Osram has added a new innovation to its T5 range – the LUMILUX T5 High Output (HO) XT. This triphosphor fluorescent tube boasts an extremely long lifetime of up to 45,000 hours making it ideal for applications where lamp replacements are difficult and costly.

Glow-worm is extending the straightforward and installer friendly Clearly Heat Pumps range with the introduction of a brand new 5kW air to water heat pump (AWHP).

Creating the next generation of air to water heat pumps from Glow-worm, the new Clearly Heat Pumps 5kW system with an electrical back-up heater, is designed especially for new build houses with a low energy requirement.

An-10 wireless lighting control technology from CP Electronics enables fast, easy and cost effective installation of fully featured lighting controls with minimum disruption.

As such, the An-10 range delivers all of the lighting control functions that would be expected of a hard-wired system including presence and absence detection, maintained illuminance, dimming (DSI/DALI digital and 1-10V analogue) and scene setting, without the hard wiring.

Fläkt Woods now offers a new Box Fan range which incorporates energy conscious EC motors, which help to deliver higher fan efficiencies and lower energy consumption.

The company has developed this new product range to deliver performance in line with current Part L Building Regulations, meeting the drive for tighter efficiencies, as well as conforming to ever changing circumstances, by providing ventilation on demand.

Fluke is offering a Fluke Ti32 and Fluke TiR32 Free Lens Promotion, running until 30 April, 2011.

These two popular thermal imagers provide an unmatched combination of ruggedness, ease of use and superior image quality. The choice of a free additional telephoto or wide angle lens (recommended list price over £1,000) to purchasers of a new Fluke Ti32 or TiR32 Thermal Imager enables an even wider range of application areas where the thermal imager can be used.

As solar power grows in popularity as a source of alternative energy, the requirement for safety has never been greater.

The cells are constantly generating whilst there is daylight, therefore, the inverter needs to be isolated for servicing and repair. To ensure complete safety and peace of mind, fit a Katko DC Safety Switch between the photovoltaic cells and the input to the inverter and an AC Safety Switch between the output of the inverter and the main switchboard.

Energy saving solutions expert Marshall Tufflex Energy Management has launched a brand new website bringing together all of its systems under one roof, enabling specifiers to build a complete package of measures from one trusted manufacturer.

The website gives full details of each of its three product ranges – Voltis intelligent voltage optimisation, Sinergy sub-metering and Ipsis integrated energy reduction solution, allowing users to find out what each technology does and what it can deliver for them.

On-site fire alarm fault finding is now more convenient following the development of Smartphone connectivity from Static Systems Group (SSG).

Remote access is not new and SSG technical teams have for some time been providing service support for its fire alarm systems through IP-enabled technology. However, with the phenomenal rise in the use of Smartphones, the latest enhancement is welcome news to those responsible for on-site fire systems.

Douglas Delabie has extended its Securitherm range with new thermostatic basin and sink mixers which are independently tested and certified by BuildCert to NHS Model Engineering Specification D08/TMV3.

Bob Purdom, Commercial Director said: “With the basin mixers regulated at 5lpm (at 3 bar), 50% water savings are delivered and the sink mixers deliver 18lpm for an optimised fill time.

The new DL11 LED downlight from Cooper Lighting and Safety, a business unit of Cooper Safety, has been designed as a direct replacement for tungsten halogen dichroic downlights. As well as offering a 70% energy saving, it also provides a long life of 50,000 hours, which dramatically reduces maintenance costs by eliminating the need for regular lamp changes.

A new wireless temperature monitoring solution from Sontay will bring better legionella control alongside significant savings in maintenance time, cost and fuel bills for building owners and facilities managers.

Developed by Sontay in partnership with legionella specialist, H2O Chemicals, the SonNet family of wireless sensing devices features battery powered sensor nodes together with permanently powered network receivers and routers, and software.

Armstrong has launched a series of pre-designed packaged pump solutions that offer specifiers lowest first installed cost, reduced footprint and the opportunity for outstanding energy efficiency performance. Pumps, pipework, controls and motive power are fully-integrated and the packages are manufactured off-site, for fast, efficient installation.

Now available from Aereco is the Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV) system which is proven to have much lower energy usage than conventional systems whilst providing greater levels of comfort in living areas and eliminating mould and condensation in wet rooms.

DCV is proven to offer big energy savings and a lower capital cost, quicker installation times and, therefore, cheaper on-site costs as well as low maintenance and low operating costs.

