Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The UK government has committed to reducing the nation's carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. Buildings currently use almost half of the UK's generated energy and they are now the focus of an unprecedented drive to cut energy use in our homes, offices, schools, libraries - in fact in almost every building, public or private.

Delivering Sustainable Buildings: an industry insider's view offers peer-to-peer insights and advice from a leading practitioner in this field and brings together in one book an overview of the main issues to consider when creating energy-efficient and sustainable buildings. A resource to dip into for practical advice, which is both highly readable and also backed up by in-depth technical knowledge, giving the important points to note and common pitfalls to avoid. Based on observations of an author with hands-on experience of dealing with the various elements of the building services engineering industry, the book gives a unique insight into the particular challenges faced by designers, project managers, contractors and installers working to deliver lower carbon and sustainable building projects and operation.

There is a lot of guidance on sustainable buildings available from reputable sources including BRE, CIBSE, B&ES, ECA and BSRIA. This book is different in that it speaks directly to contractors and practitioners, with practical messages dealing with real on-site challenges, offering practical advice based on experience. Many contractors are now faced with a business choice of offering services related to issues of the energy hierarchy, minimising energy use, providing good building automation and controls and then looking further at microgeneration/renewables. Here they must decide what technologies might be suitable for their businesses, as well as considering what level of training is required before they or their employees can start to work with these technologies.

