Tesco has announced it will spend over £100m with UK green technology companies, boosting the economy and safeguarding or creating thousands of jobs.

The UK is fast recognising the benefit of green technology and with expertise in research and development, engineering and innovation is well placed to capitalise on the growth of the industry. On the back of the recession, this investment is welcome news for small companies across the country.

The KNX UK Association has introduced a definitive guide to KNX intelligent building technology with their new 24 page Consultants Guide. It sets out precisely for M&E consultants and specifiers, detailed information on the KNX standard and the applications of KNX technology. It will assist building professionals in making informed choices on the use of KNX within any building services project.

Grundfos is proving to be a lifesaver in Haiti, providing clean water for the inhabitants of the capital of Port-au-Prince.

In the week following the disastrous earthquake, the first SQFlex pumping systems were donated by Grundfos for installation in the capital, with more arriving daily including 20 systems which have been donated by the Poul Due Jensen Foundation.

It’s not often that the magazine becomes the main focus of a news story but this month I have pleasure in bringing you the news that I have received the award for KNX Champion of the Year.

Over the last few years we have brought you regular news on the building controls industry, championing the cause for better controls systems, both through the pages of BSEE and through our Building Controls awards programme.

It’s probably true to say that the best lighting installations take account of all the options available in the context of the needs of the workforce and the client’s commercial and environmental imperatives. However, it’s equally true to observe that those lighting installations that fail to deliver best value are those that follow a formulaic approach with little regard to the specifics of the project.

Interpretation of legislation in the commercial building services industry may lead to unnecessary costs in improving existing buildings. We believe greater carbon savings can be achieved in the short term with a change in approach to heating and hot water solutions.

With 2010 heralding football fever, Vent-Axia is running its Fan-tastic Footy Sales Promotion. Launched on 1 February, the promotion will offer Vent-Axia customers the chance to win £2,000 of holiday vouchers.

ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry will launch a pilot Group Training Association (GTA) project in Merseyside to help save apprentices and protect the future skillset of the industry. The initiative, known as ‘Constructing the Future Merseyside’, will be led by Liverpool Housing Trust and a number of Regional Clients.

ABB has helped wind power generation experts quietrevolution ltd to develop an innovative wind turbine that promises to capture wind power in areas never before exploited.

Architects, developers and local councils are already showing strong interest in the company’s QR5, a vertical axis wind turbine designed to operate in urban areas, where wind speeds are lower and wind directions change frequently. Its helical design ensures it is robust and able to deal with even turbulent winds. It also eliminates virtually all noise and vibration.

Atkins, Wates, Max Fordham and Norman Disney & Young are flying the flag for the construction and engineering industry, underlining the role that the sector has to play in striving towards a low carbon future.

Raising the bar for low carbon design, operation and innovation, all the winners at the 2010 CIBSE Low Carbon Performance Awards proved that achieving carbon reductions in the built environment is not just possible but essential if the UK is to meet agreed targets.

The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, the Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, has announced British Gas’s role in a £12 million energy efficiency initiative to help schools and pupils to become energy aware.

With immediate effect, all state funded schools in England will be invited to apply for free energy display meters and an education package which will be provided and installed by British Gas.

The hunt is on to find the most talented employees in the building services engineering sector, as SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for building services engineering, launches its 2010 Skill M&E competitions.

Skill M&E consists of four skills competitions that seek to find the finest mechanical and electrical engineers in the building services engineering sector.  During the competitions, entrants will be assessed on a series of practical tests reflecting their day to day work. 

Only 5% of project participants have any experience of using project bank accounts and only 30% of projects are likely to use them. These are the headline findings of an industry-wide consultation on the use of project bank accounts (PBAs) conducted by the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT).

Commenting on the evolution of all things smart at BEAMA’s Smart Electricity Systems Conference, Dr Howard Porter, BEAMA’s Chief Operating Officer said that for smart networks and smart grids: “This is reality – not just hype – it’s the future.”

