Royal Philips Electronics has announced a number of energy efficient lighting solutions which could significantly reduce costs, save energy and cut CO2 emissions.

A survey of British business has found widespread confusion over climate change initiatives and the likely impact of a move to a low carbon economy.

The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) has announced its acquisition of ELECSA Limited, which operates a full and a defined scope Part P competent persons scheme authorised by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

In an initiative to drive further awareness of the end-user benefits - and encourage the installation - of smart metering technology, BEAMA (the British electrotechnical manufacturing body) has launched the European Smart Metering Alliance (ESMA).

Having spent 28 years in the commercial lighting industry I remain fascinated by the contractual and design processes used by the construction industry. Often it seems that we make a real effort to make it difficult to do business with each other!

The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) has revealed its new look website, www.eca.co.uk. As well as improved navigation and image quality, the site now contains an even greater wealth of specialist advice and services for electrical and other specialist contractors.

Sontay has appointed Gary Bartlett to the key role of UK Northern Area Sales Manager. Gary brings with him ten years automation and controls experience, initially as a project engineer with responsibilities for design and project management, followed by a further six years as a sales manager in the North for Don Controls. Gary is also an industry accredited BMS / Building Control Engineer.

ADCAS, the Ductwork Industry Trade Association, has warned of a potential shortage of skilled staff as a result of poaching by M&E contracting organisations.

Acoustics plays an important supportive role in enabling the delivery of sustainability. This relationship is key to removing obstacles for the construction industry. Understanding how acoustics fits in, and what is necessary to deliver sustainability will be especially pertinent within the context of the build up to the first green Olympics in 2012.

The 30 finalists in the lighting design awards 2007 have now been announced. Top design practices such a BDP Lighting, Arup Associate, Pinniger & Partners, DPA and Lighting Design International all vie for top awards alongside some innovative newcomers.

CMS Vibration Solutions has developed an exclusive partnership with German manufacturer, BSW, to distribute the full range of high performing Regupol RAV and Regufoam products.

The Toshiba Carrier Training Centre for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at the Leatherhead HQ of Toshiba Carrier UK is now officially open.

Steve McDonald joins Baxi Commercial Heating, the provider of professional expertise and the interface between the Andrews Water Heaters, Potterton Commercial and Baxi Commercial brands which creates the vital link between technical and sales support for the individual products and the customers.

Multi-disciplinary consultancy, Hurleypalmerflatt, has promoted Stuart Bowman to Divisional Director of the Energy Division. Hurleypalmerflatt’s Energy Division brings together a team of sustainability experts that improve clients’ business and property performance.

Public sector procurement is covered in the press on a daily basis. You too may be in the process of tendering for work in the public or private sector which may include gaining prequalification. Set out below is a summary of the Constructonline process.

BLP UK is leading the way in providing an environmental approach to cooling by installing Breezair Evaporative Cooling from Seeley International (Europe) into a production line.

AMEC has been awarded a £36 million contract by Hochtief PPP Solutions (UK) Ltd to design and deliver two new secondary schools, Harrop Fold High School and Buile Hill High School, in the City of Salford.

Hattersley valves have been specified to control the HVAC systems as part of the construction programme for a new divisional police headquarters in central Middlesbrough.

Working for contractors Skanska, Fläkt Woods in partnership with SK sales Croydon has won a contract to supply the ventilation needs for the new turnstile building at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) in Wimbledon.

Mitie’s engineering team has teamed up with Urban Splash to reinvigorate a set of historic buildings. The work in Plymouth included the design, installation and commissioning of the mechanical, electrical and public health services work on the Brewhouse and Clarence building at the Grade I Listed Royal William Yard.

PowaKaddy has invested in Air Sampling Smoke Detection (ASD) systems from Wagner UK to protect its new manufacturing facility in the South East of England. PowaKaddy is the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of electric golf caddies, selling to more than 30 countries worldwide through its PowaKaddy and Hill Billy brands.

Leading Notifier Fire Systems Engineered Systems Distributor (ESD), Advance Specialist Systems, has been selected to provide full fire safety protection as part of the new £70 million refurbishment programme at the Grade 1 listed Royal Festival Hall, one of London’s premier concert venues.

Aesthetics were an important element to the chimney design for the £400m redevelopment of existing buildings at Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital. Schiedel Rite-Vent therefore designed and manufactured a 24 metre high, free-standing flue which will add a dramatic touch to the completed building.

Ornate Victorian style lanterns are currently being installed in a district of Liverpool to improve the urban realm and help boost local regeneration initiatives. Fifty two such lanterns, secured to new street lighting columns, are being erected by specialist contractor MEWS in Kensington, an area to the east of the city.

