Winter 2023

News
GREENSCAPE
REFLECTIONS ON 2023 & WHAT’S IN STORE FOR 2024? BY MICHAEL ANAXAGOROU, SALES DIRECTOR, AXTER
“This year has revealed the pivotal role
of technology in shaping the future of
construction. Its increased utilisation has
significantly enhanced survey efficiency
and opened new avenues in specification.
Notably, the impact is substantial in the
realm of sustainability, with a heightened
focus on net-zero goals and escalating
energy costs prompting a drive toward
enhancing the energy and thermal
efficiency of buildings. This surge in interest
has also led to increased exploration of
energy generation possibilities.
“In the domain of Climate Map Technology,
field-based and desktop tools are
revolutionising the assessment of the
impact of well-designed roofs, enabling
digital modelling of existing structures
against proposed alterations. Moreover,
these tools facilitate showcasing the assets’
value beyond compliance, highlighting the
potential for carbon reduction, long-term
savings, and a more sustainable future.
“The year 2023 has been pivotal in terms
of industry regulations, with the trajectory
continuing into 2024. Notably, the Building
Safety Act introduced the concept of ‘duty
holders’, including clients, designers
and contractors, emphasizing
the necessity for assessing
competence and declining work
that exceeds one’s skills, knowledge,
or experience. These regulations serve
as a starting point for substantial change,
with further developments expected,
including updated rules on product
standards.
“As a manufacturer and roofing design
company, we advocate for voluntary
schemes like the Code for Construction
Product Information (CCPI) and Building a
Safer Future. CCPI, emphasising building
safety and higher standards in presenting
construction product information, has
validated our Wilotekt-Plus system as the
first CCPI-verified hot melt system in the
industry.
“Looking ahead to the next year,
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements
and Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDs)
will transition to mandatory status
for most new constructions. This shift
highlights the crucial role of design,
construction methods, and materials in
Left: Michael Anaxagorou. Sales
Director at Axter.
project sustainability. There’s an
emerging expectation not only to
meet regulatory standards but also
to exceed them.
“In 2024, upskilling the labour force
emerges as a primary trend. Addressing
the ongoing shortages, particularly
in roofing, entails enhancing digital
proficiency and driving modernisation
through workforce development for both
existing and incoming personnel.
“Amidst the influx of information, investing
in Continuous Professional Development
(CPD) for teams becomes paramount. This
investment ensures familiarity with new
methodologies and approaches, thereby
maintaining high standards and quality
of work. Moreover, advancing digital skills
across the industry is imperative to fully
harness the potential of technologies like
Building Information Modeling (BIM) and
collaborative online platforms for building
specification and design.” www.axter.co.uk
More from Michael and Axter on page 20
MCS DATA DASHBOARD ENTERS PHASE TWO FOLLOWING USER FEED-BACK
One year on from the launch of the
Data Dashboard, MCS (Microgeneration
Certification Scheme), the standards
organisation for small-scale domestic
renewable energy and heating across the
UK, is further developing the platform
based on feedback from users.
The MCS Installations Database (MID)
holds the details of every MCS certified,
small-scale renewable energy installation
in the UK since 2008, making it the most
comprehensive reference for small-scale,
renewable energy installations in the UK.
Since its launch in November 2022, the
interactive Data Dashboard has drawn on
data from the MID to provide a detailed
analysis of the volume of domestic
renewable energy installations in the UK
freely to the public.
There are now almost 3,500 users
registered for the MCS Data Dashboard,
predominately researchers, consumers,
and installers. Users access the online
platform to monitor the current uptake
of small-scale renewables, highlighting
current and past trends, and identifying
opportunities for further sector growth.
Data is updated every 24 hours,
instantaneously providing the most
accurate picture of home-grown energy
available across the industry.
Following on from a survey of this user
base, MCS has developed a series of
updates planned for the launch of the
Data Dashboard Phase 2, which is set to
be released in early 2024. These updates
will include improvements to the user
experience and aesthetics of the platform,
as well as an expansion of the data provided
and how it can be filtered.
In Phase 2, users will be able to view the
changes to the overall base of MCS certified
contractors over time since 2008; they
will also be able to view uptake of battery
storage technologies, which will be added to
the scope of the Data Dashboard.
Adam Padilla, MCS Scheme Analyst, said:
“The MCS Data Dashboard remains the
most comprehensive repository of data
on small-scale renewables in the UK and
we are proud to share our data with the
public completely free of charge. Phase 2
is the first of a planned series of iterative
updates to make the Data Dashboard as
useful and user friendly as possible for the
thousands of people using it on a regular
basis. “
https://datadashboard.mcscertified.com
10 GREENSCAPE WINTER 2023 • www.greenscapemag.co.uk