He said BEAMA welcomes the Government’s phased approach to installing smart metering in all UK homes and SMEs, and the links to future developments for smart grids and smart housing. 

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 gathers together to mark the achievements of both companies and individuals.

A lot of emphasis is placed on the energy efficiency of new buildings, and Part L of the Building Regulations, along with Energy Performance Certificates have helped to set higher standards for the carbon footprint of new buildings.

Changing existing 250W Metal Halide lamps to Megaman’s 100W Clusterlites has helped greatly reduce maintenance costs and, more importantly, reduce energy savings for a prestigious car showroom in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire.  

Plans to develop one of the most sustainable office buildings in the country were given the go-ahead as Network Rail’s new national centre received the stamp of approval from Milton Keynes’ planning authority.

The centre will bring together teams spread across numerous sites under one eco-friendly roof, improving the way Network Rail coordinates activities to build a bigger and better railway. Network Rail plans to house up to 3,000 employees at the centre, bringing new jobs to the area.

Buro Happold is celebrating its latest win – the new fish market complex in Muscat, the capital city of Oman.

Designed by Snohetta, this high-profile project in the heart of the city will be a new waterfront landmark and will replace the existing 1960’s building with modern trading spaces and will feature landing, refrigeration, preparation, packing and restaurant facilities.

Philips Dynalite has supplied an energy-saving lighting control system for the luxury Scarlet eco-hotel in Cornwall. The design by Philips Dynalite Dimension dealer, Lightmaster-Direct, embraces best environmental practices to yield a lighting scheme in harmony with the surroundings (using just 3.36 watts per square metre) and providing guests with an unparalleled ambience and sense of opulence.

As part of a customised, scalable and fully redundant cooling solution, Airedale has helped collocation provider UK Grid to reduce the PUE at its owned and operated, new carrier-neutral data centre, Synergy House in Manchester.

Over 1,700 metres of SAS International System 600 acoustic lighting rafts, incorporating HCP radiant heating panels, have been specified for the new Trent Valley Academy in Lincolnshire.

SAS International, and specialist heating division HCP, worked closely with multi-disciplinary practice Mouchel to design a solution addressing heating, acoustic and lighting requirements.

The new Little Venice Sports Centre in Crompton Street, London appears to grow out of the surrounding park. The building achieves high levels of sustainability, most notably through bio-diversity, energy efficiency and eco-friendly materials such as its sedum roof, which is also a focus for two other important energy saving technologies - Monodraught Windcatchers and Sunpipes.

Standard Life’s highly energy efficient £18.8million development at Old Bailey, alongside the most famous courthouse in the country, has been equipped with a building management system designed and installed by Integrated Control Systems of Wokingham.

Solar Thermal systems are now regarded as an accepted part of the microgeneration market. No longer is it a niche offering – it is now established and accepted. The market developments mean a clear growth in sales and installations but contractors must look to whole integrated systems and one-stop shopping to gain the greatest rewards from solar heating.

The intelligent use of modern building management systems (BMS) is increasing at facilities emanating from an ever-widening number of sectors. Far from the conventional preserve of education establishments, historic buildings, office blocks, hotels, hospitals and sports centres, the latest BMS technology is being introduced at several unusual and perhaps slightly surprising end user sites, including zoos and large cultivation greenhouses to name but two.

Every building brings its own challenges when it comes to ensuring it provides a comfortable and safe working environment. Internal conditions are determined by its shape and size, its thermal characteristics, the processes it houses and the uses made of different areas.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the BSE sector will have a major role to play in meeting the carbon reduction targets set by the Government. Reducing emissions, lowering energy consumption and conserving water cannot be achieved without the sector designing, installing and maintaining renewable and environmental technologies, and providing the best advice to customers.

