Whenever you need to move a liquid without having gravity on your side you need a pump to do it. So it should then not come as a great surprise that it is estimated that pumps use 10% of the global electrical power. In the EU, motors in general, consume 30% of all the EU electricity used and 20% of these motors drive pumps.

Although the industry appears to be holding its breath following the closure of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and the scrappage of the Building Schools for the Future scheme, the UK has tough carbon emission reduction targets to hit and renewable heating technology such as heat pumps will have to play a major role.

All buildings consume energy and the more we regulate both internal air quality and energy consumption levels, the more building users will demand equipment and services that can satisfy both modern living and environmental concerns.  Is there a way to minimise the impact of a building's services yet still provide the levels of comfort and control expected?

With budgets being cut and costs coming under more scrutiny than ever, it seems that the topic of incorporating energy efficiency aspects into the integral framework of commercial buildings may be a hidden victim of the credit crunch and as such is in danger of slipping down the building services agenda.  This is even though it is also becoming increasingly important for M&E designers and engineers to deliver solutions that will be able to prove their sustainable worth for years to come.