CIWEM has welcomed the publication of the Government’s Water White Paper and believes that it places priority on the right issues for action, although it lacks strength in a number of key areas.

Whilst broadly the White Paper is positive, CIWEM believes that it contains a clear contradiction: How can we value water and not take it for granted, but yet not pay a price for water that properly recognises its true value? The fairest way to ensure this is to establish widespread metering allied to flexible and social tariffs.

Graham Manly, HVCA president in 2009/10, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the building engineering services sector.

A chartered engineer, a fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and a member of the Institute of Refrigeration, Mr Manly served as CIBSE president in 2004/05.

BRE has brought together its knowledge and experience in energy management

into a new report; Energy management in the built environment which has been prepared with assistance from the Energy Services and Technology Association (ESTA).

The Property and Energy Professionals Association (PEPA), an industry body representing leading organisations in the provision of energy information and advice, is urging the Government to re-think its plans for the full introduction of the Green Deal in October this year. PEPA, which has responded to the Green Deal consultation, has raised a number of concerns relating to current plans for non-domestic buildings and as a result, is urging the Government to consider a staged introduction of this new framework.

With youth unemployment in the UK now over one million, facilities management provider EMCOR Group (UK) has launched a graduate scheme designed to identify facilities managers of the future. The scheme is the first time EMCOR has offered a programme specifically to train graduates in its facilities management business.

Responding to the publication of the Public Accounts Committee’s report on 'Preparations for the rollout of smart meters', BEAMA welcomed the report’s acknowledgement of the potential benefits of the UK smart meter rollout.

Commenting on the report’s launch, BEAMA CEO Dr Howard Porter said: “It is important that industry bodies such as BEAMA, who represents over 20 manufacturers of smart meters and consumer energy displays, continue to work with government to ensure that the programme is a success.

A new report from the Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University has outlined the strategy to transform the UK’s built environment. It will enable the UK Government to achieve its legal obligations on climate change by reducing C02 emissions from buildings to zero by 2050 in an equitable way.

The report, Achieving Zero, covers all energy use in all buildings including both homes and businesses. The report’s strategy will create healthier, more comfortable buildings to live and work in, lift millions of people out of fuel poverty, and improve the UK’s energy security which will be considerably cheaper than providing a new energy supply.

Climate Change Minister Greg Barker has launched a partnership to ensure the UK has the right skills to implement the Green Deal, the government’s flagship policy to improve the energy efficiency of buildings.

The Green Deal aims to enable private firms to offer consumers energy improvements to their homes, communities and businesses at no upfront cost and to recoup payments as a charge in instalments on the energy bill.

In its response to a consultation on the forthcoming Green Deal scheme, the HVCA has highlighted its concerns over various aspects of current Government policy.

In particular, it draws attention to the fact that, in order to be effective, assessors appointed under the regime will have to be highly qualified individuals with a broad range of skills.

Alistair Nejad has been appointed National Accounts Manager for boiler and water heating manufacturer Lochinvar. He is also joined by Steve McDonald as Area Sales Manager for South West England.

Alistair joins from Sauter Automation where he was in charge of key national accounts and increased technical sales by 26% in his first year. He was also previously national sales manager at Gledhill and worked for the national builders merchant Travis Perkins.

Danlers Limited has strengthened their sales team with the appointment of four new positions.

Noel Brassey has been appointed as Export Manager, Neil Baldwin as Business Development Executive (North and N.Ireland), Kevin Lancaster as Business Development Executive (Central) and Dan Harris as Business Development Executive (South East).

A new British Standard for cleanliness levels in newly installed ductwork marks the end of a potentially damaging source of confusion within the industry.

For the first time, the new BS EN 15780:2011 Ventilation for buildings – Ductwork – Cleanliness of ventilation systems clearly defines what is considered acceptably clean in newly installed ductwork.

Now is the time for building services engineering employers to prepare for the business opportunities Green Deal will create, says SummitSkills after the Energy Act laying the foundation for the Government’s environmental initiative became law.

The passing of the Act marks a major step towards the Government’s aim of increasing the energy efficiency of homes and businesses and changing the way the UK uses and generates energy.

A new Enterprise Centre to be built on the Norwich Research Park at the University of East Anglia (UEA) with innovative use of natural materials and the most advanced approaches to low carbon is set to be a major stimulus to the region’s economy and to the UK low carbon sector.

BEAMA has announced the launch of the Consumer Energy Display Industry Group (CEDIG), which took place at a reception at the House of Commons attended by the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Charles Hendry.

Energy displays have proven highly successful in helping consumers to reduce electricity consumption and will play a significant role in the context of the UK’s national Smart Meter programme.

Despite the fact that the majority of firms know carbon reduction helps cut costs, the construction industry still accounts for 47% of total carbon emissions of the UK. To help companies make significant carbon and cost savings, the Environment Agency has launched a second generation Construction Carbon Calculator which is available free.

£200m of new and additional Government funding has been announced to provide a special time-limited introductory offer to boost the early take up of the Government's Green Deal energy efficiency scheme.

With bills rising because of rocketing global energy prices, the Government wants to see as many people as possible benefiting when the Green Deal hits the high street.

Dimplex has welcomed the launch of the new MIS 3005 heat pump installer standard.

Created with input from a number of industry bodies across a range of sectors, MIS 3005 aims to bring clarity and improve performance in three key areas highlighted in the results of the Energy Saving Trust’s field trial of heat pumps, published last autumn.

New research shows that many of England’s local authorities are highly critical of the Government’s proposed planning reforms.

In an analysis of a representative sample of 27 local authority responses to the public consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has found that right across England, and regardless of political party control, local authorities are very concerned about the proposed changes to national planning policy.

The Trox Group has appointed Ian Sams as Managing Director of Trox UK to replace Ludger Bökmann who will return to full-time duties as Head of International Business for the Trox Group.

Ian Sams has spent more than half of his 30 year career in HVAC with Trox and has fulfilled a number of senior roles, the most recent being Chief Operating Officer.

Grundfos has received a seventh Green Apple Award in recognition of the technological advances that the company continues to invest heavily in, proving once again the importance the company places on all aspects of energy efficiency.

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has announced its support for the Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA) Learning Legacy, a collaborative programme between the ODA, contractors, professional bodies, the government and academia, which aims to gather knowledge and share the lessons learned from the London 2012 construction project in order to raise the bar across the UK’s construction sector.

The Levytator, the world’s first escalator capable of following freeform curves, could use half of the energy of conventional designs, according to a new research paper which was presented at the UK’s Symposium on Lift and Escalator Technologies. Unlike traditional escalators, where redundant steps move underneath those in use, the Levytator utilises a continuous loop of curved modules, which can follow any path upwards, flatten and straighten out, and descend once more, all with passengers on board.

The KNX UK Association is holding a free of charge one-day Technical Workshop on The Development of Technical Devices. It will be held on Tuesday 22 November 2011 at Lily Hill House, Bracknell, Berkshire, starting at 9.00 a.m.

Air quality appears to have been virtually ignored in the latest guidelines from The British Standards Institute which has launched its Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 5748 to provide a framework for the planning, application and measurement of cleanliness in hospitals. Cosmetic cleaning of the outside of ventilation grills may look nice but it does not address the very serious, and in some cases fatal, consequences of contaminated air ducts.

New HVCA Chief Executive, Blane Judd, has been appointed a fellow of the City and Guilds of London Institute, in recognition of his contribution to training and education in building engineering services. A graduate in integrated engineering from Nottingham Trent University, Mr Judd has demonstrated a career-long commitment to the development of qualifications and the raising of standards across building engineering services – as a director of sector skill council SummitSkills and of the Electricity Association, as chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering and as an executive board member of the World Plumbing Council.

