout sessions was Embodied Carbon: TM65, which brought together leading industry figures to discuss their experiences with the TM65 guidance on embodied carbon. The session provided practical insights into how the framework is being used to reduce both upfront and operational carbon emissions in building projects. Attendees heard from professionals applying TM65 in real-world projects and how it is driving progress toward more sustainable building practices.
Another highlight was the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard session, where experts provided a comprehensive overview of the recently published pilot version of the Standard. The session explored its development process, technical requirements, stakeholder engagement, and the rationale behind the Standard. The importance of feedback and participation in the ongoing pilot programme was also highlighted, offering attendees a chance to influence the future of carbon-neutral building practices.
The NABERS UK session captivated the audience by charting the journey of NABERS from its origins in Australia to its future in the UK under CIBSE’s stewardship. The session delved into the transformative impact NABERS has had on the Australian building industry, driving exceptional energy efficiency and sustainability outcomes. It explored how stakeholders have identified NABERS as the ideal tool to address the UK’s decarbonisation goals, reduce the performance gap, and how CIBSE’s involvement will help shape the future of NABERS UK as a driving force for sustainability across the UK’s built environment.
In addition, the Domestic Heat Pumps session provided valuable guidance for navigating the complex transition to heat pump technology. With a wide array of information available, the session offered insights from the DBSP, HPA, and CIBSE on how to seek the right advice, support, and training to make informed decisions in the evolving heat pump market.
The Climate Resilience in the Built Environment session tackled the growing challenges presented by climate change and how the built environment must adapt. Key discussions focused on integrating climate resilience measures into building designs to manage issues like water quality, overheating, stormwater control, and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). This session illuminated how the sector can address the changing climate and build more adaptable, resilient buildings for the future.
Congratulations to the winners at B2P awards! Kate Turley was named Young Lighter of the Year for her achievements in lighting design, while Xiaoxiong Xie received the Building Simulation Award from the Building Simulation Group. Additionally, Gaurav Kataria was honoured as Young Modeller of the Year, also by the Building Simulation Group, recognising his contributions to advanced building modelling techniques. These awards celebrate outstanding young talent and innovation in building services engineering.
The first day of Build2Perform LIVE demonstrated the importance of collaboration, innovation, and education in driving the built environment toward a sustainable, low-carbon future. With so much more to come, the event is set to continue inspiring action, fostering connections, and propelling the building services industry toward a more resilient and energy-efficient future.