Sustainable Technology Is The Key To Economic Recovery

Over 70 delegates from the construction industry recently gathered at SERC’s new Environmental Skills Centre in Newtownards to hear the latest news on renewable technologies – and why thinking green could help lift us out of the red. Organised by CITB-ConstructionSkills NI, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and Business in the Community (BITC), the event was opened by Patsy McGlone, MLA and Chair of the All Party Working Group on Construction, who spoke about the need to provide incentives and assistance for investment in green building. He said: “It is no understatement to say that one of the hardest hit sectors in the north during the recession has been the construction industry. I represent a constituency that has suffered as much as any other due to the reliance on construction industry on a number of levels. Highly skilled people have found themselves out of work, many for the very first time. “And while the industry probably cannot return to the way it operated before, from a crisis we must seek opportunity. Coupled with the need to address the problems of climate change and global warming in any small way, the construction industry can be in a strong position to lead a change, to rebuild itself on new ideas and new technology.” Mr McGlone went on to issue a call to action in terms of lobbying local MLAs to support the proposed Green New Deal. Addressing the delegates, he said: “What government must do is create the right economic circumstances for you to develop these skills and technologies. With incentives to work with methods that reduce the carbon footprint, the construction sector can begin to prosper.” Maire Nawaz, Director of the FMB, echoed these statements, and pointed out that the economic benefits would likely be felt across the province: “The construction industry is an important driver for other sectors in the economy, which makes supporting the recovery of the sector a top priority for decision makers in Northern Ireland.” Barry Neilson, Chief Executive of CITBConstructionSkills NI, stressed the need for local businesses to be kept up-to-date about sustainable policies and practices: “To meet our declared environmental targets, we have to change the way we design and build and to make sure that contractors of all sizes know about renewable technologies, energy-saving solutions and the impact of environmental sustainability.” The panel of speakers also comprised leading industry experts, including Thomson Keating and John Ross from South Eastern Regional College, Richard Robinson of McLaughlin and Harvey, and Adrian Blythe, NI Housing Executive.