The EnOcean Alliance has announced worldwide success in its opening months of operation with over 50 companies pledging their commitment to the development of EnOcean self-powered wireless technology as the standard for sustainable buildings.

Johnson Controls is searching for more talented engineers to join its thriving service business. A national search is on for significant numbers of qualified HVAC, controls and installation engineers to join the existing Systems & Service Branch network across the UK and Ireland.

Mr Allan Littler has been inaugurated as the President of the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) for 2008- 2009. Allan took office at the opening of the ECA Electrical Industry Conference in May.

The Colt Group has announced the appointment of Simon Thornton as its new Chief Executive Officer. He is taking over from Gerard van Haren who has led the expansion of the Group's business, achieving record profits and sales in 2007.

Ido not think that the requirement for creative building services solutions has ever been higher because every day we are faced with even more demanding challenges to provide lower energy solutions for new and existing buildings with ever more complex client requirements.

Vent-Axia has appointed Ronnie George as Managing Director. Ronnie joins Vent-Axia from Draka, where he has held various positions since 1986. He takes over from Kevin Sergeant who will now focus on his strategic role as Chief Executive Officer of Vent-Axia's parent company, Volution Holdings.

Welplan, the leading provider of employee benefits to the building services sector, has launched a new website - http://www.welplan.co.uk/ - which contains the latest information and advice for the HVACR industry on matters such as the recent changes in National Insurance concessions for holiday pay.

Johnson Controls has been granted the European Building Automation and Controls Association (EuBAC) licence and BACnet Testing Laboratory (BTL) certification for its products, demonstrating quality and energy efficiency in line with European standards.

Iain Gordon is the new President of KNX UK, the association representing UK manufacturers, integrators and training establishments associated with KNX technology.

Climate Center has signed an agreement with Daikin to supply high quality air conditioning equipment from the company's range.

FG Eurofred, the Fujitsu Air Conditioning presence in the UK, has appointed Tony Gittings as Sales Director for the UK and Eire.

NICEIC Certification, the gas personnel training specialist, has produced a series of useful Pocket Guides for gas installers, plumbers and heating engineers. Designed to fit in your pocket, toolbox or worn on a lanyard around your neck, the laminated guides contain easy-toreference, practical information.

Buro Happold, who already has a target in place to reduce carbon emissions in all the new buildings it designs by 30%, against standard regulations, is also committed to reducing its own energy use.

Tyco Thermal Controls has officially opened its new €8m EMEA Headquarters at Leuven, to support its regional operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Amtech Group, the UK's largest building services software company, has acquired NES Specification Expert (SPEX), the market's leading software for creating and managing specification documents.

Baxi Commercial Heating has launched an easy to navigate stand alone training website that makes available all the information needed to plan training needs.

LG has appointed Graham Hendra as General Manager of its Air Conditioning division, with immediate effect.

A housing development in Newcastle has won an award for the most efficient Combined Heat and Power (CHP) installation in the UK and the second best in Europe.

The Chief Executive of SummitSkills, Keith Marshall, has been named in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours list and appointed an Officer of Order of the British Empire (OBE), in recognition of his contribution to skills.

So when was the last time your business had a good day? All employers would agree that a good day in business is more achievable with the support of a highly skilled workforce. And let's face it - skills are everything in the building services engineering (BSE) sector, enabling employers to increase their productivity, innovation and profitability.

Air source heat pumps (ASHP) are now widely available, powered at point of use by two basic energy sources, gas or electricity. The question is which system is more energy efficient and/or cheaper to run?

Energy saving lamps from Megaman (UK) Limited have been used to retrofit into existing fittings at St Davids Hotel and Spa in Cardiff, in order to reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs. The St David's Hotel & Spa is a luxurious 5-star property located in Cardiff, just five minutes from the heart of the city and next to the Mermaid Quay. The modern building that houses the hotel is located in a landmark in Cardiff, incorporating a stunning glassbacked atrium from floor to ceiling.

Chloride is providing critical power protection at Italian supercar maker Automobili Lamborghini, continuing a business relationship that extends back many years.