TAC, is currently implementing a new LONWORKS based system that will transform the old Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) into a modern, integrated hospital facility. Due for completion in 2009, this is the largest project of its kind in the UK, involving the redevelopment of a cluster of five out-of-date teaching hospitals.

As part of a refurbishment of Henley Management College, administration offices and the conference centre have been equipped with furniture from Kinnarps UK. In office areas, a key requirement was to address the comfort of around 60 members of the operations team who were moving to open-plan space, having previously worked in cellular offices.

JS Humidifiers has recently supplied nine Neptronic SKE resistive steam humidifiers to the National Gallery in London to provide in total up to 220kg of steam every hour to the atmosphere inside the Sainsbury Wing galleries and the main building, maintaining an optimum humidity around some of the world’s most valuable paintings.

A pop video is possibly the least likely place Wilo would have expected to see one of their pump products, but the company was delighted, if a little surprised, when one of their VR boosters was spotted on Eric Prydz’ video of his new single ‘Proper Education’.

Leading architects BDP's work on the recently completed Grace Academy, at Solihull in the West Midlands, included the selection of SAS’s advanced System 600 metal suspended acoustic ceiling rafts. The co-educational City Academy for 11-18 year olds is designed to accommodate over 1,350 pupils.

Side Lighting has recently installed Olodum Cool buried uplights to illuminate the ‘statues des 6 continents’ at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. The purpose of the lighting project was to highlight the impressive 19th century statues representing Asia, Europe, Oceania, South America, North America and Africa outside this national museum dedicated to the artistic creation of the western world from 1848 to 1914.

Managed lighting systems from Ex-Or Ltd are being installed throughout the West London HQ building of Dunnhumby, the high profile international marketing company behind Tesco's Clubcard scheme.

Giraffe is a funky restaurant chain featuring a wide range of world cuisines and with everything on offer from breakfast to late-night cocktails, the atmosphere needs to continually feel fresh as well as requiring high levels of hygiene.

Attracting some of the most influential names in the building controls industry, over 200 professionals will attend this glittering evening of networking and celebration, so why not join us for a great night of business and entertainment as the whole industry gather together to mark the achievements of both companies and individuals.

With climate change looking ever more serious with each new headline, variable speed drives in HVAC are set to play a much bigger role in HVAC applications, using their major strength of saving energy. But what does the would be VSD user or specifier need to know about using these products in building services?

With lifts, as with any product in common use in a commercial or domestic environment, the potential environmental impact is likely to have implications on both the manufacturer and the operator. Equally, consideration must be given to each stage of the lift’s life, from initial design and manufacture, through maintenance to eventual disposal.

There are three distinct stages to the noise control process:

- Source - Transmission - Reception. The acoustic engineer needs to evaluate the noise reduction measures which must be implemented to provide a quiet comfortable working environment within these three stages.

The Thames Gateway area of London is undergoing a huge facelift in preparation for the Olympics in 2012. This is excellent news for its local communities as many new jobs will be created – particularly in the building services and engineering (BSE) sectors.

Without doubt, the air conditioning sector is developing at a rapid rate.

Let’s start with boiling water. Many people in each different type of workplace require boiling water simultaneously.

The 2007 issue of ABB’s 44 page drives and motors catalogue is now available. The full-colour publication provides technical details of ABB’s range of low voltage AC drives from 0.18 to 2,800 kW and motors from 0.06 to 710 kW.

Direct Dim is the latest innovation from CP Electronics, offering occupancy detection and dimming control all in one easy to install unit. A host of energy saving features are combined in Direct Dim to provide a simple and cost effective solution to energy efficiency.

Prysmian Cables & Systems Limited has updated its online product data sheets, for its FP product range of fire resistant cables. Aimed at electrical contractors, engineers and specifiers, the technical datasheets can all be downloaded or printed in PDF format from the website (choose ‘Energy’ from the top menu/ e-catalogues / then ‘building wires’).

SLI Sylvania have just introduced a new range of Compact Fluorescent lamps, called Mini-Lynx Fast-Start. The introduction will be supported by the Save Energy – Save the Penguin campaign focusing on the environmental advantages of the new lamps.

The SeaChange range of intelligent modular controls from SC Controls has been extended to include a new solar heating controller to provide control of solar panels in heating and domestic hot water applications.

Airedale has launched OptiChill, a new range of large capacity, high efficiency, air-cooled screw chillers. OptiChill has a small footprint and offers a raft of options providing a high degree of flexibility to meet a diversity of applications.