Adaptaflex has introduced the Type PF non-metallic, flexible conduit system. A key advantage is that this conduit offers an alternative solution to separate interior and exterior conduit systems that have been traditionally used for many applications in the rail industry. The mechanical properties of Type PF make it particularly suitable for both external and internal dynamic use on railway locomotives, rolling stock or locations where low temperatures are frequently encountered.

Dimplex is expanding its solar thermal water heating range with the launch of three new products; a cost-effective flat plate collector, a high performance evacuated tube option and single branch pump station. The new options give Dimplex improved flexibility to offer a solution for every solar thermal installation.

Hamworthy Heating’s new Fleet range of condensing boilers, promises to change the way the industry views commercial boiler solutions.

British designed and built at the Hamworthy factory in Poole, the new Fleet brand comprises an exceptionally versatile range of modular boilers suitable for a multitude of commercial plant rooms.

Measuring power consumption in a wide variety of locations is now easier and quicker thanks to the launch of k-Wattch, a portable hand-held energy monitor developed as part of the Sinergy range by Marshall-Tufflex Energy Management.

Among its full range of renewable heating systems at this year’s Ecobuild exhibition Smith’s Environmental Systems (SES) showcased its air-to-water heat pump and water-to-water heat pump systems that include photovoltaic and thermal (PV-Therm) hybrid panels.

Smith’s claims that its water-to-water heat pump system with PV-Therm panels which generate both electricity and domestic hot water for heating is the most efficient system of its kind in the UK.

The launch of Samsung DVM Plus IV takes digital VRF air conditioning for large buildings to new levels of energy efficiency and comfort.

This fourth generation of the pioneering DVM system, Samsung’s high-tech digital hybrid technology, now packs even more power and extended piping lengths and elevations into a compact design. Featuring the world’s largest capacity module at 80HP, and an industry leading 20HP single unit, the DVM Plus IV range saves space and installation costs without compromising cooling and heating performance.

Delivering a healthy working environment free of air-borne contaminants in industrial and commercial premises is a high priority for many employers in order to meet health and safety regulations. The problem is that historically the technology available has been relatively inefficient.

Halers Lighting has launched the Halers Dimmable Low-Glare EvoLED, a fully recessed directional downlight that delivers a high performance light output, while dramatically reducing optical glare.

Combining a slim-line bezel with a deep 25mm black baffle, the Low-Glare EvoLED uses state-of-the-art lens technology to punch the light forward, while the directional output delivers the same 34 degree beam angle as the standard EvoLED but in a low glare fitting.

Philips is pleased to announce that its award winning LED Novallure candle range has now been extended to include a small bayonet cap (SBC) version especially to meet the demands of the UK market.

Dimplex now offers not only the complete renewable space heating system, but the launch of the new EC-Eau range of unvented water cylinders for heat pumps and solar thermal delivers a complete renewable water heating solution as well.

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.

MHS Boilers has launched a new easy to install, low cost and highly efficient flat panel solar collector which can be mounted in-roof, on-roof or in-frame.

The SOLATRON S2.5 from ELCO is a state-of-the-art collector which has been designed to be versatile, economic and incredibly easy to fit – needing only a cordless screwdriver, a hammer and a tape measure.

HygroMatik is introducing the DDS to the UK which is a significant development in steam injection humidification.

Suitable for use in air supply ducts, the DDS provides dry steam on demand into the system. The equipment is lightweight, easy to install and operates with great sensitivity, combining very rapid reaction for high humidification requirements with especially fine control in lower ranges.

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.

As many building operators look at upgrading their lighting to reduce energy consumption it’s important not to forget the controls. Stewart Langdown of Tridonic considers the key factors and calls for greater convergence of building services control networks.

Trevor S Palmer, Managing Director at Sontay, explains how innovation in wireless sensor technology can save installation time and cost in controls projects.

Government legislation and incentives are driving through changes in building practices and technologies to ensure that the UK meets its 34% emissions cut on 1990 levels by 2020 which is required under the Kyoto Agreement.

Many people, getting older, want to remain independent as long as possible in their own homes. If help from outside should be necessary from time to time, as much independence as possible is still the best medicine. That applies perhaps even more to people living in assisted accommodation facilities such as nursing homes or care homes — in all these cases energy harvesting wireless sensors and wireless switches from EnOcean can mean much more comfort and convenience, security and dignity.