Rainwater harvesting has become the next best thing when it comes to saving our valuable water supplies. Various techniques are available to make the collection of water possible for use within the home or commercial/public buildings. The pay off in terms of cost and water savings is clearly evidenced by those companies providing these techniques. However, when you look carefully at the projects where rainwater harvesting has been introduced it is rarely used beyond that which is necessary for running washing machines, flushing toilets and watering the garden.

A considerably large proportion of businesses are reliant on air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment- sometimes even both. The consequences incurred when these systems break down can be disastrous for any company or individual, making periodic service and maintenance vital.

Public buildings have very specific acoustic requirements within certain rooms, often determined by the activity within the room which in turn sets the acoustic performance specification. School and hospital environments are a prime example of where effective acoustic solutions are essential, demanding a calm and comfortable environment for all. Noise can seriously harm an individual’s health leading to pain, fatigue, hearing impairment and communication problems, as well as interfering with daily activities and performance at school. Indeed, high-quality acoustics in the classroom for example, are necessary for all children to be able to learn, and for deaf and hard-of-hearing children they are vital.

Grundfos has become a well-known name in the supply of high quality pumps for commercial building services applications heating, air conditioning and pressure boosting but have not necessarily been the first name to spring to mind when considering wastewater pump suppliers. 

The new Illusion recessed range of luminaires from Riegens Lighting combine form and light to create a modern and stylish solution to any interior application. 

Created from an idea between Riegens and consultants LAPD, Illusion has been specifically designed and developed to provide luminous uniformity across the ceiling from any viewing angle.

Now available direct from FGE Eurofred is the new comprehensive catalogue detailing the entire Fujitsu range of air conditioning products. The full colour A4-sized catalogue, readily available free of charge, gives all possible technical data, product specification and installation & commissioning procedures for the full Fujitsu range of cassettes, hi-wall, ducted, convertibles, condensers, VRFs  and accessories such as remote controllers.

Enter the Grundfos new web portal and see the all new web window that will help to simplify pump selection by making available to you for the first time a one stop shop for commercial building services professionals.

The website offers a number of key areas such as product information where you can find out more about specific Grundfos pump families and their areas of application and a quick pump selection feature to allow you to select the pump(s) that best meets the needs of your particular application.

Glow-worm, the one-stop shop for all solar thermal installation needs, has developed its Clearly Solar all-in-one packs to make installations fast and simple. The packs include everything needed for a solar thermal installation and have some very innovative and practical fixing features.

MHS Radiators has launched the Zero range of low cost, lightweight aluminium radiators with contemporary styling and excellent heat outputs from 423W to 3,068W. 

They make an excellent alternative to steel panel radiators and thanks to their low water content heat up rapidly and are extremely efficient. Where high pressures are needed, like high rise buildings, Zero operates at up to 16 BAR, making specification simple.

Bilco UK has updated and relaunched its website to include, among other things, a video of its products in action.

Among the products featured in the videos are single leaf smoke vents which automatically open to the legally-required 140 degrees, reducing the possibility of smoke being blown back into the building, and roof access hatches that feature easy single-handed opening and closing, allowing users to keep one hand on the ladder for improved safety.

Danlers manufacture a range of soft start dimmer modules suitable for dimming up to 400 watts of resistive, mains halogen or dimmable electronic transformer loads and up to 250W of wire-wound transformer inductive loads.

The modules are suitable for MK Grid Plus, Crabtree grid and Eurodata plates.

The Core Bollard range of luminaires from Cooper Lighting offers an extensive choice of models and lamp options. In addition to the more usual high-output 70W SON and MBIT discharge-lamp types, the range includes a highly efficient energy-saving CFL model, which is also available in a three hour maintained emergency version.

Johnson Controls has published its extensive HVAC&R product catalogue for 2010. The new catalogue includes product information and prices for 1,600 product lines covering actuators, valves, sensors, thermostats, transducers and controllers.

A completely new series of slim tubular lighting columns has been introduced by Thorn.

Called the Alumet range, the new luminaires provide what is probably the most comprehensive and flexible system of its kind ever offered to landscape architects and planners.