Delivering Sustainable Buildings: an industry insider's view will help specialist contractors and facilities managers understand sustainable buildings at the strategic level (legislation, finance, training) and then to offer practical advice on various aspects of sustainable buildings (water use, energy-efficient building services, commissioning and keeping the building maintained to optimum performance) to their clients.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Foreword (p. ix)
• Preface (p. xi)
• About the book (p. xxiii)
• About the author (p. xxv)
• Dedication and Acknowledgements (p. xxvii)
• Glossary of abbreviations (p. xxix)
• Introduction (p. 1)
• Early modelling and design (BLM) (p. 1)
• Technologies and applications (p. 7)
• References (p. 11)
• Section 1 Sustainability in the wider context (p. 13)
• 1 Making the right choices - the sustainability dilemma (p. 15)
• Objectivity is the key (p. 15)
• Rigorous standards and enforcement (p. 17)
• Where will our energy come from in the future? (p. 20)
• The leaky bucket! (p. 23)
• References (p. 24)
• 2 Planning ahead - the role of planning authorities (p. 25)
• A major influence? (p. 25)
• Planning gain (p. 27)
• The disconnect between budding control and planning (p. 29)
• The Merton rule (p. 30)
• Training for planners and building control officers (p. 32)
• Planning for the future (p. 34)
• References (p. 36)
• 3 Legislative overview and meeting your legal obligations (p. 37)
• Global targets and local actions (p. 37)
• The European influence (p. 38)
• Applying the EPBD in the UK (p. 41)
• Continuous change - Part L 2010-2013-2016 and a new EPBD (p. 43)
• Taking the energy performance of buildings to the next level (p. 44)
• Legislation levels, change and enforcement - opinion (p. 45)
• Joined-up government? (p. 46)
• Looking forward (p. 47)
• Enforcement (p. 48)
• Some final thoughts (p. 50)
• References (p. 51)
• 4 Paying for it - the finance question (p. 53)
• Short-termism - damages sustainability (p. 53)
• Funding for sustainable budding projects (p. 56)
• The cheapest kilowatt-hour is the one you never use! (p. 59)
• What is the Green Deal? (p. 61)
• References (p. 65)
• Section 2 Delivering sustainable buildings (p. 67)
• 5 Delivering an energy-efficient and sustainable building (p. 69)
• The wider design process - BREEAM (p. 70)
• Learning from the manufacturing and car industry (p. 72)
• Designing for sustainable communities (p. 73)
• Where is the electricity coming from? (p. 75)
• Dynamic demand control (p. 76)
• Looking ahead (p. 78)
• References (p. 79)
• 6 Managing energy and reducing its use (p. 81)
• Energy is too cheap (p. 81)
• Energy use and carbon taxes (p. 82)
• Energy management must be integrated (p. 83)
• The energy management process (p. 85)
• Data is everything (p. 85)
• Training, communication and education (p. 89)
• The development of energy ratings (p. 90)
• References (p. 98)
• 7 Water - a forgotten issue (p. 99)
• Water and energy inexorably linked (p. 99)
• Management of water in building services (p. 106)
• Grey water and rainwater harvesting (p. 109)
• Water and pipework infrastructure (p. 111)
• References (p. 113)
• 8 Putting it together - the contractor's role (p. 115)
• Giving contractors room to work (p. 115)
• The soft landings process (p. 118)
• Towards proactive contracting (p. 120)
• A sustainable future for contractors (p. 121)
• Waste (p. 125)
• Water (p. 126)
• Adding value and opportunity (p. 126)
• References (p. 127)
• 9 Main plant and building services - HVAC systems (p. 129)
• Fixed flunking - assigned to the past (p. 129)
• System design and application (p. 131)
• Choice of heating systems (p. 133)
• Ventilation (p. 135)
• Air conditioning and comfort cooling (p. 142)
• Bringing it all together (p. 143)
• Further reading (p. 144)
• 10 Getting and keeping control - building energy management systems (p. 145)
• BMS becomes BEMS and can save a lot more energy (p. 146)
• Evaluating an existing BEMS (p. 148)
• Degree day analysis (p. 149)
• Denning good control strategies (p. 152)
• Example control strategies (p. 153)
• Upgrading the BEMS - the business case (p. 155)
• Specifying a new BEMS (p. 156)
• Continuous optimisation (p. 158)
• The BEMS needs user involvement (p. 159)
• References (p. 159)
• 11 Commissioning and handover for energy efficiency (p. 161)
• What is commissioning? (p. 164)
• The commissioning process (p. 165)
• Regulations and standards for commissioning (p. 174)
• References (p. 174)
• 12 Keeping it all going - the importance of maintenance to sustainability (p. 175)
• Maintenance is fundamental (p. 175)
• Is it worth the risk? (p. 179)
• Thermal imaging - seeing in a different light (p. 182)
• Application of thermal imaging to sustainable buildings (p. 185)
• Linking sustainability and maintenance (p. 195)
• References (p. 199)
• Section 3 The human element (p. 201)
• 13 The skills challenge (p. 203)
• Resurgence of skills (p. 203)
• Case study - East of England skills challenge (p. 204)
• Manufacturers and trade associations - role in training and skills (p. 207)
• The green deal - implication on skills (p. 209)
• References (p. 212)
• 14 Changing behaviours (p. 213)
• Behaviour, attitudes and perceptions (p. 213)
• Convenience and resistance to change (p. 215)
• Getting it right from the start (p. 216)
• Getting the workforce on board (p. 218)
• References (p. 219)
• 15 Putting my own house in order (p. 221)
• I had a dream (p. 221)
• Jack of all trades (p. 222)
• Greenfield or brownfield (p. 222)
• Architect and planner-talk to the planners (p. 224)
• Specification, materials and construction (p. 225)
• Skills and knowing your limitations (p. 227)
• Mechanical and electrical (p. 228)
• Sustainability dilemma (p. 229)
• The future: improvement and continuous commissioning (p. 230)
• References (p. 231)
• Further information (p. 232)
• 16 Sharing our technology and expertise with the developed and developing world (p. 233)
• The big picture (p. 233)
• Sharing our expertise (p. 235)
• What did the Romans do for us? (p. 238)
• Business and exports (p. 239)
• References (p. 242)
• Further information (p. 242)
• Conclusion - some big challenges ahead (p. 243)
• Index (p. 247)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Mike Malina is founder and Director of Energy Solutions Associates - a building services engineering practice in the field of sustainable engineering, energy management and training. He has 30 years' related experience working at the start of his career in the offshore oil industry, then working in both the public and private sectors in related building and building engineering services sectors. He is the principal trainer for the Building Engineering Services Association's (formally HVCA) Building Regulations Competent Persons Certification scheme for commercial and domestic HVACR work. Over many years Mike has conducted hundreds of building energy audits and has never been defeated in finding ways to save energy. In 2010 he won the HVR Consultant of the year award and in 2011 the Innovation and Sustainability Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award. Mike has spoken at many industry conferences and seminars, building a reputation for saying it how it is and cutting through all the 'greenwash'.