It has been well established that going green is good for business, and the past decade has seen organisations improve energy efficiency and boost on-site sustainability for a number of different reasons. What is often overlooked, however, is the ways in which an eco-friendly working environment can impact upon staff morale and productivity.

The National Audit Office’s judgement that smart meters may not result in a change in energy use by consumers over a sustained period has been challenged by the Energy Services and Technology Association. ESTA represents providers of energy efficiency products and services primarily to the non-domestic sector.

With less than one year to go until the Olympic flame is lit, the environmental improvements in the Olympic Park and surrounding areas have already delivered impressive results, according to Environment Agency Chairman, Lord Smith. He highlighted five projects as key indicators of the green legacy pledge of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games, and paid tribute to those from the Environment Agency, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and other partners who have worked together to deliver on this promise.

Kelly Butler, Director of the BEAMA Domestic Heat Pump Association welcomed the launch of the Renewable Heat Premium Payment by DECC on 21 July 2011 commenting: “The Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) scheme will take the industry one step closer to its goal of one million heat pumps installed by 2020. I’m pleased that the scheme is running to the original timescales, with vouchers for payment issued from 1 August, so that installers and their customers have a full heating season to specify and install measures.”

Bob Shelley has been elected president of the HVCA for 2011/12. Mr Shelley served a four year technical engineering apprenticeship with national contractor Lorne Stewart, achieving qualifications in environmental engineering from South Thames College, Wandsworth, and South Bank Polytechnic. He is a chartered director, a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) and an associate member of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Geoff Lockwood, Technical Director at ebm-papst, has been appointed President of the Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA), which represents the interests of manufacturers, suppliers, installers and contractors within the heat pump, controls, ventilating, refrigeration and air conditioning industry.

Following the launch of a new government scheme, business owners across the UK will soon be able to take a leaf out of Lord Sugar’s book and ‘try before they buy’ to find their next apprentice, says training provider ATL. The new Access to Apprenticeships scheme aims to provide help and support for young people aged 16-24 and give them the opportunity to demonstrate to employers their commitment to work and study to a required standard.

More than 50 presentations have now been reviewed and approved for the first ever CIBSE Technical Symposium which will see technical experts from all over the world joining together at Leicester’s De Montfort University from 6-7 September. The event, which is aimed at building services engineers engaged in the day-to-day detail of project design, academics and researchers, will hear from speakers based in the US, the Middle East and Europe.

Companies are failing to gain full certification in compliance with the F-Gas Regulations due to confusion over the 3kg threshold. According to certification body Refcom, employers working with refrigerants mistakenly believe that they do not need to hold a full company certificate if they work only on small systems below the 3kg limit. As a result, they are not applying for full certification in compliance with the F-Gas Regulations, despite the deadline for full certification having passed on 4 July.

November 2011 sees the launch of LuxLive, set to be the most innovative and ambitious lighting event ever staged in the UK. Launched by the Lighting Industry Federation and Lux magazine, and backed by leading lighting organisations, LuxLive takes place from 9 to 10 November at Earls Court, London, and is designed to offer state of the art lighting solutions for offices, retail, industry, warehousing, education, hospitality and the public sector.

More than 1,800 training opportunities will be available to employers in the building services engineering (BSE) sector over the next year, courtesy of SummitSkills and the Joint Investment Programme. These opportunities for employers to invest in the future of their employees through accredited training are being provided between September 2011 and July 2012.

The Home Office is rolling out energy management contracts pioneered by Amey and British Gas Business (BGB) across 90% of its estate, after the two companies saved the department £212,000 in eight months. Working in a three-way partnership, Amey, BGB and the Home Office developed a ‘payment by results’ energy management contract to manage energy consumption across 350 Home Office-managed buildings in London and the South East.

Lord O’Neill of Clackmannan, president of the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group, has begun a one-year term as chairman of the Strategic Forum for Construction (SFfC). The SFfC exists to provide an interface between Government and the construction industry, and describes its vision as achieving maximum value for clients, end users and stakeholders, and ensuring consistent delivery of world-class products and projects.

The Prime Minister has announced that carbon emissions from Government HQs and offices have been slashed by nearly 14% in just one year and told Whitehall it would have to go further by cutting emissions by 25% by 2015. It is estimated that energy bills have been cut by £13 million as a result of bearing down on energy wastage in Government departments. The 10% target covered around 300,000 civil servants in 3,000 buildings.

Crofton Design was crowned as the overall winner at this year’s CIBSE Employer of the Year Awards which are sponsored by Baxi Commercial Division and Heatrae Sadia. The awards recognise those employers who have shown excellence and innovation in developing the engineers of the future. They reward organisations who proactively champion young people in the industry, whether through a commitment to young people in employment or by supporting those employees through education.

SummitSkills, the sector skills council representing employers in the building services engineering (BSE) sector, has welcomed the conclusions of consumer group Which’s recent undercover investigation into companies currently offering solar power equipment installation.

Ground source heating and cooling systems have the potential to heat 300,000 UK buildings by 2020 according to the Environment Agency which has published new guidance to support this energy revolution in homes and businesses. With Government incentives driving demand for renewable energy, the Environment Agency’s good practice guide supports the case for ground source heat and cooling systems as a viable source of sustainable energy for thousands of businesses and homes.

Coventry is set to become a hotbed for low carbon innovation after Coventry University, in partnership with Coventry City Council, was officially awarded global Living Labs status by the Brussels-based European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL). The membership of ENoLL means that the city is one of only three UK sites to be granted the status in 2011 and it will see the University’s Technology Park become a real-life test and experimentation environment for low carbon innovations, strengthening the city’s and the University’s existing green agenda.

Hard work is still needed to secure investment in energy infrastructure according to the CBI following the publication of the Government’s Electricity Market Reform White Paper. John Cridland, CBI Director-General, said: “This White Paper is an important step in the right direction, but the hardest work is still to come. There is much to do if we are to secure the £200 billion of essential investment needed in our energy infrastructure, including a mix of nuclear, clean coal, gas and renewables.

The new Building Products apprenticeship framework is directly targeted at the skills needs of employers according to Andy Rotherham, Building Products Industry Lead at Proskills, the Sector Skills Council for the process and manufacturing sector The new apprenticeship framework covers a wide range of areas within the building products industry, including the manufacture of concrete, cement and abrasive products, and is directly targeted at the skills needs of employers.

A group of 30 leading European companies and academic institutions has announced that they are working together in the newly established ENIAC JU project ENLIGHT, a three year programme which is partly funded by the European Commission and European member-states. Partners include companies throughout the lighting value chain, including universities and research centres.

Under the Shared Savings Scheme, the financial benefit arising from the new energy efficient lighting is shared between Energys and the client. This split (with the client pocketing up to 50% of the financial savings on energy bills) provides a low-risk way to unlock the cash savings available from lighting upgrades.

BSRIA has completed its new acoustic chamber for testing of airborne noise of space heating and cooling products. Acoustic testing is a requirement of the EN 14511 and some incentive and quality schemes that call upon EN 12102:2008 for sound power measurement. This applies to heat pumps, air conditioners, fan coils, liquid chilling packages, dehumidifiers, and other space heating/cooling products.

Passivent is meeting the drive to promote eco-friendly solutions by becoming a major force in the Greenpower movement- a programme supported by Siemens and the IET (Institution of Engineering & Technology), that aims at encouraging students aged between 9 and 21 to apply eco-friendly solutions to engineering and technology, primarily through the design, development and physical endurance racing of electrically-powered cars.

Europe must rethink its approach to tackling climate change, according to a new report from leading think tank Policy Exchange. The report says European climate policy does little to persuade other countries, especially China and the United States, of the need to sign up to ambitious carbon reduction targets.

With the Energy Bill 2011 currently progressing through the House of Commons, Cathedral Works Organisation (CWO) cautions historic building owners over taking radical energy efficiency measures. The contractor warns that property owners seeking to go green are in danger of harming their buildings since certain steps to avoid energy wastage, such as insulation, are not always compatible with heritage structures.