Whether you are storing food or flowers, medical supplies or frozen goods, the latest innovation from Kingspan can help you to stay chilled at the right level. The Kingspan Modular Box is a flat pack walk in cold store that combines very high levels of guaranteed performance with ease of assembly and a fully supported fast track service.

Schneider Electric has enhanced its measuring and monitoring solutions with the introduction of PowerView – a power and energy monitoring software, suitable for small system applications to help businesses save money and energy.

By adding both variable air volume and air direction control, the OKNI range of active chilled beams from Solid Air has overcome many of the problems associated with traditional chilled beam designs. Now an application can be changed without the need for either expensive re-design or retrofitting of new air distribution equipment.

Excel Networking Solutions, the copper and optical cabling infrastructure provider, is proud to announce the immediate availability of a range of innovatively designed unshielded and shielded patch panels, aimed at streamlining patch lead management.

Excel believes in constantly evolving its range of products. Listening to customers and end users, and understanding their needs, drives the company’s development, and these new products, which extend the Excel Plus range, have been created with the integrator and end user in mind.

JG Speedfit is pleased to announce additions to their Cold Water Services range of fittings. The new JG Speedfit Stop Tap range consists of five different sizes from 20 to 32mm and can connect MDPE to MDPE or MDPE to copper or PEX (Plumbing) Pipe.

As with all JG Speedfit fittings the primary benefit is that a connection is made with a simple push in action meaning no tools are required. A fast installation is guaranteed first time every time and, once made, the stainless steel teeth grip the pipe, giving a high resistance to pull out.

Rada has enhanced its market-leading Sense range of digital water control systems with the introduction of the Sense Dual Shower T3.

Designed specifically with children or the less able in mind, the Dual Shower T3 control and valve is suitable for all commercial and public sector showering facilities which need to meet the demands of Part M of the Building Regulations, while addressing the needs of the young and other potential users.    

Carrier Corp has introduced a new range of Aquasnap high-temperature heat pumps with a heating capacity ranging from 14kW to 105kW, providing energy efficient heating solutions suitable for commercial applications. With this launch, Carrier is the first manufacturer to offer high-temperature packaged heat pumps with a heating capacity above 50kW.

Growing international concern for the environment has led to an increase in demand for environmentally conscious, energy saving product solutions for the industrial, commercial and retail sectors of the refrigeration market. That said, the rapid increase in the application of refrigeration to corner shops, convenience stores and petrol station forecourts in residential areas has highlighted the need for constraints on equipment operating noise and size. 

Paviom has launched a versatile new range of Linear in-ground and surface mounted luminaires. The Limbus and Lentus ranges offer specifiers the freedom of uplighting or wall washing with T5 fluorescent or a variety of LED colours: white, red, green and blue to create a colourful and contemporary lighting scheme.

The Limbus fluorescent luminaires have been developed specifically for wall washing and illuminating low level signage. Providing symmetrical or asymmetrical distributions of light, the Limbus range allows specifiers to create up-lighting effects from a linear in-ground source.

Keston Boilers has launched its latest product offering: The Q37, part of the popular Qudos range, a compact, heat-only unit that has been specifically designed to make installation even easier.

The Q37 features top and bottom pipe connections so installers do not have to route pipes behind the boiler, making for an easy, hassle-free fit. In addition, this versatile boiler is compatible with Keston’s 50mm PVC-C flue system, allowing for an extension of up to 20 metres and greater siting flexibility.

GEM Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thermal Energy International Inc, has launched the GEM Oyster, a unique piston type isolation/stop valve, which overcomes the difficulties usually associated with the replacement of conventional valves or the reconditioning of valve seats on larger sizes.

JCC Lighting has introduced a selection of commercial LED products as part of its new Total LED range. Developed in response to market demand for commercial LED lighting, the Breera, Rakula and Piatra ranges provide a comprehensive lighting solution for a number of commercial applications.

