Scottish Building Federation mission to Japan

Organised by Dr Masa Noguchi from the Mackintosh Environmental Architecture Research Unit (MEARU) in Glasgow, and was entitled PV Zero-carbon Mass Custom Home Mission To Japan.

From the 1st to the 6th September this year, Mr Billy Kirkwood, current President of the Scottish Building Federation and Managing Director of RDK Construction, found himself experiencing the culture and activities of his Japanese colleagues within the construction industry.

Billy's trip to Japan was organised by Dr Masa Noguchi from the Mackintosh Environmental Architecture Research Unit (MEARU) in Glasgow, and was entitled PV Zero-carbon Mass Custom Home Mission To Japan, 2007.

As Zero Carbon issues continue to headline the Media, both Billy and his brother Robert, who he is on business with, signed up for the trip.

They had no doubt that as far as technology and manufacturing goes, Japan is no doubt a World Leader.

During their trip they visited various House Building / Manufacturing Organisations, initially in Nagoya, then Osaka.

Much of their day was consumed travelling by coach between the various sites.

Billy commented, "What we were to encounter on our visits was an unbelievable, well organised, respectable, environmentally friendly, collection of companies run by real people in a structured management system".

"I have never in all my thirty-four years in the construction industry seen so much dedication and organisation in delivering a very efficient off-site quality controlled home".

Billy continued, "My intention now is to seriously research and develop our own off-site closed wall panel system, this will be the main drive for our new manufacturing facility and production line".

"I wish to deal with the simple key issues first, such as higher energy efficient walls, cassette roofs and floors, air tightness and heat recovery".

"Thereafter we will research and incorporate ground source heat pumps, solar water heating, rainwater harvesting and Photo Voltaic panels etc".

"The jury may still be out on Global Warming, and costs are an issue with regards to achieving such high energy standards, but as far as I am concerned, we all have a moral responsibility to raise the bar, and research, design and deliver a more sustainable product".

cottish Building Federation members can follow in Billy's footsteps and can all help towards zero carbon issues, such as energy efficiency and waste management, by building a higher energy efficient product and achieving air tightness, as well as incorporating heat recovery systems.

These items are not just for domestic new build but also for refurbishments, renovations, commercial buildings and extensions.

Members can also lead with not just reducing waste on site, but also encouraging general waste recycling and energy conservation from the office to the canteen - perhaps this will then rub off onto employees as well, which is not a bad thing!.

Back to top