Small scale domestic installations will be the unexpected beneficiaries of the Government’s long-awaited review of Feed-in Tariffs for renewable energy and the electrotechnical industry is set to benefit, according to SummitSkills.

David Dossett has been awarded an MBE for services to the electrical manufacturing industry. A key industry figure for 25 years, David led the successful campaign against the harmonisation of plugs and socket outlets in Europe and coordinated the BEAMA worldwide campaign against the counterfeiting of electrical equipment.

Experts at Exova Warringtonfire have welcomed the endorsement of a government body in support of its call for the creation of a register of fire risk assessors. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) says it expects one or more registers to be created whose certification process has been ‘independently quality assured.’

BSRIA has welcomed the Government Construction Strategy, published by the Cabinet Office and has applauded the move to integrated working and away from lump sum tenders based on inadequate documentation.

Award winning architectural practice Ryder Architecture, has joined forces with Northumbria University to launch BIM Academy to support the construction industry in the uptake of BIM (Building Information Modelling). HM Government Innovation and Growth Team have predicted that: “BIM is seen as having the greatest potential to transform the habits, and eventually the structure, of the industry”, a view that has been reinforced by the Government’s Construction Strategy 2011, published in June.

The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) has given its support to a bid to establish a University Technical College in Harlow specialising in environmental engineering. JCT is the UKs leading contract drafting body, with membership which spans both sides of the construction industry.

Despite government spending cuts and low private sector investment in new build projects, the building services industry is continuing to see increases in demand fuelled by the focus on end-user environmental standards and tougher legislation. Alongside refurbishment, maintenance and repairs, the retro-fitting of energy efficient building services is top of the carbon reduction agenda.

The Government’s Chief Construction Adviser Paul Morrell has identified BIM as one key to delivering better value for the UK taxpayer. Speaking at a specially convened BIM roundtable event, hosted by NBS at RIBA’s London HQ, Morrell reiterated his view that the BIM model could unleash a massive amount of innovation and positive integration in the supply chain.

The 2011 CIBSE/ASHRAE Graduate of the Year Award has been launched with entries invited from all recent graduates in a building services related discipline. Now in its 16th year, the award scheme, which is sponsored by Baxi Commercial, will once again reward its winner with a trip to the ASHRAE Winter Conference in the USA.

Refcom, the UK register of companies competent to handle refrigerants, has received European recognition for its F-gas expertise from the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE). The EPEE is carrying out a study into F-gas regulations and requested case studies from F-gas authorities throughout Europe.

SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for building services engineering, has launched its annual Awards for Excellence event and is seeking nominations to acknowledge the industry’s best craft, technical and professional engineers.

CIBSE is leading the non domestic working group advising the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC) on the planned changes to Part L for 2013.

Cost savings and government incentives are the top influencers driving an increased focus on energy efficiency in buildings, according to the results of the second annual Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) survey for Europe. The survey reinforces the growing trend of greening buildings seen in Europe in recent years.

A new report by Carbon Smart has been released that slams the state of carbon and sustainability assurance in the FTSE 350. The report, ‘Just off the starting blocks’, highlighted that only a small proportion of the FTSE 350 had sought assurance for the sustainability sections in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports, and that the quality of this assurance did not meet the recognised standards in many cases.

L&S Waste Management has received planning approval for the construction of a renewable energy plant at its headquarters in Pegham Lane, Fareham, providing a boost to sustainable electricity production in southern England.

HVCA is backing the call for wider use of display energy certificates (DECs), but warns that the scheme is bound to fail unless enforcement is also stepped up. A report from the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) entitled Carbon Reductions in Existing Non-Domestic Buildings, set out the case for extending the reach of DECs as the most practical way of highlighting potential energy and cost savings in commercial buildings.

Skills Minister John Hayes has called on senior leaders in SMEs to take advantage of funding that will support leadership and management training to help them grow their businesses. About 13,000 small and medium sized businesses and social enterprises that display a potential for development will benefit from the Leadership and Management growth grant.

The judging panel have continued their difficult but rewarding task of selecting just three entries for the final stage of the Challenge. The entries submitted have been an uplifting reminder not only of the scope of the causes that exist throughout the country to benefit members of the community, but also the energy and dedication of their organisers and supporters. The panel has now selected the second project that has been shortlisted for the final stage, put forward by the Buxted Scout Group, based in East Sussex.

Johnson Controls, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and The Climate Group have officially signed a partnership agreement for the second phase of the Euro-Mediterranean Energy Efficiency Forum (EEF), which will take place in Monaco on 10 and 11 May 2011.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the parties took place at the International Conference & Exhibition on Ecologic Vehicles & Renewable Energies (EVER) 2011 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. The agreement builds on the success of the 2010 EEF event, which called for policy and decision makers to act on energy efficiency.

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) supports the UK Green Building Council call for the wider roll out of display energy certificates contained in its report ‘Carbon Reductions in Existing Non-Domestic Buildings’.

“There is now a clear industry consensus around making more use of Display Energy Certificates to identify potential energy and cost savings,” said Hywel Davies, CIBSE’s Technical Director.

Hilson Moran has been named the NCE/ACE Medium Consultant of the Year 2011. Now in its eighth year, the awards celebrate outstanding business performance by engineering consultancies across the UK.

The awards are based on submissions to NCE’s Consultants File, a unique insight into the health and wealth of the engineering consultancy market. Judging is based on strict criteria including revenues in relation to staff numbers, projects that applicants have been involved in and innovative activity undertaken during the year.

ENER-G has appointed Yan Evans as Group Business Development Director. He will report to Group Managing Director Derek Duffill on a wide-ranging remit to drive ongoing growth that has seen turnover reach £130m in the current financial year.

Yan joins ENER-G from Baxi’s commercial division, where he was technical director with responsibility for the market-leading Potterton Commercial and Andrews Water Heater brands.

Gary Hales has been appointed as Head of Operations for national energy solutions company Anesco.

In his new role as Head of Operations, Gary will be responsible for leading and developing the operations and bid teams on a daily basis, ensuring high standards are met during the delivery process. Gary previously headed up operations for national building and maintenance firm Rok where he worked as an area leader with responsibility for the company’s operations in Oxford, Swindon and Reading.

JS Humidifiers has been acquired by Walter Meier in a move which consolidates Walter Meier’s leading position in the global humidification market.

Following the recent acquisition of its distributor in Denmark, the purchase of JS Humidifiers is a further contribution to Walter Meier’s development strategy of direct involvement in important markets.

Engineering Services SKILLcard, the industry recognised personnel registration scheme for the mechanical sector of the building services engineering sector, has launched a redesigned website, enabling employers to check legitimate cardholders through its online skills checker.

With a fresh new look and streamlined navigation, www.skillcard.org.uk is simple to read and use.

NICEIC, the UK’s largest certification body for electrical contractors and renewable installers, and Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation Ltd (BESCA), the independent national assessment and certification body, have announced a strategic alliance.

The alliance covers the provision of NICEIC’s Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for installers of renewable technologies to the membership of the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association (HVCA) and brings MCS in line with the wider certification services already offered by BESCA to the HVCA.

Daikin UK has extended its £400 cash back offer for home owners who want to scrap their old boiler and replace it with a new Daikin Altherma air-to-water heat pump, in a move to help installers grow their businesses.

The offer, which was first launched in October 2010, has been extended until 31 May in light of the Government’s announcement that the first phase of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), to be launched later this year, will not cover domestic air-to-water heat pump installations.

BEAMA has launched its newest initiative, the BEAMA Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project which brings together organisations with a major interest in developing the charging infrastructure in the UK.

