UTILITIES
there are obstacles – as well as opportunities – on the horizon .
Pressure on the grid can be managed , she says , through methods such as load shifting , self-generation and increasing the availability of electricity while moving away from gas-based power .
“ New and retrofit buildings should consider removing access to gas networks as the new norm , moving towards more electrification options as standard ,” she details . “ In terms of opportunities , clean energy solutions offer us plenty of different opportunities . With retrofit being the future of buildings and integrations with smart technologies , we can use more carbon-friendly energy sources to ensure better thermal comfort . For new buildings , better air ventilation through ducting will enable better hot and cool air flow for occupant thermal comfort via both warm and cool air being moved through the ventilation , creating a stable temperature throughout the building .”
Agreeing with Claire about simplifying processes and ensuring comfort being paramount to the success of electrifying buildings , Fabio advocates that ensuring smart and sustainable functionality , these elements must be embedded at the beginning of a build – from design to construction processes – to create
108 August 2024