Edinburgh MSP welcomes new course at Heriot Watt

A new course at Heriot Watt University, teaching the link between building design and carbon emissions, has been welcomed as a step forward in tackling climate change by Edinburgh Central MSP Sarah Boyack.

The MSc in Carbon Management and Built Environment will offer students the chance to develop understanding of how decisions made from design conception through construction and occupation of a building can impact on the level of carbon emissions it generates.

Ms Boyack, Labour’s Shadow Secretary for Rural Affairs, Environment and Climate Change, addressed an audience of academics, industry professionals and prospective students at an official launch event for the course on the Heriot Watt campus on Tuesday evening.

Speaking following the launch Ms Boyack said:

“This course is an exciting example of the opportunities that tackling the threat of climate change can offer.

“Our buildings account for a massive proportion of our emissions and we need more qualified graduates that understand the contribution that built environment can make to a low carbon world.

“We need to take action to make existing buildings more energy efficient while fostering a culture within the construction industry that makes energy efficiency a top priority.

“With intelligent design, incorporating efficient insulation and renewable energy sources, we can make tangible progress towards reducing our carbon emissions while saving people money on their energy bills.

“Technology in this area, including micro-renewables like wind turbines and solar panels, continues to develop and the expansion of these industries presents opportunities to create jobs in design, manufacture and installation.

“Heriot Watt should be congratulated for developing this course at an exciting time for built environment study.  I look forward to seeing the low carbon buildings of the future providing high quality living and working space in Edinburgh.”