Two years after the start of the credit crunch, indications are that there is some light at the end of the tunnel for the UK economy. Although life is still tough out there for businesses, programmes of planned maintenance and refurbishment that have been mothballed in recent months are edging back onto the agenda, and forward-thinking building managers can gain an edge in a tough market by reducing heating costs with renewable heating like heat pumps.

As workplaces have become increasingly computerised and automated our working lives have become increasingly dependent on a vast array of electrical and electronic gadgets, gizmos and appliances. All of which has led to a much greater reliance on the distribution of power and data around buildings and a demand for more ways of accessing this power and data.

When faced with replacing an ageing pump, engineers often install a like-for-like replacement, even though this can mean missing out on more energy efficient technology. Concerns often relate to the cost and disruption of selecting alternative equipment. The scale of these problems is, however, frequently over-estimated.

With most commentators backing the idea of the Government spending more to stimulate the economy there is much talk of bringing forward public sector capital projects.