Whenever you need to move a liquid without having gravity on your side you need a pump to do it. So it should then not come as a great surprise that it is estimated that pumps use 10% of the global electrical power. In the EU, motors in general, consume 30% of all the EU electricity used and 20% of these motors drive pumps.

A combination of financial and carbon saving benefits is creating a very positive outlook for CHP, according to David Shaw, Business Manager of Baxi SenerTec UK.

When the standard rate of VAT went up to 20% at the start of the year people weren’t exactly jumping for joy. However, there is a considerable silver lining to this cloud in the shape of even greater potential savings for users of combined heat and power (CHP).

BSEE readers were asked to send in details of a local community project for which a new heating/hot water system would make a real difference for the people using the building. The response we have received was overwhelming and our judging panel had a difficult task trying to whittle the many deserving causes down to just three. However, we can now announce the first project on our shortlist: The Silvester Horne Institute in Church Stretton, Shropshire.

RES has announced that it has been appointed to develop a 5MW ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) project at the Royal Bath and West of England Showground in Shepton Mallet, Somerset.

This project is part of a wide ranging £100m Regeneration Initiative at the Royal Bath and West being led by regeneration specialist London & Wharfedale. RES was appointed following a competitive process and as an intrinsic part of the redevelopment plans. The contract value is in excess of £13m and when complete will add to the more than 5,000MW of renewable projects that they have developed to date.

Naco, part of Ruskin Air Movement, has helped make sure The Savoy looks the part following its ground-breaking £100 million restoration.

Improvements to the hotel include a refit for all of its 268 bedrooms, nine floors, reception and extensive lift system. Naco’s louvres, which have been designed to fit in with the grandeur and style of the building, cover unsightly plant on the roof of the 6th and 8th floor.

Grosvenor Technology’s JANUS access control system is at the heart of an advanced integrated smart card system at Nottingham Trent University (NTU).

Over the last 10 years the university has deployed the JANUS system for their campus-wide access control and has developed it into one of the most sophisticated integrated access and student management systems in the education sector. The system typically has 45,000 smart cards programmed for students, staff and visitors allowing controlled entry to over 300 access points around campus.

Allen Martin Conservation has contributed to the Excellent BREEAM rating of Coleg Llandrillo, Wales with its Eco range of energy management systems.

Monitoring of energy usage and control throughout the 51,937sq ft Marine and Built Environmental Centre is provided through the British designed Ecohub intelligent building management system to deliver maximum occupancy comfort conditions at the lowest possible energy cost.

Internationally renowned for its creative and innovative approach to teaching and research, Goldsmiths, University of London has nearly 9,000 students taking part in undergraduate, postgraduate, teacher training and return-to-study opportunities in subjects covering the arts, social sciences, humanities and computing.

After a recent surge in university applications fuelled demand for student accommodation in Liverpool, Wirral-based building services firm, Kimpton, has won the building services design and installation contract for a new student residence on London Road.

Rehau’s Profila data cable management system has been installed throughout many of the classroom areas at the newly built Ark Academy in Wembley.

The 180 x 65mm system was chosen by outsourcing company MITIE for the power and data cabling on the basis of its quality, durability and ease of installation. John Eagan, Project Manager at MITIE, said: “We were very impressed with the Rehau product, particularly the ease and speed of fitting. Features such as flexible internal and external corners meant an excellent quality of finish could be achieved in much less time than with other similar systems.

University College School in Hampstead has turned to window specialists Ventrolla to help them out of a sticky situation.

The independent school appointed Ventrolla London Commercial to renovate 11 sash windows in the senior school that were difficult for staff and students to open as they were stuck shut with layers of paint.

Riegens Lighting has supplied a selection of luminaires for the Principals Suite at one of Scotland’s leading further education centres, Dundee College.

The key criteria for the newly refurbished area was to provide a comfortable and pleasant working environment for the Principal and staff, in addition to a good quality light for the various hospitality and meeting areas.

An award-winning hotel, setting new international standards for luxury, has installed a wide range of Trox air handling equipment to ensure the perfect environment for its discerning guests.

The new 5-star Kameha hotel in Bonn, designed by architect Karl-Heinz Schommer, was named one of the world’s best international real estate projects at the MIPIM real estate trade fair in Cannes.

