CAREER & TRAINING by
The Energy Managers Association
My Role in Tackling Climate Change The professionals in energy management, sustainability and environmental roles play a key part in organisations’ plans to deliver on energy efficiency and Net Zero targets. By performing their everyday roles, investing in professional development and exchanging of ideas and experiences with others, they are contributing to tackling the risks of climate change on organisational as well as national level. With all the varied roles and tasks, we are keen to showcase our members’ skills and day-to-day tasks. In this issue, we have asked Christopher Forster about his role of Principal Sustainability Consultant (Energy & Heat) in tackling climate change. which was Sustainability focused. How have you started and progressed through the industry?
THE EMA MAGAZINE • ISSUE JANUARY–MARCH 2022
What attracted you into the industry?
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As a graduate in Environmental Chemistry, working in a lab was never a career ambition of mine. However, I was initially intrigued by Energy and Sustainability in a broader sense after undertaking a number of internships working on energy efficiency and low carbon engagement projects within higher education institutes in Glasgow. The fundamental question of how we tackle climate change and manage our ever-increasing environmental impact resonated with me and although I hadn’t really figured out how I fit into the equation, I felt sure I wanted to pursue a career
Whilst studying a Masters in Sustainability & Adaptation with the Centre for Alternative Technology, I applied for my first role in the built environment with a consultancy based in Essex that was owned by a housing developer. I spent the next few years working on energy efficiency in housing projects for new and refurbishment, and gaining an understanding of SAP and Part L, this led on to energy modelling and audits to complete the group’s ESOS compliance reporting. I then moved into a more Senior Consultancy role dealing with energy strategy and master planning for large scale mixed used developments. It is here where I first worked on district heating projects, developing myself as a consultant engineer and broadening my technical and commercial expertise of low carbon heating and heat networks. As part of the role, I was supported through a MSc in Building Services Engineering and was
able to appreciate the more technical elements of building services design as well an becoming a better project manager. My initial consultancy roles have given me fundamental competencies that I still draw upon today, it is what has also galvanised my progression as a professional working in the heat network and the decarbonisation of heating space. After 5 years in consultancy, I moved into operations and contract management of heat networks with London & Quadrant Housing Association and became much more hands on with the maintenance and optimisation of communal and district energy systems, project managing small works and system upgrades, whilst leading on the adoption of new networks. I became responsible for maintenance budgets and contract management of existing communal networks, as well as the procurement of new service provides across the organisation’s estate. My time spent here gave me much more appreciation for the customer