BEAMA’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Howard Porter said: “This project is a sign that BEAMA members are committed to helping the Government achieve its low carbon transport targets. Notably, by helping to develop the standards regime and infrastructure rollout that will signal a shift in the way we power our road vehicles to 2050 and beyond.

Peter Brown has been named as NCE/ACE Young Consultant of the Year for 2011.

Peter, 30, from Epsom in Surrey, is a senior mechanical engineer with engineering and design consultancy Atkins who impressed the judges with his infectious enthusiasm for the profession and commitment to the future of engineering.

Mitsubishi Electric has announced the appointment of two new VARs (Value Added Resellers) following the company's growth in market share in all areas of business during one of the toughest periods in the industry for decades.

The appointment of Logicool Air Conditioning Distribution Ltd of South Derbyshire and Intra-grated Solutions Ltd of Peterborough vindicates Mitsubishi Electric's decision to expand its product portfolio into renewable technology with the addition of more heat pump-based air conditioning and the expansion of the Ecodan air source heat pump heating range.

A £77 million contract to construct the multi-storey car park and covered court for Heathrow Airport’s new Terminal 2 has been awarded to Laing O’Rourke with work planned to start in May 2011.

The 1,340-space car park, with associated roads and ramps, and covered court are integral to the design of the new terminal which will open to passengers in 2014.

Philips has announced a new partnership between its consumer lighting business and Inman and Co (Electrical) Ltd to supply and service independent retailers with an exciting range of Philips consumer luminaires across the UK.

The agreement will substantially improve the service and offering available to the customers of both Philips and Inmans and other sellers of Philips lighting products. Inmans will offer retailers access to wider stockholdings at their three distribution centres in London, Sheffield and Bristol.

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).

The budget has provided a further boost to building services companies who are considering up-skilling to include renewables in their offering, according to the new National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies.

Highlights included the confirmation that end-users would be incentivised to take-advantage of the Green Deal and the indication that planning reforms will lean in favour of sustainable development.

The HVCA has appointed Blane Judd to the position of Chief Executive designate.

A chartered engineer and fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Mr Judd brings with him very considerable experience of the energy and building services engineering sectors.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.”

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.

ENER-G has acquired the business assets of SmartHome Controls (SHC) as part of the international group’s strategic growth programme.

SHC designs, manufactures, installs and maintains intelligent heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and lighting control systems to promote energy efficiency in high-end residential properties.

Monodraught Limited, part of VKR Holding, has acquired Artica Technologies Limited, a company that has in a very short time, gained an enviable reputation for developing highly sustainable ventilation systems.

With the acquisition of Artica Technologies, Monodraught strengthens its position within the low energy ventilation market, building on its success with natural ventilation products and more recently with its COOL-PHASE low energy ventilation system.

Advanced IT cooling systems specialist Trox AITCS has made an additional appointment to its senior leadership team to build on rapid international expansion.

German-born Joachim Backes joins Trox AITCS as Managing Director. He is supported by Guy Hutchins, who continues in his role of Chief Operating officer.

According to new research released to coincide with the launch of the Climate Week Awards, nearly 1 in 5 Brits do not act on climate change because they don’t believe others are doing their bit to save the planet, prompting renowned sociologist and eco expert Lord Professor Anthony Giddens to speak out about how communities influence environmentally responsible behaviour.

Scottish construction firms are adding momentum to a UK-wide drive to slash waste which recently celebrated its 500th member business.

The Halving Waste to Landfill commitment (an industry-wide voluntary agreement which is backed by Zero Waste Scotland) has attracted over 500 signatories since launching in October 2008. The total number of signatories based in Scotland stands at 27, with half of those joining in the last six months.

The lower threshold for air conditioning inspections which includes all systems with an output of 12KW or more came into effect on 4 January 2011. This means that most air-conditioned spaces of over 2,000 square feet should now have an air conditioning certificate.

The new UK headquarters for Westpac Banking Corporation has been awarded the first Gold Ska Rating for a building in the City of London.

Coordinated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Ska Rating is an assessment process to help organisations achieve more sustainable fit-outs.

BEAMA has welcomed the Government’s consultation on a package of options for reforming the electricity market. With its focus on affordability, low carbon and security of supply, the association says it goes a long way to reaching the 2050 Pathways aspirations from earlier in 2010, pointing the UK towards an electric future.

Baxi Commercial Division offers one of the broadest ranges of commercial condensing boilers and commercial condensing direct fired water heaters available in the UK. Over the years they have been approached by a number of severely cash strapped worthy causes asking for a donation of a product for installation in a building or refurbishment project being undertaken for the benefit of the community concerned which is why we have joined forces to make a difference in 2011.

BAS has been acquired by Bridgepoint Development Capital for an undisclosed sum.

Founded in 2006 following a buyout from Siemens, BAS specialises in supporting building owners to control, monitor and reduce energy usage via the efficient use of a building energy management system (BEMS). The latter is a computer-based control system that controls and monitors the building’s mechanical and electrical equipment to enable occupants to work in a comfortable environment whilst reducing energy usage and associated costs.

After nearly 50 years in the industry and 20 years with BEAMA, latterly as its Executive Chairman, popular electrotechnical sector figure Dave Dossett has retired.   

His roles have included Director of EIEMA, Director General and Chief Executive of BEAMA and Director of the Installation Sector. Dave Dossett said: “I’m proud to have been part of BEAMA’s evolution into the successful, lean and influential organisation it is today. It’s been a privilege and pleasure working in this industry and I thank the many colleagues and friends I have made for their friendship and support. It’s a great industry with excellent people - it’s been fun.”

The energy management division (EMD) of sustainable power group ENER-G has appointed five senior managers to drive an ambitious UK and international expansion programme.

EMD, led by Dr Cedric Rodrigues, currently employs over 100 and against the current recessionary trend, a total of 25 new people been recruited to support the expansion. Turnover is on course to rise by 20% this financial year, with aggressive growth plans and further international expansion in 2011 and 2012.  

Whilst many economists fear unemployment will rise when government cuts begin to kick in, SES remains resilient in its recruitment strategy to proactively produce a continuous flow of young plumbers, electricians, mechanical engineers and project managers, with site-ready skills, to work within its business.

HVCA chief executive Robert Higgs has announced his intention to retire from the Association in May next year after 38 years of service. He has been a member of the HVCA executive staff since 1973, and was appointed its chief executive in July 1989.

For the first time in the UK, researchers from the University of Bath are working with RWE npower in a groundbreaking project exploring the potential energy savings of using a localised DC (Direct Current) electricity supply network.

Having celebrated the success of more than 350 students achieving the Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment (C&BE), senior industry figures have come together to pledge their continued support for the qualification.

The Health and Safety Executive has published revised guidance on Fire Safety in Construction.

Relevant to all construction projects, including small refurbishment sites, the guidance is aimed at all those with a role for developing and managing construction sites, including clients and designers. Much of what is contained in the guidance is not new, but the sections covering multi-storey buildings and high risk building such as timber frame have been strengthened to include lessons learned from recent fires.

The air conditioning industry must work together to educate businesses about system inspections legislation to avoid falling foul of the law, says Simon Keel of Daikin UK.

Keel’s comments come as the January deadline for the inspection of air conditioning systems is imminent. By 1 January 2011, all buildings with more than 12kW of cooling capacity should have had an inspection. By not complying with the legislation, companies are breaking the law, jeopardising the UK’s ability to hit carbon reduction targets and, possibly most pressing in the current economic climate, costing themselves money.

Rockwool has welcomed the launch of the Health & Safety Executive’s second edition of its Fire Safety in Construction guidelines.

Rockwool supports the HSE’s assertion that fire safety needs to be managed from the earliest stage in a building’s conception, during the design stage and right through the building process. Site neighbours and adjacent property are also identified as being at risk from a potential fire large enough to spread off site.