IT network solutions specialist KMH Group needed a supply partner with the power to perform when it was called upon to streamline the re-charging of staff communication handsets in Marks and Spencer stores throughout the UK.

Trox has reached a significant milestone at Canary Wharf having supplied a considerable amount of products and terminal air conditioning systems to buildings for some of the worlds leading legal and financial institutions.

High Street chocolatier Thorntons is keeping both its products and its customers cool and cutting carbon emissions from its branches with a nationwide replacement programme for its air conditioning systems. Working in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric, Thorntons is reviewing the way it heats and cools its branches, making them more sustainable by maximising energy efficiency to minimise CO2 emissions.

A variable speed drive and a programmable controller from ABB have significantly reduced the energy bill for running a fountain in the middle of a Cornish boating lake by more than half and also lowers the height of the fountain whenever the wind velocity becomes an issue. In addition the installation reduces aerosol drift, thereby preventing passers-by from getting wet thus improving health and safety. The solution was designed and installed by Exeter based system integrator, Drive Control.

Colt International is providing a complete smoke control package, including car park ventilation and smoke extraction for Great West Quarter (GWQ), a large urban regeneration development in Brentford by Barratt West London. Due for completion in Summer 2011, the mixed use development comprises 773 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including both private and affordable homes, shops, restaurants, a health centre, office space and a hotel, all set amongst parks and gardens.

TridonicAtco has supplied its xtouch BOX to furniture solutions company Kinnarps (UK) Limited to provide enhanced lighting control in the company's new London showroom. Located in Covent Garden, the showroom has been designed to reflect a real business solution, creating a working demonstration of an exciting workplace.

An innovative ventilation strategy is helping a company displaced by the 2012 Olympics site beat Government targets for carbon emissions and achieve a ‘very good' BREEAM rating.

Building on success

The new M2M controllers build on the success of the company's expertise in controls and now offer a relatively lowcost solution for both smaller premises that do not have ethernet connections and larger corporations which cannot allow outside systems to link into their security networks and firewalls.

It is difficult to open the page of a newspaper or magazine without being confronted with information on the importance of addressing climate change, and not without good reason. Positioning the UK at the forefront of the fight against rising temperatures the Government has put in place challenging targets to reduce CO2 emissions.

Trox AITCS is well known in the market for providing innovative solutions and their latest pioneering CO2 based dealer desk cooling system is one which is causing quite a stir. With the first installation now up and running in JPMorgan, we look at how CO2OLdesk lives up to its reputation.

With scrap metal prices soaring, the number of thefts from construction sites has increased dramatically over the past few years. The problem has got so bad that it seems nothing is safe, with letter boxes, roof slates and road signs all being stolen to melt down and ship abroad.

At the risk of beginning this article with a major understatement , these are difficult days indeed to be working in building services and administration. Growing pressure to address the subject of energy efficiency and make appropriate changes to a facility's technical infrastructure is one significant consideration, and something that many commercial and public sector organisations are now getting to grips with. Regrettably, though, it's a trend that is having one very unfortunate side-effect - a rising tide of waste generated by the replacement of outdated equipment.

When it was established in 1959 with a product used for heating glasshouses, who would have thought that nearly 50 years later Priva would become one of the leading names in the building controls industry? I spoke to Meiny Prins who has taken over the running of the company from her father to find out more about what they have to offer.

Atransformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through a shared magnetic field. A key application is to tap off 11,000 volts (11 kV) of electrical power from the national grid and step it down to 415 volts, which is the normal 3-phase electrical power system used in the UK for commercial, institutional or industrial applications. A transformer therefore makes raw electricity usable, as well as allowing it to travel through cables. In fact, most of the world's electrical power has passed through transformers by the time it reaches the consumer.

With energy efficiency and consumption firmly at the top of the corporate agenda, many companies are declaring their intention to reduce their carbon footprint. It's the new buzz phrase that's been picked up by the media and manufacturers alike - flick through most magazines and you'll find a product range that declares its low carbon qualities, despite the fact that it might be the latest in coal-fired, gas-guzzling, patio heating technology. Going carbon neutral could be said to be losing its meaning.

