History man is carbon champion of champions
Glynnan Barham of the Natural History Museum is this year's Champion of Carbon Saving Champions in the CIBSE Low Carbon Performance awards.
M&E Sustainability sponsors this special category for individuals who demonstrate "outstanding leadership, determination, application and initiative in changing the culture as well as reducing the carbon emissions of an organisation and its buildings".
Mr Barham helped the museum save 161 tonnes of CO2 from electricity alone in 2009 despite the addition of the 17,080 sq m Darwin Centre extension. This was partly achieved by upgrading the BMS. He also initiated a system where the security staff monitored and reported back about appliances left switched on at night. Offenders were greeted by specially designed warning stickers when they returned to their workplaces in the mornings.
He also overhauled the museum's heating system and cancelled the default setting that meant the heating was switched on for the winter on October 1 no matter the prevailing weather conditions.
The CIBSE awards celebrate the delivery of low carbon solutions and, through its 100 Hours of Carbon Clean Up campaign, those who manage and operate buildings sustainably. It also recognises the importance of energy assessment via the EPC and DEC system.
Mr Barham, pictured left receiving his award from M&E Sustainability chairman Jim O'Neil (left) and CIBSE president Mike Simpson, is an accredited DEC assessor and ensured that all the museum's sites received their certificates.
Elsewhere in the awards scheme, Atkins was named Consultancy of the Year, while Wates took the accolade for Contractor of the Year. Max Fordham beat off stiff competition to win New Build Project of the Year for the City Academy, Hackney and Norman Disney & Young, in association with HP Enterprise Services, excelled in the Design or Technical Innovation of the Year category.
Product of the Year went to Klima-Therm, Cool-Therm and Geoclima for the ‘Turbomiser’, while Transport for London and Swire Properties were recognised for their contributions as clients, London Fire Brigade won Refurbishment of the Year and Nu-Heat’s training centre took Training Initiative of the Year.
CIBSE Low Carbon Energy Assessors Andrew Gardner and Darren Jones took the honours in the EPC and DEC categories, with Andrew also taking the title of Low Carbon Consultant of the Year. The award for Best Carbon Saving Programme went to Spire Healthcare and Low Carbon Manager of the Year was won by Stuart Dunkley of Leicester Marriott Hotel.
CIBSE President Mike Simpson said: “CIBSE believes that changing buildings and cities is the first and fastest step to a less carbon intensive world. All the engineers, contractors, facilities and energy managers recognised here tonight are united in their aim to create a sustainable built environment. “We are proud to showcase some of the best low carbon projects, products and innovations out there and urge all of our winners and runners up to continue their efforts and to further raise the profile of the construction and engineering industry.”