Halers Lighting has won a prestigious Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice thanks to its innovative energy efficient EvoLED. Using patented technology, the EvoLED luminaire design offers a far more efficient alternative to halogen.

Professional apprenticeships, such as those developed by HVCA subsidiary Building Engineering Services Training (BEST), have received the approval of skills minister John Hayes.

In a letter to BEST Chief Executive Dr Mark Brenner, Mr Hayes confirmed that the Government was committed to improving progression routes into and through apprenticeships.

The respected and trusted BSI Kitemark certification mark is now available for gas fittings, providing gas installers with an easy and dependable way of ensuring that the fittings they use meet the requirements of the Gas Safety (installation and use) Regulations 1998. This is an important concern, as using fittings that fail to satisfy the Regulations, even inadvertently, could potentially leave gas installers open to prosecution.

The Building Consultancy team at CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) in Leeds will project manage the construction of an innovative £4M eco-friendly Enterprise Centre in Bradford which will be the largest straw bale community development in Europe.

BEAMA’s Marketing Director Kelly Butler has welcomed the Government’s sustained commitment to develop the renewable heat market by announcing its intention to launch the Renewable Heat Incentive from June 2011.

“The UK’s legally binding renewable energy target always meant that a Renewable Heat Incentive had to be launched, despite the economic challenges we face. The real challenge now is to ensure the scheme is designed to be attractive to the customer - and help grow the market for important technologies such as heat pumps.

The Government’s changes to the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency scheme (CRC), announced in the Spending Review, mean that the scheme will be redesigned. The result is that the participants’ cost for each carbon emission will not be reimbursed to top performers. Instead, all monies will go straight to the Treasury, generating £1bn a year.

CIBSE has called for the Building and Energy Performance Regulations to be streamlined, in response to the government consultation on future changes to building regulations.

CIBSE believes that there is an opportunity to rationalise the energy efficiency elements of the Building Regulations and the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations, which are currently separate. It would offer the chance to reduce the time and cost involved in implementing the recast EPBD and the next cycle of revisions to Part L of the Building Regulations, scheduled to run in parallel.

Architects will be able to create escalators in any shape they want, even freeform curves, thanks to the first significant rethink of escalator design since the moving stairway was invented in 1897.

A system known as the Levytator has been developed by Jack Levy, an Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering at City University London. Unlike traditional designs, where redundant steps move underneath those in use, the Levytator utilises a continuous loop of curved modules, which can follow any path upwards, flatten and straighten out, and descend once more, all with passengers onboard.

Heathrow Airport has been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard after saving enough energy over the last three years to power more than 6,300 home for a year.

The UK's hub airport improved its carbon efficiency by nearly 12%, despite turnover growth of 31%. This means that for every pound in income, 12% less carbon was emitted.

With growing pressure to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, there is a renewed focus on the efficiency of boiler plant. It is now commonplace to find the existing building management systems (BMS) fully optimised and additional controls, such as weather compensation and sequencing, in place to deliver further control and savings. However additional savings can be achieved by focusing on the efficiency of each individual boiler directly.

For most of us in this industry, keeping up to date with the latest legislation, spending cuts and energy efficiency targets can feel like an uphill battle, but noncompliance is not an issue and therefore we have to look to ways of working together to make everyone’s life a bit easier.

Many building managers would agree that the symptoms of indoor climate problems most often surface as complaints from tenants, as living or working spaces are too cold in winter, too hot in summer or a combination of both extremes.

Ridi Lighting GmbH has announced the acquisition of the prestigious German architectural luminaire manufacturer, Spectral Lighting, following its liquidation in August 2010.

Taking control of all manufacturing and IP rights, Ridi will continue to produce and market the Spectral range of commercial luminaires, following consolidation of plant and existing stock at Ridi’s Jungingen manufacturing base. Spectral will co-exist as an upmarket architectural brand within the Ridi group.

NICEIC has launched its new ‘blended’ Inspection and Test 2392-10 course, which is designed to reduce the amount of time contractors have to spend away from their work. Developed in association with Virtual College, the new course follows on from the NICEIC’s highly successful 17th Edition online solution.

Colin Hale has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Cofely for the UK and Ireland. He has over 30 years experience within the construction and facilities management sectors and joins the company from Kier Facilities Services, where he is currently Managing Director.

The University of London and Newham University Hospital NHS Trust are the first public sector bodies in London to use the Mayor's RE:FIT framework to retrofit public buildings with energy saving measures to cut carbon emissions.

The Millennium Stadium has launched its commitment to becoming the UK’s first certifiably sustainable green event venue – working with BSI to gain certification to the British Standard BS 8901, sustainable management for events, which is widely recognised throughout the industry.

The HVCA has appointed Neil Griffin to the new senior post of Head of Operations.

Mr Griffin, who joins the Association from the aerospace industry, brings to the role a wide range of experience as a company secretary, as well as in corporate development, property and supply chain management, pensions, insurance and customer liaison.

The HVCA has appointed David Frise to the new senior post of Head of Sustainability.

Formerly Managing Director of the contracting business M S Frise, Mr Frise served as Vice President of the Association in 2007/08, and was the first chairman of M&E Sustainability, a joint venture between the HVCA and the Electrical Contractors’ Association.

He was a founding director of renewables specialist Third Rock Energy and of energy consultancy Cyna, and subsequently general manager of the energy division of national contractor N G Bailey & Co.

A further indication of the respect in which Fred Jamieson was held by the refrigeration industry has been demonstrated by the unanimous decision of the British Refrigeration Association Council to nominate Fred on to the BRA Roll of Honour.

Cedric Sloan, Director General at BRA, said: “The Roll is an exclusive recognition of key people from the industry who have played a significant role in British Refrigeration.

Schneider Electric is urging contractors not to give up on the business opportunities offered by the education sector, despite the Government crack down on education costs. The cancellation of the £55bn, 20 year Building Schools for the Future programme has put a stop to 715 new builds however; spending will have to continue to bring existing schools up-to-date. For contractors, this is an opportunity to recommend quick and easy installation solutions that can help educational establishments save money, go green and create a 21st century learning environment.

Traditionally, limited opportunities for controlling exterior lighting have resulted in significant waste of energy and money but it’s now time to take a look at the latest technologies and clamp down on that waste.

All of us are now operating within an environment where energy consumption and costs are of paramount importance to public and private sector organisations alike. In many cases, driven by legislation and other initiatives, there is also an imperative to make improvements in these areas relatively quickly.

With all the recent doom and gloom about the economy and the impact that government cuts will have on various projects within the broader construction industry, some of the focus on green issues seems to have moved down the agenda. This is not too surprising as in hard economic times there is a tendency to slip into survival mode and longer term objectives are often overlooked.

There has certainly been less media coverage of late on the whole area surrounding the green agenda, although selecting energy efficient variable speed pump options is as important as ever as they use a fraction of the energy of their fixed speed counterparts. But because there is so much pressure on capital expenditure, this option is frequently getting dropped even though any initial additional cost is recouped several times over in energy savings during the lifespan of the pump(s).

HVCA Publications, the publishing division of the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association, has launched a new guide to rainwater harvesting in non-residential buildings.

The Guide to Good Practice: Installation of Rainwater Harvesting in Non-Residential Buildings (TR/36) offers advice and practical considerations to those wanting to harvest rainwater for all new non-domestic building projects.

WYG has appointed Dr Stephen Bolt as its new Chief Scientist to drive forward the company’s scientific and regulatory services.

With more than 30 years experience in scientific services (including 10 years in academia and 13 in the water industry), Stephen has had over 35 scientific papers published, is widely recognised as a presenter at national and international conferences, and is well versed in the scientific arena. In addition, six years of experience at senior level within environmental consultancies means that Stephen also has a deep understanding of the commercial and practical requirements of WYG’s clients.