It's at this time of year, as the tax year draws to a close, that businesses look ahead to what new regulations will mean for their bottom line. For those with responsibility for energy bills, there isn't much good news unfortunately because the price of energy for businesses is being pushed upwards by additional taxes, including the Climate Change Levy, Renewables Obligations and the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC).

It was over a year ago that Haiti first hit the headlines when it was struck by an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale. The aftermath was grim, with the Haitian government estimating the final death toll to be 230,000 with a further 300,000 injured and two million people left homeless.

Trend Controls Systems Ltd and Apprenticeship Training Ltd (ATL) have developed, and are now jointly delivering, the UK’s first ever qualification for building controls technicians.

The level 3 NVQ Diploma in ‘Installing Building Energy Management Systems’ is awarded by EAL and endorsed by SummitSkills – the sector skills council for the building services engineering industry. It is the only nationally recognised award specifically designed for those wishing to embark on a career in BEMS design, installation and commissioning.

Rockwell Automation is supporting the drive to recruit new talent into the UK engineering sector by extending its new Advanced Apprentices in Engineering programme with the announcement of more posts starting in September 2011.

The continuing relationship with Milton Keynes College to offer another two new apprenticeships at Rockwell Automation this year follows the successful intake of three during 2010.

A joint partnership between the Carbon Trust and Siemens to provide UK businesses with green equipment finance worth up to £550 million over the next three years has been announced.

This major new deal will boost green growth and unlock business investment in the low carbon economy which is seen to be key to the UK’s recovery. The new dedicated low carbon finance scheme is a first and will enable UK businesses to invest in cost effective energy efficient equipment or other low carbon technologies, such as new efficient lighting and biomass heating.

Adaptive Cooling Ltd has received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practice amongst UK contractors.

The company is principally involved in the Mechanical, Electrical and Building Services industry, specialising in the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning industries.

SCS Group has become a preferred partner to Priva Building Intelligence Ltd, and is now one of a select group of companies in the UK to achieve Priva Partner status, enabling the firm to offer M&E contractors the most advanced integrated building management solutions on the market.

Construction of Britain’s largest development of zero carbon homes is expected to start soon following approval of the scheme by Peterborough City Council’s planning and environmental protection committee.

The homes in Peterborough are being delivered as part of the Government’s Carbon Challenge programme and will be managed by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

Towards Zero, a new report issued by Skanska has revealed that the green retrofit and refurbishment market in the UK is gaining momentum and has the potential to become the next big thing within the commercial property sector.

The research among senior executives in the commercial development sector reveals the extent to which commercial developers are already undertaking green retrofit and refurbishment projects and realising the benefits.

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 September of this year the next phase of the European wide ban on incandescent lamps will be rolled out with a ban on 60W lamps, but John Murphy of Megaman asks if we are really ready to make the change or are some people still harking back to the good old days?

When it comes to meeting our environmental obligations, there is a persistent issue of perception for both businesses and individuals. When the Carbon Trust recently reported that around half of UK businesses are concerned about rising energy prices, it also had to acknowledge that many simply do not understand enough about product life cycles, their carbon footprint and what measures to take to minimise costs and protect the environment.

The Government must provide more financial support for engineering students in order to prevent a damaging shortage of skilled graduates in the manufacturing, energy and transport sectors according to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Mitsubishi Electric has welcomed the announcement of new Government figures for the feed-in-tariff (FIT) for solar installations, which have been revised upwards to account for the increase in the consumer price index, as injecting another welcome boost for the burgeoning Photovoltaic (PV) market in the UK.

For a variety of reasons, many building operators are looking for quick win energy saving solutions that require minimal capital investment but deliver a reduction in energy consumption within a short space of time and with a fast payback. Upgrading the lighting, either by retrofitting new light sources to existing fittings or by replacing fittings, is an obvious thing to consider. However, it needs to be done properly, and the lighting needs to be controlled effectively if the maximum benefits are to be achieved.

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.”

With the Renewable Heat

Incentive (RHI) on the horizon and other C02 saving initiatives, such as the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) encouraging businesses and private investors to seek more fuel efficient heating solutions, the market for biomass boilers looks set to grow considerably in the next five years.

Whilst biomass technologies are still relatively new to the UK in comparison to Europe, the role biomass boilers have to play in preparing for a future with reduced fossil fuel supplies is an increasingly important one. In the past, it has perhaps been all too easy to take advantage of the rich supplies of coal, oil and gas we have access to in this country.