Fläkt Woods has launched two new active chilled beams, the Stella and Astra, which perfectly complement their comprehensive range of existing chilled beams.

The new active chilled beams form part of the new IQ-STAR range and comprise of an exposed Multi Service chilled beam (Stella) and an Integrated model (Astra). These new models are the result of over 18 months research and development to provide demand controlled ventilation directly via the chilled beam.

Hoval’s new CompactGas welded steel LTHW boiler is the first non-condensing boiler to incorporate the company’s internationally patented aluFer heat exchanger technology to maximise heat exchange efficiencies. As such, CompactGas closes the gap between conventional and condensing boiler technologies, making it an ideal back-up to biomass and other low carbon heating plant where condensing boilers would not be appropriate.

MK Electric has added dimmers suitable for use with dimmable Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) to its Logic Plus range. A response to changes in European legislation regarding lamps, the dimmers are primarily intended for use in domestic environments; but will similarly perform in small offices and commercial buildings.

The new HeaterCompact resistive range from HygroMatik offers compact steam generators with optimum component accessibility. Compact and space-saving, HeaterCompact is a hygienic unit which is extremely easy to maintain.

Seaward has updated and expanded its specialist software programme for the fast and efficient production of 17th edition electrical test certification.

The powerful new PowerPlus PC Version 2.0 software includes a number of new features to further streamline the electrical inspection, test and certification process.

The Sardinia from Purmo is a designer radiator which makes the transition from bathroom and kitchen to any part of the house, due to its graceful curves. The arched cross rails, which are oval in cross section, form elegant loops from a double upright rail positioned to one side. This asymmetric shape makes Sardinia one of the most unusual and popular models in Purmos range.

Volex Group has announced the launch of its Robust Optical Connector, a multi-fibre optical connector for use in harsh environment applications. The connector is IP68 rated to ensure protection against submersion in water, while maintaining optical performance in a temperature range between -40°C and 85°C.

MHS Radiators has introduced a range of high output aluminium towel rails to its popular collection of towel rails and bathroom radiators. Thanks to its innovative design and aluminium construction Krom has up to a 40% higher output than similar sized chrome towel rails.

Krom is incredibly lightweight and will fit easily onto stud walls, and because it has a low water content it reaches the required temperature rapidly. With multiple heating options, like electric only, central heating only and dual fuel, as well as being available in four heights (772-1772mm) and three widths (484-634mm) there is a model to suit any application.

A new range of air to water heat pumps has been launched by Glow-worm. The range is dubbed the Clearly Heat Pump range and consists of a single external unit requiring just an electricity supply and heating flow/return connections. There is no need for expensive ground loops or drilling of bore holes.

Firebird has added its Slimline Combi SEDBUK A rated boiler to its Enviromax range. A slim tank design and pipe insulation are designed to achieve a high efficiency rating when the new European Efficiency Directive comes into force for oil fired combi boilers.

Components on the Slimline Combi have been arranged to make routine service work easier, and it also allows for multi-directional fluing which gives the installer every possible retro-fit option. It also comes with a seven pin plug to make the task of wiring to mains power and heating controls as simple as possible.

A new range of plumbing fittings dubbed Polysure, has been launched by Polypipe.

Polysure is a new range of radial press fit fittings that can be used with either or both of Polypipe’s grey Polyplumb and white Polyfit polybutylene pipes, in residential and light commercial applications.

Protec is further simplifying the installation procedure of sophisticated fire detection and alarm systems by introducing the first plug ‘n’ play wiring system for their interactive digital addressable fire detection & alarm system.

Pop-Up Products has launched a new range of push around scissor lifts that includes three models - the Push 200, Push 250 and Push 300.

The Pop-Up Push 200 has a platform height of two metres (200cm) and includes improved heavy duty castors, auto-brakes as standard, lightweight aluminium platform and toeboard, as well as a built-in control panel which includes a battery monitoring meter to enable operators to re-charge the machines around natural stoppages in work.