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Cutting energy costs in buildings: CIBSE Guide F: Energy Efficiency in Buildings 

President of CIBSE, David Fisk, called for greater recognition of the need to deliver energy efficient buildings at the launch of the new CIBSE Guide F: Energy Efficiency in Buildings.

"At a time of energy prices rising to pay for new infrastructure, when companies are making plans to meet their Carbon Reduction Commitments and when the UK, for the first time in its history, is a net importer of its energy, focussing on energy efficiency is the key for owners of new and existing buildings.

"CIBSE Guide F shows how between 20-30% can be knocked off energy bills by good engineering and informed, effective facilities and energy management," said Professor Fisk.

The CIBSE Guides are the core engineering texts in building services; CIBSE Guide F specifically addressing energy efficiency, was first published in 1998.

The new Guide is a fully revised edition reflecting key changes that have taken place since then, not least the initiatives in recent Energy Acts, Building Regulations revisions in 2006 and 2010 and the introduction of the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations. There is new material on energy management and drawing up energy strategies.

With government recognising the importance of Energy Efficiency through the creation of the Energy Efficiency Deployment Office (EEDO) this new CIBSE Guide is a timely tool to help deliver energy efficient buildings in practice.

Notes to Editors

The CIBSE Guides are available free to CIBSE members.  To order or download a copy of CIBSE Guide F - Energy Efficiency in Buildings, please visit CIBSE's Knowledge Portal at www.cibseknowledgeportal.co.uk

About CIBSE Guide F Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Since the last edition of CIBSE Guide F, published in 2004, the UK Government has set a legally binding target to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions. The Government's latest Carbon Plan sets out specific targets for improving the energy efficiency in new and existing buildings. There have also been significant regulatory changes over the last eight years, including two revisions to Part L of the Building Regulations and the transposition of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive into UK legislation. The next two revisions of Part L will push for further improvements in energy efficiency to progress towards the Government's aspiration for all new buildings to be zero carbon by 2019.

Energy management has moved up the corporate agenda, aided by the work of the Carbon Trust and the implementation of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. Part B of this Guide (covering the operation of the building) has been updated to include more information about carbon management, and the need for improved metering and monitoring.

The 2012 edition of the publication also includes a new section on ‘developing an energy strategy'. This reflects the changes to planning policy, which now include targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from new developments and the need to submit a detailed energy strategy report as part of the planning application. In addition, the section on energy efficient refurbishment has been expanded in recognition of the pressing need to upgrade the existing building stock and the opportunities to improve performance.

This edition incorporates the new and revised guidance that has been published since 2004. This includes key CIBSE documents and publications by the Carbon Trust and BSRIA. These key references have informed many of the updates and are referenced throughout the Guide.

CIBSE is at the forefront of work to provide authoritative guidance on the energy efficiency of buildings, and its members are key in the delivery of energy efficient buildings.

Contacts

PRESS OFFICE SERVICE - Samantha Dawe or Louise Gough, The Think Tank

T: 020 7831 2225 Email: samanthad@thinktank.org.uk or louiseg@thinktank.org.uk

CIBSE HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS - Tina Cardy, MSc, MCIM

DL: 020 8772 3630 Email: TCardy@cibse.org