How we’re showcasing our expertise on the net zero conference platform
Our energy expert Davide Natuzzi discusses the holistic approach to decarbonisation
Sustainability and carbon management were top of the agenda for our very own energy expert Davide Natuzzi when he spoke at a net zero event.
Our assistant director of our Salix energy, carbon and technical team Davide was speaking at this year’s Net Zero and Energy Management Exhibition at Excel, London.
The event welcomed an ever-growing range of professionals, including energy managers and public sector organisations keen on working towards a net zero future.
Assistant director of our Salix energy, carbon and technical team Davide Natuzzi gives a presentation on Salix funding opportunities and shares advice on how to best prepare bid applicants for our schemes
Photo credit: Salix Finance
Led by Lord Rupert Redesdale, a key voice within government on the issue of sustainability, more than 130 expert speakers attended the event across two days, participating in panel discussions, technical and innovation showcase sessions and sharing knowledge to exhibitors on how to forward with their own net zero agenda.
Davide was invited to take part in the public sector roundtable networking meetings. These sessions provided a unique opportunity to discuss the future of net zero with fellow industry professionals and how a more sustainable future could look like.
Davide at the roundtable discussing strategies for decarbonising public buildings whilst ensuring they are adaptable to the impacts of climate change
Photo credit: Salix Finance
“It also provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by the public sector in implementing decarbonisation projects, as well as opportunities to incorporate social value and climate adaptation into holistic project approaches.”
Focus was on how the retrofit of the public sector estate has primarily focused on energy efficiency and decarbonisation. The discussion looked at how these assets must also be prepared to function effectively in a changing climate.
This roundtable discussed strategies for decarbonising public buildings whilst ensuring they are adaptable to the impacts of climate change. The discussion touched on what tools local authorities could use and what the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme could do to ensure climate adaptability is part of the scheme policy and criteria.
Davide said: “Attending the event was important to showcase Salix's experience, share lessons learned during the previous Public Sector Decarbonisation Schemes phases and engage in networking and discussions with stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.
As well as the roundtables, Davide took part in a panel discussion on how to access various funding for energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects.
Examples of previous phases of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Schemes were presented to the audience, with a breakdown of how our teams at Salix can support the public sector in reducing its carbon emissions as well as the important role we play in increasing awareness of energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation across the public sector throughout the UK.
Fellow delegate Mary Aladegbola, senior net zero technical energy lead for NHS, discussed the importance of being investment ready and monitoring the verification of the investment.
She said: “Several energy efficiency projects get delivered but fail to deliver the savings because of a lack of monitoring and verification to support business cases.
“It is therefore important to establish a good level of monitoring and to have a verification strategy in place to understand the baseline consumption before the energy efficiency measures are installed.
“This will enable you to monitor the energy and carbon savings after the implementation of the measures to verify the performance and report it to all stakeholders internal and external to the organisation.”
Davide participated in a panel discussion 'accessing capital for energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects'.
From left: Turner & Townsend senior sustainability healthcare lead James Bate, NHS England senior net zero technical energy lead Mary Aladegbola, Quantaco founder and CEO Aneysha Minocha and Salix assistant director of energy, carbon and technical team Davide Natuzzi
Photo credit: Salix Finance
Gareth Harcombe, head of climate emergency response from Cardiff City Council spoke about addressing the climate emergency at local government level.
He said: “We have the convening power and the influence within the community to developing a partnership and a pathway for accelerating the city’s decarbonisation plans.
“The message and goal is not only to attack carbon, but to create a healthier and more equitable quality of life as well as the creation of better jobs if we able to engage with the community and deliver our decarbonisation projects correctly.”
He went on to stress that one of the biggest challenges facing the council would be the cross-cutting themes and governance that would be needed to achieve this properly and to pull everyone together and in a similar direction.
Ralph Scrivens from Energy Manager Magazine, said: “Events like this are a great place to visit and keep abreast of latest developments in energy management, see new innovations, meet up with old contacts and make new ones.”
The event concluded with a live Q&A session, where attendees had the opportunity to ask the panel several questions about funding options and how best to prepare for future Public Sector Decarbonisation Schemes and Low Carbon Skills Fund applications.
Davide added: “Each phase of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme has provided valuable lessons and opportunities for improvement. Phase 4 will be another key opportunity to evaluate how the competitive model enhances the scheme's success and impact."
Thank you to Net Zero and Energy Management Expo who invited us to speak at the roundtable and to be part of their panel discussion.
For information about events, please visit our events page here.
