CIBSE President Highlights Broader Problem Definitions in Building Services Engineering during Podcast Interview
In a recent episode of “Behind the Built Environment,” hosted by BESA’s CEO David Frise, CIBSE President Fiona Cousins shared valuable insights into her engineering journey and the evolving landscape of building services engineering. The podcast, distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/, featured a lively discussion on the critical need for a more comprehensive approach to building services, beyond mere cost and efficiency considerations.
During the interview, Cousins emphasized the importance of incorporating carbon reduction, biodiversity, and social value into the core of building services engineering. She highlighted how changing client demands for decarbonisation and carbon neutrality are shaping the industry and urged professionals to integrate safety, climate change, and societal impacts into their design goals. This approach aims to prevent issues similar to those revealed by the Grenfell Report, ensuring that the sector evolves responsibly and sustainably.
“Building services engineers have the potential to create safer and more sustainable buildings if they adopt a broader perspective,” Cousins stated during the podcast. She challenged the engineering community to “lift their eyes to the horizon” and consider social needs, biodiversity, and embodied carbon in their work.
Reflecting on her career, Cousins acknowledged that while engineers excel at problem-solving, they often focus on issues defined in the past, rather than adapting to the changing demands of clients. “Over the years, what ‘good’ looks like has changed significantly. Five or six years ago, none of our clients were asking for decarbonisation; now they all are,” she remarked.
In her inaugural address as CIBSE President, Cousins called for a “reimagining” of building performance, stressing the potential of building services engineers to address vital social issues, such as health, wellbeing, and productivity. She believes this shift will unlock the full potential of the industry to positively impact lives.
Throughout the podcast, Cousins advocated for collaboration between BESA and CIBSE to enhance public understanding of the role that building services engineering plays in our daily lives. “We need people to understand more about what enables them to live their best lives while in buildings,” she stated. “More value needs to be attached to good buildings – those that provide comfort, mitigate climate change, and support health and wellbeing.”
Cousins concluded by emphasizing the crucial role that building services engineers play in ensuring proper ventilation, safety, and comfort in the spaces people inhabit. She believes these aspects should be valued more than they have been in the past.
To watch the full interview with CIBSE President Fiona Cousins, please visit the following link: https://pressat.co.uk/news/cibse-president-fiona-cousins-discusses-the-future-of-building-services-engineering-in-podcast-interview-5f9f1f4c4f8e3.