A completely new range of specialist fluorescent proof luminaires has been introduced by Thorn. The X-Force family - whose powers include, super strength, endurance, and the ability to resist harm - goes into battle in the harshest of environments.

MK Electric has enhanced its popular Aspect DSC lighting control system with the launch of a 2-channel version to complement the existing 4- channel product. Based around the tried and trusted Aspect range of switches, Aspect DSC has been specifically designed and engineered to be an ‘out the box, on the wall' product, making installation quick and simple.

Levels of CO2 have risen by a third since industrial times and are expected to double in the next hundred years. Mitsubishi Electric examines some of the issues in its new CPD accredited industry guide, focusing on the Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) scheme recently introduced by the Government as an incentive for businesses to invest in energy efficient equipment.

Interplast Decoduct three compartment Dado and Skirting trunking systems are now available in 6 metre base and lid packs to aid logistics, storage and ease of handling on site. The optional three profiles ensure an aesthetically pleasing, costeffective solution to power and data cable management projects and is manufactured in the company's specially formulated, high impact white PVC that blends into the modern office environment.

Johnson Controls has introduced its popular York YDS Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system to the UK. The York YDS is now in its third generation and uses advanced digital scroll compressor technology. Previous generations have been available in mainland Europe since 2006. The range enables Johnson Controls to offer one of the most powerful VRF units to the HVAC industry.

Elfab has launched a new installation aid. Test-Tel is designed to confirm correct disc installation, as well as ensuring the proper fitting of the industry's leading ATEX-approved detection system, Flo-Tel+.

Dimplex is launching a new range of dedicated recessed CAB air curtains, which offer a number of installerfriendly features to make installation quick and easy.

CP Electronics is launching what is believed to be the smallest PIR sensor in the world. In answer to the demand from luminaire manufacturers for occupancy detectors to incorporate in fittings, CP has developed the new Mini PIR Sensor in three different options.

Ahead of new legislation coming into force that requires commercial and public buildings to be energy rated like electrical appliances, Passivent has developed a solution that ticks all the boxes.

Carrier Rental Systems has announced the publication of a full colour, comprehensive sales and product literature package for its air conditioning rental products. The literature covers general applications and several specialised market areas in which the company has particular expertise. These include the events sector, logistics and warehouse distribution, food manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing and the oil and gas industry. The launch of the literature coincides with the announcement by the company of major investment plans in the UK and in Europe.

The new Sylvania Trade Lighting catalogue from Havells Sylvania features a full selection of its most popular commercial lighting fittings.

TridonicAtco has launched the ZRM ES/C series of fully rounded ignitors for the operation of all standard high-pressure discharge lamps with outputs from 35W to 2000W. When compared to the previous generation of ignitors, the casing dimensions of the ZRM ES/C units have been reduced whilst the thermal behaviour has been maintained or improved, making them extremely cost effective to use.

Rehau has launched its new RAUTHERMEX pre-insulated PE-Xa pipe system for local and district heating. It has been developed by the polymer pipework specialist to meet the demands of the increasing number of schemes being designed for industrial and domestic projects.

MHS Boilers has launched a range of energy efficient Air to Water Heat Pumps. Aerotop from Elco are compact high performance heating units which convert renewable air source heat energy into the heat source for a wet central heating system and generation of domestic hot water via an indirect cylinder.

With the digital temperature switches of the ETTN-YTTN range, Baumer's product segment Process Instrumentation offers robust measuring instruments for temperature control for industrial process management. The devices are made completely of stainless steel and are particularly suitable for use in severe industrial environments. A special design with a clamp-on sensor enables easy mounting at a pipe with two standard clips. It can measure the temperature of a process without direct contact to the medium.

With the introduction of the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations, Domae and Qwikline II consumer units from Square D, a brand of Schneider Electric, have been specifically designed to accept additional new RCDs, MCBs and RCBOs to help ensure compliance to the 17th Edition of the wiring regulations.

Both h- and T-distribution units have been added to Wago's Winsta Mini range of plug-and-play connectors for lighting and power applications. An h-distribution connector for Winsta Mini 3- pole components is now available in both bi-directional and uni-directional design. The T-distribution connector for 2- and 3-pole Mini components is a compact unit for through-wiring applications using one tap-off. Winsta Mini in 3-pole version is the small sister of the widely used Winsta Midi connector system and is used in furniture applications as well as to connect displays and compact lighting.