Mitsubishi Electric has just launched a new brochure looking at Sustainable Energy solutions which highlights the tremendous benefits of heat pump-based air conditioning over traditional forms of heating and cooling.

ABB has launched a range of miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) aimed at OEMs, panelbuilders and the industrial sector. The System pro M compact incorporates a number of new features designed to eliminate wiring connection errors.

Designed to enhance its range of slot ventilators and help window manufacturers and installers conform easily to Part F (Ventilation) of the new Building Regulations, Titon has launched a new range of slot vents: Trimvent Select Xtra.

Jointing Technologies has launched its new interactive website, www.jointingtech.co.uk , to provide contractors with easier access to the information, products and services available from this leading supplier of electric power cable systems and accessories.

Hager has launched a new range of pushbuttons and indicator lamps for remote control and signalling in an electrical installation. Typically used in commercial installations, the pushbuttons are available in various contact types, such as NO, NC, NO+NC in 1 or 2 poles and latching or impulse buttons.

Hamworthy Heating has launched new and improved water manifold kits for its Wessex ModuMax high efficiency, fully modulating condensing and non-condensing, pre-mix, gas fired range of boilers.

The Avant-garde collection of fan convectors from Dunham Bush offers significant energy savings over conventional fan convectors without sacrificing comfort and performance.

In heritage sites, installing fire detection system cables can sometimes be a particularly expensive and difficult process as the historic architecture of the building has to be respected. In such situations, radio communications between the detectors, call points and panel will reduce the implementation cost of the fire system.

Daikin Europe N.V has introduced a new R-407C operated UAT(Y)P series of high performance, low energy consumption packaged roof top air conditioning units designed for applications in supermarkets, warehouse, factories, hotel lobbies, cinemas and restaurants etc.

Tour & Andersson has developed a radical new chemical-free method assisting in the prevention of the lethal Legionella bacteria growing in hot and cold water systems.

AquaMicro is Alfa Laval’s newest product for the District Heating market; a self-contained sub-station designed for apartments and ready for connection to a suitable district-heating network.

Water efficiency is suddenly up at the top of everyone's agenda, alongside energy efficiency, carbon emissions and climate change. A suitable time, therefore, for Reliance Water Controls to spotlight its wide-ranging and continuously expanding series of Auteau shower fittings and basin brassware, developed in collaboration with its French partner Delabie.

A new solution to achieving Regulatory requirements on background ventilation in noisy locations has been devised by Passivent Ltd. The company has developed its Acoustic Vent to fit easily through the window frame and give 25000mm2 equivalent ventilation area into the room in line with the requirements of Approved Document F1, whilst cutting down noise penetration to up to 40dB.

A new breed of impulse fans has recently been introduced by PSB into the UK market for car park ventilation. The new centrifugal type impulse fan provides some benefits for car parks, particularly those with limited height. However, there are, of course, pitfalls in their application that await the unwary.

Busy work spaces, unhindered access between internal and external areas and carefully controlled energy costs. These are just some of the reasons that Dimplex has extended its commercial air curtain range with new high power industrial units.

Seeley International (Europe) Ltd has introduced a new Industrial Wall Controller (IWC). Unique in the evaporative cooling market and developed in response to European demands, the IWC-05 has enhanced capabilities enabling just one IWC to handle up to 10 smart hubs and control up to 41 Breezair coolers.

Klaxon Signals has introduced the new LED Base Sounder fire alarm. For combined visual and audio warning, the unit is designed to be installed beneath a variety of smoke and heat detectors in existing fire alarm systems. The beacon has a unique design that can be seen from every angle including directly below the unit.

Mitsubishi Electric has introduced a new smaller building control unit that is simple to install and simple to commission. The new BAC-IP-50 has been specifically designed to be very easy to fit and it can be commissioned in minutes.

Robinson Willey’s best-selling range of Glamox electric panel heaters can now be specified with the company’s advanced Harmony Control system. This latest development is testimony to the company’s ongoing commitment to supplying superior heating products that provide the ultimate in energy efficiency and improved levels of comfort for domestic and commercial installations.

The SeaChange range of intelligent modular controls from SC Controls has been extended to include a touch panel. Using the latest in touch panel technology, the ultra bright LCD touch panel provides a gateway to the SeaChange control system via a simple to engineer graphical user interface.

Lochinvar has announced the arrival of its new EcoForce+ range of high efficiency, gas-fired condensing water heaters. The EcoForce+ range is comprised of three models which feature a stainless steel heat exchanger and a stainless steel water tank, giving durability and resistance to corrosion caused by electrolytic action. Inter-connecting pipework and a shunt pump are also included as standard.