Interplast’s Deoduct three compartment, Dado and Skirting trunking systems are available in six metre base and lid packs to aid logistics, storage and ease of handling on site.

The optional three profiles ensure an aesthetically pleasing, cost-effective solution to power and data cable management projects and are manufactured in the company’s specially formulated, high impact white PVC that blends unobtrusively into any modern office or domestic environment.

Zip Heaters will be attending this year’s EcoBuild at Excel London from 1-3 March, to showcase the recent additions to its iconic HydroTap range along with other market leading products from its existing collections.

Greenwood Airvac has launched Unity CV2GIP, the easiest to fit and commission dMEV fan in the UK – especially in line with G.I.P (Guaranteed Installed Performance), now a crucial part of the Building Regulations 2010.

Specialist in low-carbon retrofit technologies, Energys Group is launching a new portfolio of boiler and heating solutions to make plant rooms more efficient and provide customers with energy savings of 15–30%.

Space Airconditioning plc, the UK's only independent Daikin distributor, has re-launched the home of Daikin Heat Recovery Ventilation Systems. The website redesign will help the residential consumers relate the domestic branding with Space Air Solutions, a subsidiary of Space Air plc.

A new launch from Trox UK makes it possible to improve air handling and energy efficiency significantly, even where low false ceiling voids would previously have ruled out active chilled beams.

MK Electric is replacing its award-winning Masterseal range with a collection of enhanced IP-rated products called Masterseal Plus.

Scientifically sealed and tested by MK well in excess of British Standards, new Masterseal Plus protects the electrical supply in the harshest of environments. As with its predecessor, Masterseal Plus is specifically developed for use in both outdoor and indoor environments, and where wiring devices and accessories would be at risk from penetration by dust or water.

Mitsubishi Electric has updated its range of M Series MXZ Multi air conditioning outdoor units to include new sizes, new indoor model combinations and new energy saving and diagnostic features, whilst also offering owners the ability to cost-effectively replace existing R22 systems.

FLIR Systems has opened up the thermal imaging market to everyone with the introduction of a fully featured thermal imaging camera for £895.00, the lowest price available by far. The FLIR i3 is a great device for the first time user who wants to inspect or monitor the health of electrical and mechanical systems or even a building.

Dimplex Renewables is adding to its extensive portfolio with the launch of a new range of solar photovoltaic (PV) packages. Containing polycrystalline modules and everything required for installation, the kits offer a complete PV solution for residential and light commercial buildings, providing clean, locally-generated energy and reducing carbon emissions.

Bitzer’s commitment to the research and development of environmentally friendly refrigeration and air conditioning systems is reflected in the regular publication of their renowned Refrigerant Report. Edition sixteen has now been published and the 39 page publication provides a precise and unbiased guide to all current refrigerant alternatives.

Click Scolmore’s latest product development brings together a 6W LED Reflector lamp from its new Energetic range, with its award-winning FlameGuard downlighter, to produce lighting solutions that are not just low energy and Part L compliant, but offer the additional benefit of built-in protection against fire and noise pollution.

Dimplex’s popular range of solar kits includes a number of features to make installation easier and quicker.

An aluminium absorber sheet gives optimum heat transfer combined with low weight, while double O-ring push fit pipe connections and flexible insulated stainless steel hoses allow rapid installation by a roofer, leaving the pipes in the loft ready for the plumber to connect at a later stage.

Fifty years after introducing its vertical tubeless boiler, Fulton Boiler Works (GB) Limited has launched the VMP, a new range of vertical boilers combining high output and efficiency with a small footprint and low maintenance.

Taking the opportunity to review the situation when there is a requirement to replace a pump is rarely taken, instead the pump is replaced with a ‘like for like’ pump which means the opportunity to gain efficiency, save energy and improve comfort levels is lost.

Honeywell has redesigned and relaunched its website detailing the extensive range of Honeywell valves for water control, pressure reduction and regulation, backflow prevention and system balancing.

Powrmatic has launched an improved range of high efficiency gas fired suspended unit heaters. The NVx range has been introduced with enhanced features to facilitate ease of installation for contractors.

National Product Manager, Brett Smith states: “We have always prided ourselves on working in partnership with the contractors in our industry. Listening to their practical feedback has enabled us to engineer in features that will lower installation times and costs. Many of these improvements also improve unit servicing.”

Knowing where we can go to access particular information is something that can save us incalculable amounts of valuable time. The new Thinking Buildings Universe from Grundfos now offers building services professionals a centralised information point that is a one stop shop for commercial buildings services pump applications.

Internal building noise, particularly from water and waste water drainage systems is an increasing issue, but boxing and insulating pipework is not the most cost-effective answer, says Chris Ricketts, a Product Group Manager at BSS Industrial.

Energy efficiency continues to be at the top of the agenda and with lighting alone accounting for around 20% of the total amount of electricity used in the UK this is a good place to start making savings. Mervyn Carter of Paviom UK explains why choosing the right fire rated downlights can really make a difference.

The WEEE regulations continue to evolve and broaden their scope to encompass more products. Ernest Magog of Lumicom explains the latest additions and flags up some key pointers for successful waste management.