Adam Boswell of Cofely has become the first person in the UK to pass the Trend Apprenticeship Scheme, a scheme designed in conjunction with Trend Control Systems to train apprentices in the building controls field.

John Nock has been appointed by Mitsubishi Electric to the newly created role of General Manager of its commercial heating systems division, after successfully leading the company’s air conditioning sales team in London and the South of the country through the last eight years of growth.

“John brings an exceptional knowledge of the commercial sector and is well respected throughout the industry,” commented Sales Director, Deane Flint as he announced the appointment. “John’s leadership, integrity and firm belief in building a long-term partnership with customers have played a major part in our success.”

While overall engagement in environmental technologies is increasing in the Building Services Engineering (BSE) sector, there are not enough trained operatives in the UK to cope with any sudden demand over the next two years, according to new research published by SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the BSE sector.

New figures show that more than 350 students have successfully achieved the Diploma in Construction and Built Environment (C&BE) qualification for 14 to 19 year olds.

At the Advanced level, which is equivalent to three and a half A levels, students yielded an impressive pass rate of 91%. This standard was also reflected at the Higher level, which is equivalent to seven GCSEs grades A* - C, where 238 young people gained a C or above, and an overall pass rate of 83%. At Foundation level, a total of 63 students achieved their Diploma, with an overall success rate of 50%. One student also completed the Diploma in C&BE at Progression level.

Buderus is driving a call to action with the Carbon Trust to encourage more businesses to take advantage of the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) initiative.

The Government introduced the ECA scheme in 2001 to encourage businesses to invest in low carbon, energy-saving equipment. As part of the Climate Change Levy Programme, it is designed to help the UK reach its Kyoto target of reducing carbon emissions by 20%.

Cornwall Council has granted planning permission for the development of the UK’s first commercial deep geothermal power plant, near Redruth in Cornwall. Developed by British company Geothermal Engineering Ltd, the plant will provide both renewable heat for the local area, and renewable electricity, which will be fed into the National Grid. The plant is expected to be fully operational in 2013. The announcement marks a major milestone in the development of geothermal energy in the UK.

Building services engineers are adopting new working practices and developing new skills in order to engage positively with the overall issue of sustainability but they require the co-operation of other disciplines to maximise their contribution to the achievement of excellence, according to HVCA President Martin Burton.

“We are already taking a proactive role in promoting to clients the economic and environmental benefits of low-carbon products and systems,” Mr Burton told his audience at this year’s HVCA President’s Luncheon.

Boosting its green credentials, Fläkt Woods has introduced an industry first, a scrappage scheme for fans, offering a 10% discount to any customers replacing their old fan with the new environmentally friendly Twist Wing fan, and the company also guarantees to completely recycle the removed fan.

Richard Evans, Commercial Director at Buderus has expressed his concern following Education Secretary, Michael Gove’s decision to scrap Labour’s multi-billion pound Building Schools for the Future Scheme.

A new industry project codenamed iCAT has been launched with the aim of creating an everyday design tool to facilitate carbon assessment.

A new collaborative industry project team led by AEC3 UK is developing the Interoperable Carbon Assessment Toolkit or iCAT for embodied carbon calculations, which will enhance the design and life cycle management of zero carbon and low impact buildings.

Energy firm npower has welcomed the BSI’s new kitemark for energy efficiency, but says businesses will need to act fast to realise the full benefit of the standard under the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC).

Baxi Commercial Division has appointed Gary Stoddart to the new role of LZC Application Sales Manager for the North, reporting directly to Technical Director, Yan Evans.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) has published a new Approved Document for Part J (Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems) of the Building Regulations which comes into effect on 1 October 2010.

NICEIC has welcomed the government’s decision to launch a consultation on a microgeneration strategy for the household and business use of green technologies.

The HVCA has a crucial role to play in ensuring that its members gear up for the most profitable commercial opportunity building services engineering has ever known, according to Martin Burton, the Association’s newly-elected president.

Training is an important issue in many industries but in one where life safety is a consideration, particularly so says the Fire Industry Association (FIA).

For anybody looking for training in fire safety, the focus should be on the respective standards that underpin and regulate the industry. Included in these are fire detection and alarm systems (BS 5839); portable fire extinguishers (BS 5306); fixed extinguishing systems (BS 6266) and emergency lighting (BS 5266).

SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the Building Services Engineering (BSE) sector, has appointed Nigel Hollett as the new Head of Environmental Technologies.

Nigel has moved into his new role from Utility Partnership Ltd (UPL), where he was involved in setting up and developing a new sustainability and renewable energy division.

To oversee the activity of F-gas certification and best practice in handling refrigerants, Refcom has established an advisory committee comprising of leading industry figures.

The Refcom Advisory Committee will operate at summary level to supervise both Refcom’s Defra approved mandatory certification scheme and Refcom Elite’s voluntary scheme.

The Government must act now to compel building managers to comply with regulations for air conditioning inspections, either by force or by incentive, if the UK is to meet carbon reduction targets, says Simon Keel of Daikin UK.

M&E Sustainability chairman Jim O’Neil joined Mayor of London Boris Johnson for the official opening of a major new research facility at London South Bank University.

Paul Hardy, Managing Director of Baxi Commercial Division has been elected to the board of CIBSE which consists of seven officers (President, President-Elect, three Vice Presidents, Immediate Past President and Honorary Treasurer) and five elected members.

The largest UK pure research project in the area of printed lighting panels continues to expand with more than £4m of new funding and three new partners.

Daikin Europe is joining major European research institutions in developing economically feasible net zero energy building (nZEB) concepts based on heat pumps. These research institutions, including Manchester University, will be partners in this exceptional cross-border project, coordinated by Environment Application Research at Daikin Europe.

Historic buildings and structures in Britain are renowned throughout the world, with their local and regional diversity and architecture creating national character of global interest and admiration. Yet these buildings are at constant risk of decay caused by the elements and ageing, and being equally endangered through a lack of understanding by many who claim to be able to maintain, repair and conserve them.

Grundfos Pumps has won a Green Hero award from The Green Organisation, presented during a special ceremony held at the Tower of London.

Global energy management specialist Schneider Electric is calling for clearer advice on the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, following reports from customers who are still confused by the legislation.

EnOcean and Texas Instruments (TI) have expanded their cooperation to provide innovative wireless solutions for building automation.

“The premature scrapping of the Low Carbon Building Programme by the newly formed coalition government has sparked a number of comments from the renewable technologies industry but one important point appears to have been largely overlooked.” Says Neil Afram, Managing Director of the Daikin Distributors, Space Airconditioning plc.

Wood based fuel quality can now be certified as part of a new scheme being launched by HETAS. The Solid Biomass Assurance Scheme (SBAS) is being launched with the support of government funding from the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC). It will enable wood fuel and biomass producers to market their products using the recognised HETAS SBAS logo to provide customers with a mark of quality assurance.

With ever-growing pressure on organisations to cut their carbon emissions, carbon reduction specialist Sabien Technology is calling for tighter regulation and more extensive testing of products that claim to save energy.

Fujitsu has significantly increased its capacity for product recycling by building a new £20M plant in Japan with the environmentally-friendly new factory capable of recycling 900,000 units a year – this doubles the capacity of the old factory.

A newly-formed product management team is to lead the delivery of a major programme of new product development at Trox UK.

Refcom, the Register of Companies Competent to Handle Refrigerants, is enhancing its long-standing voluntary scheme and re-branding it with the more appropriate name Refcom Elite.

Leading industry bodies such as the UK Green Building Council, BRE Global, the Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association and the British Institute of Facilities Management have signed up as partner organisations for CIBSE’s Non-compliance costs campaign.

A cautious welcome to the Coalition Government’s approach to technology training has come from Keith Marshall OBE, Chief Executive of SummitSkills, the sector skills council for building services engineering.

