The modern workplace has to work harder than ever before. It must reflect corporate values, express something of the organisation’s brand, allow people to work to the best of their ability as well as look after their wellbeing, keep touch with the pace of changing technology, minimise downtime, meet the demands of an ever changing legislative environment and keep costs down. In short, it is an essential tool in meeting key organisational objectives.

When installed correctly, an air curtain will minimise the amount of cold air entering a building while keeping the warm air inside. However, there are many myths surrounding the technology, and a lack of know­ledge and under­standing has resulted in some poor installations in the UK. Air curtains are ideal for any frequently used entrance, and can be successfully used to minimise the amount of cold air entering the building, while keeping the warm air inside.

Downside Primary School in Bedfordshire has installed a unique, service-free solar powered ventilation system utilising carbon dioxide (CO²) and temperature controllers enabled by batteryless radio technology from EnOcean. As part of the UK Government’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) investment programme, Downside Primary School in Luton has been granted a low energy, natural ventilation system to reduce the building’s energy consumption and provide a continuous fresh air supply throughout all the classrooms, assembly hall and gymnasium.

Jason Preston, Director of 2bm, outlines the opportunities for transforming data centre energy consumption, from the adoption of Direct Free Cooling, to more effective air management techniques and the use of aisle containment.

When it comes to ventilation, choosing the right controls can be an important and relatively low cost way to lower the carbon footprint of a building. David Cook, Product Marketing Manager – Non-Residential at Vent-Axia reveals how upgrading controls will improve the performance of existing A/C controllable fans.

When it comes to ventilation, choosing the right controls can be an important and relatively low cost way to lower the carbon footprint of a building. David Cook, Product Marketing Manager – Non-Residential at Vent-Axia reveals how upgrading controls will improve the performance of existing A/C controllable fans.

Today’s energy efficient air-tight homes require a ventilation system that can guarantee the best possible Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) at all times.

According to the publication ‘Energy efficient ventilation in dwellings – a guide for specifiers’ which is published by the Energy Saving Trust: “All dwellings need a supply of fresh air, not just for the health and comfort of the occupants, but also to control condensation, remove pollutants, and to ensure the safe and efficient operation of some combustion appliances. The amount of fresh air should match the needs of the dwelling and the people living within it.”

Nygel Humphrey, Product Marketing Manager – Non-Residential at Vent-Axia looks at the importance of good air quality in commercial and public buildings. He explains how on-demand ventilation with energy recovery, offers a far more fuel efficient solution compared to natural ventilation systems.

The growth of the chilled beam market accelerated from 2000 – 2008 but what will happen in the next few years to this system with the introduction of ECM smart motors and Variable Air Volume (VAV) to fan coil units?

Gareth Evans from PPM Technology discusses the advances in technology that have made it possible for a wireless system to continuously monitor the indoor environment allowing a scientific approach to the systematic monitoring and management of IAQ.

Monodraught has a long history of working with academic partners to help develop its range of low-energy building services products. These include the natural ventilation system known as Windcatcher, which is used by over 1100 schools throughout the UK to deliver fresh air to a room from roof level whatever the wind’s direction, and without mechanical assistance. Monodraught and Brunel University have been investigating the performance of Windcatcher systems for the past four years by measuring key components of air quality (temperature and carbon dioxide concentration) in five schools and sixteen school classrooms ventilated by square Windcatchers. The data has been compared against current UK benchmarks, such as Building Bulletin 101 (BB101).

Nuisance odours, grease, fat and other contaminants are routinely exhausted from commercial kitchens into the environment without proper concern for the problems they cause or the correct application of the filtration systems that should be used to prevent them.

Shorter supply chains, less time spent onsite with improved installation and commissioning are all benefits that engineers are able to draw on when dealing with suppliers who understand this rationale to help bring programmes in on time. Here Peter Rees, Technical Director of Tour & Andersson, explains why it is not only operational efficiencies that are borne out of pre-fabricated systems, but technical solutions that provide real value engineering can be delivered in a pre-assembled format too.

The credit crunch is at the top of the news agenda and whilst there's no doubt that we are all becoming sick of the dreaded ‘R' word, it is having a major impact on the commercial building market.

The clock is ticking. The Government has set clear targets for buildings to become carbon neutral. With new homes and new schools facing a 2016 deadline, public sector non-dwellings required to become zero carbon by 2018 and other non-dwellings needing to comply by 2019.