The latest figures suggest that energy prices look set to reach an all time high and with companies fighting to meet the latest government legislation on energy saving, some may think that 2011 is looking rather bleak. Not so says Paul Mans, Managing Director of CP Electronics who explains why energy saving lighting controls provide the perfect answer.

The Feed-In Tariff (FiT) came into operation in the UK in April last year, opening the door for the wider use of renewable energy sources within buildings, on roofs and in fields. The FiT provides a premium price for all energy generated, whether used or not, which is funded out of energy bills.

Although the introduction of outside air into an occupied space is directly at odds with the requirements of sustainability, minimisation of energy usage and the permeability requirements, we all recognise that in order to dilute the polluting effects of occupancy, outside air does need to be introduced.

Do you know of a worthy cause looking for some help? Maybe it’s your local village hall which needs a new water heater or the scout hut which is in need of a new boiler. If you know of any organisation that fits this category then write to us today because BSEE has teamed up with Baxi Commercial Division to offer one lucky reader the chance to help out their local community in the Baxi Community Challenge.

Building services firm, Kimpton, has won the M&E design and installation contract for the new 141-bedroom Travelodge hotel on Liverpool’s waterfront.

JS Air Curtains has supplied a 2m bespoke Zen air curtain to the Manzil Banqueting Hall in Manchester. On the inner facing side the air curtain incorporates an exit sign plus four clocks, showing the time in Manchester, Mecca, Medina and Islamabad, and on the outward fascia the air curtain has an illuminated welcome sign.

While a completely carbon neutral solution is not yet possible, say the owners of Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers, the new luxury hotel in Copenhagen's Ørestad district comes close to achieving it by deploying the best environmental and energy technology on the market.

The challenge for building designers as we embark upon a new century, is to marry the practical, day-to-day operational needs of owners and occupiers with the creation of sustainable and energy efficient buildings that satisfy growing consumer concerns about environmental and energy usage issues.

Brockholes wetland and woodland, which boasts the first floating visitor centre, has been awarded BREEAM Outstanding status, signifying the exceptional sustainability credentials of this project in Preston, Lancashire.

The visitor centre at Brockholes is the first building of its kind in the UK to be awarded the highest level of BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.)

Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is the busiest airport in India and its new Terminal 3, a 111,600sq m large building complex, has a handling capacity of over 10,000 passengers per hour. This is supported by a lighting system with over 100,000 light fittings which ensure passengers’ well-being and safety. The control system is based on ABB'S I bus KNX technology and was designed by Entelechy Systems.

As I write this column at the start of 2011, a handful of new students are setting out on the new NVQ in Building Management Systems. The hard work of the BCIA's Skills Working Group, and its chairman Doug Robins, has resulted in the first NVQ of this kind being available for the controls sector.

The Environment Agency (EA) has released guidance on a range of electrical and electronic items that now fall within the scope of the Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations. These include ballasts, photo electric cells and igniters, street and traffic lights, fire alarm systems and items used in both household and non-household applications.

Four leading construction industry firms have established a unique venture to create the world’s first green retrofitting business for commercial building stock.

Brookfield Construction has joined with architectural practice Woods Bagot, engineering consultancy WSP, and M&E contractor Mercury to create Brookfield Green which combines construction, engineering and design skills to offer a comprehensive building upgrade service, catering for a market estimated to be in the region of £500bn.

Andy Green, a director of consultant Faithful + Gould, has been appointed Vice Chairman of the SFG20 Technical Standards Committee, which is charged with further development of HVCA’s ground-breaking Standard Maintenance Specification for Building Services (SFG20).

In this role, he will assist the committee in ensuring that SFG20’s existing maintenance schedules continue to conform to industry best practice and current legislation, and in developing new schedules as required.

Carlo Gavazzi UK has extended its management team with the appointment of Amir Sami who joins the company as Business Development Manager responsible for energy and controls.

Alan Hickman, Managing Director of Carlo Gavazzi UK commented: “The energy and controls markets are evolving rapidly on a global scale. The appointment of Amir will enable us to continue developing and supporting our UK customers in this strategically important market. I am positive that Amir brings the drive and determination to the team that will invigorate our business in this market.”

Last year, Baxi-SenerTec UK, part of Baxi Commercial Division, ran a competition in their newsletter to find a name for the badger which forms part of their logo. The name Little Watty Baxter was chosen, as Little Watty (short for Little Walter) reflects the emphasis of the business being represented, which is Combined Heat and Power (CHP).

In this article Mike Brand, Business Development Manager at DEDICATEDengines, explains how visibility of energy consumption will only achieve significant energy reductions when combined with motivation and the right tools.

According to the Office of Government Commerce, value for money is the optimum combination of quality and whole life cost. The consistent quality of our room comfort products is one of the reasons SAS International gets invited to tender for projects. Rarely, however, do we get asked to tender for a heating or cooling solution based on whole life costs.

The growing urgency to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption means the focus of our industry's efforts will increasingly be on retrofitting existing buildings. This creates both an opportunity and a necessity to marry existing traditional heating technologies with renewables.

A new nationwide network of accredited training provision for low carbon and renewable skills has been given the go-ahead by Government.

The National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies will provide training in the design, installation and maintenance of technologies such as solar thermal, photovoltaics, heat pumps and water harvesting and recycling. It is being supported by employers across the building services engineering sector.