Knurr Miracel Cabinet ranges are a long established network and data centre cabinet solution. The latest generation of Miracel Cabling cabinets have been specially developed following extensive network application experience and are claimed to provide complete, user-friendly network cabling solutions, for both fibre and copper requirements.

Arguably the single most important fire safety mechanism, electromagnetic door holders guard against the lethal spread of toxic smoke and fumes - by far the greatest cause of death in fires.

Hamilton Litestat has just introduced its redesigned Linea CFX Collection featuring super thin plate profiles, split finishes and secret screw fixings.

The new specification catalogue from Riegens Lighting breaks new ground in inspiring the specifier to experiment with different types of illumination and the enhancement of form and features.

The new Intelligence light fitting from Chalmor combines the long, efficient life and high light output of the company's popular Brilliance range with built-in occupancy and light level controls to ensure even greater efficiency and long life.

Walter Meier (Climate UK) has launched the Blue Box Tetris range of modular chillers, in capacities from 110kW to 930kW. Offering exceptional design flexibility, high energy efficiency with refrigerant R410A, compact dimensions, low noise and fast delivery (7- 10 days ex-factory), the Tetris range also provides precise control of every aspect of performance.

Inventors of a ground-breaking radiator attachment believe their move to new premises will enable them to hit the ground running when they officially launch their product this month.

Interior designers can now combine reliable warmth with style, courtesy of cast iron radiators from Clyde Energy Solutions. Part of Clyde's unrivalled traditional and modern radiator collection, the Decorative-Style Sandringham and Antique-Style Bohemia cast iron column radiators will add a timeless touch to period interiors or create a classic feel to a contemporary space. In addition, their solid construction makes them a practical choice, and they are designed to deliver economical performance over a virtually unlimited lifetime.

Now available for the 2008 air conditioning season is the full range of LG indoor units - cassettes; ceiling concealed/ducted; ceiling and floor; ceiling suspended; wall mounts and the award winning full range of Art Cool including its Gallery series - all complemented by one of the industry's biggest ranges of universal outdoor and VRF units to suit any size and type of building or premises.

Lochinvar has announced the addition of a new model to its TurboCharger range of high efficiency gas-fired condensing water heaters.

Hager has launched a range of two and three module low noise contactors for applications where silence is a virtue, such as in hotel rooms and restaurants.

Vision III from Ridi is an a w a r d - w i n n i n g , suspended direct/indirect panel luminaire that blends elegant design with 21st Century performance. Designed for office environments to meet the requirements of LG7, Vision III is also a perfect luminaire for learning environments, boardrooms and special task areas where even, shadow-free light is critical.

To complement the Kopex International range of electrical conduit and cable management products for hazardous areas, a new range of convertors, adaptors and reducers has been introduced. They provide a means of matching threadforms of hazardous area approved equipment whilst ensuring that the integrity and Ex approval of the installation is maintained.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has launched a software tool which will allow air conditioning application engineers to design and specify complete variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems in minutes. Esolution software is designed specifically for the company's industry-leading KX4 VRF systems and will be available free to building services engineers.

Seaward has introduced the electrical industry's first dual purpose checkbox capable of validating the accuracy of both installation testers and portable appliance testers.

Danlers Limited design and manufacture energy saving passive infra-red thermostat controls, designed to control loads such as stand-alone air cooling units.

Armstrong has extended its award-winning MBS range of integrated heating solutions. Previously available for applications from 120 to 320kW, the MBS modular solution (which solves the problems associated with maximising efficiency of condensing boilers) can now be used for applications up to 690kW.

JG Speedfit is a plastic push-fit system; suitable for domestic hot and cold water services, central heating applications and underfloor heating.

Vent-Axia has added two new wholehouse ventilation systems to its residential range. Part of the Vent- Axia Lo Carbon initiative, the LoWatt HR204 is a SAP Appendix Q listed solution capable of 70% heat recovery whilst the 205 MEV is a central extract system designed to operate solely from a cooker hood location.