Speaking at the spring conference of the Building Services Engineering Employment Agency Alliance, Mr Marshall referred in particular to two recent statements made by members of the new administration, both of which provided some cause for optimism.

Dimplex has expressed concern over the sudden closure of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme following the new coalition government’s withdrawal of grant funding for renewables projects as part of its plan to make immediate spending cuts of £6 billion.

Four Seasons Group (FSG) has acquired Berkeley Controls Group Ltd (BCG) for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition of BCG adds a significant new skill set to the Group, supporting the ability of Four Seasons to offer clients the capability to reduce energy bills and comply with increasing amounts of carbon reduction legislation. BCG will add a further £4 million of revenue resulting in combined pro-forma revenue for the Group in excess of £30 million.

HVCA Publications, the publishing division of the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association, has launched a Guide to Good Practice for the Installation of Fire and Smoke Dampers (DW/145).

Kevin Talbot, Chairman of the HVCA Ductwork Group, in his foreword to DW/145, explains: “This guide highlights many of the basic principles contained in the design and installation process, whilst at the same time identifying the responsibilities that attach to the team as a whole – which, of course, comprises designers, builders, manufacturers and local authorities, as well as mechanical services, ductwork and other specialist contractors.

Baxi-SenerTec UK, the business unit responsible for marketing the Dachs mini-CHP product in the UK, has now become part of Baxi Commercial Division by relocating at the start of 2010 to the same premises in Birmingham. David Shaw, Business Manager for Baxi-SenerTec UK, will join Baxi Commercial Division, reporting to managing Director Paul Hardy.

ABB has launched its drives and motors swappage scheme, allowing companies to trade in their old products from any manufacturer for new ABB drives and motors.

The scheme offers at least 17.5% discount off published list prices for new drives from 0.12 kW to 400 kW and new motors from 0.75 kW to 710 kW when old equivalent products from any manufacturer are traded in.

Building Engineering Services Training (BEST) Ltd, the leading UK training provider for the Building Services Engineering (BSE) sector, has announced two new strategic alliances which for the first time offer a uniform, high standard, national apprenticeship scheme for ductwork and scaffolding.

A new enhanced version of the software tool SBEM has just been unveiled by BRE. The tool which calculates the energy usage and carbon emissions for all non-domestic buildings will enable designers, developers and suppliers to demonstrate compliance with the revised Part L of the Building Regulations which takes effect this October across England and Wales.

Paul King has been appointed as Service Sales Manager with the Service & Maintenance division of Walter Meier (Climate UK), with a remit to focus on strategic growth and expanding the company’s service, maintenance and installation operations.

Paul first joined the industry over 25 years ago, serving his apprenticeship as an air conditioning and refrigeration engineer. Since then he has held senior management positions in a number of companies and has developed broad experience of every aspect of air conditioning and refrigeration systems.

Wagner UK has launched a series of CPD Seminars to help fire system designers, installers and consultants better understand the implications of a new European Standard that has changed the way Aspirating Smoke Detection Systems have to be designed and installed.

A new partnership formed between Buro Happold and research, development and advice consultancy Archial Sustainable Futures will provide strategic design advice to property developer Marchday for its Lingfield Point development in Darlington.

Medem UK, the gas safety panel manufacturer, has appointed Steve Heap as Field Sales Manager. Steve will strengthen the Medem team by orchestrating a business development strategy that identifies opportunities and responds swiftly to customer demand.

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 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.

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. 

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.

The PowerView software works with Schneider Electric’s PowerLogic EGX100 integrated gateway and comprehensive range of meters. It allows users to track real time power conditions and remotely monitor electrical equipment and installations across an entire electrical network.  Through the system, users can measure the energy consumption of specific applications or circuits by day and hour, analyse and compare total harmonic distortion, produce reports and plot trends.

At the beginning of January, the world’s tallest building by far was inaugurated in Dubai. At 828 metres high, Burj Khalifa has more than 160 floors. When the weather is clear, the skyscraper, which rises up to the sky between the sea and the desert, can be seen from a distance of almost 100 kilometres.

Engineering and technology expert Siemens has announced a strategic restructure of its Building Technologies (BT) division in the UK which has created a dedicated Products and Systems business unit that will incorporate all Siemens, Crabtree, Wylex and Volex branded products and systems for the buildings market.

SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for Building Services Engineering (BSE), welcomes the Government’s announcement which set out the pathway for three-quarters of young people to go to university or earn an advanced technical qualification, such as a high-level apprenticeship.

Over the last few years we have seen rapid expansion in the use of DALI (digital addressable lighting interface) protocols for the management of lighting. And, without a doubt, DALI can prove to be a better option than alternative dimming options such as DSI (digital serial interface) and 0-10V analogue dimming.

The Lighting Association has joined forces with WEEE Lite to offer a comprehensive solution that will help not only LA members, but the whole of the lighting industry to meet its environmental responsibilities - The LA Compliance Scheme.

Anne King, Marketing and Memebership Director of BSRIA, has been awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours in recognition of her services to the construction industry.

Anne has worked at BSRIA for 30 years, bringing her economist's skills to the market intelligence group. After fifteen years of market research on a consultancy basis, she moved on to the marketing of BSRIA's own activities and is now Marketing and Membership Director. She has also been a leading member of the best practice programmes and is currently on the delivery team for the Knowledge Transfer Network for the Modern Built Environment working in issues around process improvement both of the construction process and the management and operation of buildings.

Sontay has appointed Trevor Palmer to the role of Managing Director. He brings over 15 years of combined HVAC controls experience which extends from expertise in the application of manufactured solutions to knowledge gained in key sales, marketing and product development functions at various international market leaders in the sector. Most recently, Trevor has held a senior role at Canadian-based HVAC controls manufacturer, Viconics, where he was director of marketing and international sales.

ABB has signed a deal with Nuaire Ltd to supply variable speed drives for its range of fans.

Nuaire, based in South Wales, manufactures the largest range of ventilation products and air handling units in the UK. This will now be complimented by ABB standard drives and ABB standard drives for HVAC which are available in power ratings from 0.75 to 90kW, with larger drives available on request.

Britain's commercial, industrial and public buildings need to improve from an average of an E energy rating today to C by 2020 and A by 2050 in order for the UK to meet its national carbon reduction obligations, according to a new report released by the Carbon Trust.

An office development in West London has been recognised for its outstanding approach to environmental best practice by winning two prestigious national awards in the space of a few days.

Chiswick Park Enjoy-Work, the office park developed by Stanhope which provides a workplace for almost 4,000 people, has been awarded Gold in the International Green Apple Awards for environmental best practice and sustainable development.

Most companies and organisations based in office blocks and large buildings are missing a wide open goal to save energy according to powerPerfector, a UK green tech company which has come up with a solution to save vast amounts of electricity almost instantly.   

The technology saves far more power than voluntary workplace schemes such as paper recycling, switching-off computers at night and biking to work.

It has never been more critical for the Government to recognise the value of the British construction industry and how it can be deployed to re-energise the UK economy – says the Get Britain Building (GBB) campaign – as the latest research published by the Construction Trade Survey (CTS) reveals the recession in the sector showing no signs of abating. The CTS survey is reinforced by December figures from the Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (CPMI).

In response to increased demand for fully integrated hydronic solutions, Marflow Hydronics has changed its name to Marflow Hydronic Systems.

“Although this is a relatively small change to our name, it marks a significant shift in our approach to the market; and one that reflects feedback from our customers,” commented Marflow Managing Director Paul Fennell.

BSEE is joining forces with CEDIA (the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) to run Engineering Smart Home Networks; a conference consisting of free seminars which will help building services engineers, M&E consultants and contractors find out how electronic systems, including audio-visual, data, lighting control, security and HVAC can be successfully installed and integrated into significant residential schemes. 

