The shortage of assessors caused by the dearth of green projects (24 October, page 50) could be the least of our worries in the looming skills crisis.

Your article examined the measures data centres are taking to reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency. This is an industry-wide objective for both the new build and retrofit market 鈥� but who are the experts that will help us achieve these goals?

Energy supply is widely acknowledged as one of the biggest challenges facing businesses in the future. While government initiatives such as renewable targets and energy performance certificates have grabbed the headlines, it is the market鈥檚 awakening to the importance of reducing energy consumption costs for the good of its own profit margins that will transform the building industry.

The global recession seems to have helped put this into stark perspective 鈥� rather than holding back, businesses are continuing to push through energy conservation strategies.

The demand for industry expertise and consultants who can mastermind the delivery of energy conservation strategies is going to eclipse anything we have known before. The industry needs to be ready to meet this demand. Businesses that are fortunate enough to find themselves in a position of strength today are already pushing forward. As the wider industry starts to catch up, it will be supply of skills as much as the supply of energy that we will need to address.

Crispin Matson, RYB Konsult

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