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) welcomes the appointment of Paul Morrell as the Government Chief Construction Adviser (CCA). The new role will provide a single point of contact between government and industry, and an internal focus for resolving cross departmental issues.

Vaillant’s commitment to reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions has been reinforced by an endorsement by the Energy Saving Trust (EST) across its entire ecoTEC boiler range. This applies to 20 natural gas and 13 LPG boilers, including the ecoTEC exclusive, ecoTEC plus, ecoTEC plus 937, ecoTEC pro and ecoTEC commercial range.

Businesses, energy suppliers and credit insurers must work together to avoid a credit crisis says npower, as businesses face potential new challenges in securing energy supplies as a result of the recession.

The EnOcean Alliance has published the first global, open specification for energy harvesting wireless sensors which ensures interoperability between products of different manufacturers: EnOcean equipment profiles (EEPs). The specification, devised jointly by the members of the EnOcean Alliance, is public and accessible for anyone. It contains 50 equipment profiles supporting the development of a variety of solutions for building automation, such as switches, remote controls, sensors, sensor combinations and data of every kind. Publication of the specification is the first step taken by the EnOcean Alliance towards an international standard.

Wolseley UK is the latest business to lend its backing to the Get Britain Building (GBB) campaign. Get Britain Building – launched in February 2009 – is a pan-construction industry campaign determined to get politicians of all parties to recognise the value of the sector to the nation and to use it to rebuild the UK economy.

Dave Dossett, BEAMA’s Executive Chairman has been elected as President of CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation).

Mr Dossett’s appointment is part of a new CENELEC focus designed to impact on future European standardisation and the organisation’s own direction, governance and expansion through a common Management Centre for CEN and CENELEC (CCMC). 

If every person who started a Construction Apprenticeship this year stood arm-to-arm, they would stretch all the way around the new Olympic Stadium in London over 53 times, according to the National Apprenticeship Service which has launched its seventh annual Apprenticeship Awards.

Dave Lacey has been appointed Commercial Director for Vaillant in the UK and Ireland.  He is responsible for the continued development of the Vaillant business, including domestic and commercial boilers, renewable technologies, controls and hot water cylinders.

The Carbon Trust and the Strategic Forum for Construction (SFfC) have formed a partnership to help construction companies meet the targets of the joint government and industry Strategy for Sustainable Construction.

CHP manufacturer Baxi-SenerTec UK has won this year’s prestigious Combined Heat and Power Association Public Sector Award. The award was given in recognition of the work carried out by the company in partnership with the London Fire Brigade (LFB) to supply Dachs mini-CHP units to fire stations throughout the capital.

AECOM has welcomed the news that Newcastle upon Tyne has been named Britain's greenest city.

A report by think-tank, Forum for the Future, looked at the sustainability of the 20 biggest cities, measuring factors such as air quality, wildlife and quality of life. Newcastle, which beat 2008 winner Bristol into second, performed well on many measures of sustainability.

Delivering effective school environments that meet low or zero carbon targets will be a major challenge, according to the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), in a response to the DCFS Consultation on Carbon Management for Schools.

A Pipe Center customer has been presented with a state-of-the-art Rothenberger Roscope video inspection tool after winning top prize in a competition organised by BSEE.

An innovative pre-warming system which helps ensure effective control of the internal environment has been developed by the leading natural ventilation solutions provider, Passivent Commercial Ltd.

Following the receipt of all necessary EU competition approvals, the transaction initially announced in July 2009 between De Dietrich Remeha Group and Baxi Group has been completed. The new group will be called BDR Thermea, recognising the contribution both groups bring to the combination.

Paul Wenden, engineering and product management director for Fläkt-Woods has been appointed President of FETA, the Federation of Environmental Trade Associations.

Paul is also President of HEVAC the Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Manufacturers Association, which itself is an Incorporated Association of FETA.

Top Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) expert, Paul Stepan has warned that new carbon reduction legislation is weighted strongly against the property sector.

Mr Stepan, from environmental consultancy, Camco, said: "The government's well meaning process of policy simplification has left landlords in a poor position. Furthermore difficulties with regards to legally charging their tenants for CRC costs and the desire to recover administration and other associated expenses, compound the issue. These costs could become more significant once the financial impact of the scheme becomes clearer."

Waste glass, plastic and metal are to be converted into clean energy as the go-ahead was given by the Government for a new plant in Peterborough.

Energy and Climate Change Minister, David Kidney has granted consent to Peterborough Renewable Energy Ltd for the construction of the 80MW energy from waste and biomass fuelled power station at Storey's Bar Gate.

Johnson Controls and The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, has announced the creation of a European and Mediterranean Energy Efficiency & Climate Change Forum. The event will be hosted in Monaco in April 2010 and will focus on a range of energy efficiency and policy issues with the goal of elevating awareness and accelerating action on implementing energy efficiency programmes to slow climate change.

JET Environmental is adding its voice to Government advisors who are calling for a step change in policies to reduce carbon emissions, and less reliance on market forces to achieve this objective. As part of this step-change, JET is urging Government to incentivise the UK's big power users to adopt jet air induction technology more widely so that they can reduce energy consumption and help achieve the emission cuts demanded by Government and the Committee on Climate Change.  

Pipe Center's Modular Engineering has won the award for Best Product or System in the Offsite Construction Awards 2009.

The award recognised the ability of Pipe Center's approach to reduce costs, save waste, protect the environment, cut accidents and deliver an assured level of quality on time and to budget.

The names of the companies tasked with designing and building Scotland's homes of the future at a groundbreaking innovation park in the heart of Ravenscraig have been announced.

Priva Building Intelligence Ltd has appointed one of the UK's largest independent control system integrators, to its Priva Partner Network.

Enforcement of Building Regulations for the Conservation of fuel and power (Part L) 18.25% is running a close second behind Structure (Part A) 22.47% and ahead of Fire (Part B), according to recent research from LABC Cambridgeshire.

Megaman is part of a drive to reduce carbon emissions by 10% in one year by making the company part of the solution to climate change. As one of the first companies to sign up for 10:10, which is a national drive to cut carbon emissions by 10% during 2010, Megaman has made a commitment to pull out all the stops and reduce its carbon footprint and also get its staff, customers and suppliers involved.

HVCA has signed up to a Code of Practice which has been developed by the Confederation of British Industry's Trade Association Forum to promote best practice amongst its members, and so raise their overall quality and effectiveness.

The city of Jyväskylä in Finland has been awarded the first prize in the 2009 city.people.light awards, the annual competition organized by Philips and the Lighting Urban Community International Association (LUCI) to reward projects which demonstrate the contribution lighting can make to the well-being of those who live, work or visit a city or town.

Emma Marshall of Northumbria University has won the CIBSE/ASHRAE Graduate of the Year Award.

This well established and prestigious award, sponsored by Baxi Commercial, rewards the best graduate from a programme related to CIBSE/ASHRAE activities with a trip to the 2010 winter ASHRAE meeting in Orlando, USA.

Widespread non-compliance with legislation designed to address the twin challenges of sustainability and carbon reduction is already jeopardising the nation's ability to meet its long-term environmental targets, according to HVCA president Graham Manly.

Constructing Excellence (CE) and BRE have announced a new collaborative partnership that aims to support organisations in the built environment so they can emerge strongly from the current economic slowdown.  

Concerns have been raised over an apparent fall in the number of air conditioning systems assessments taking place. Up to date figures from leading energy services companies show a distinct fall in the quantity of new inspection contracts placed during the last few months, despite the fact that tens of thousands of the inspections which were required by 4 January 2009 are still to be carried out.

Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management and security solutions, has completed the strategic transformation and brand migration of TAC to Schneider Electric.

The Carbon Trust has recently announced an extension to their Big Business Refit scheme that offers both private companies as well as public sector organisations the opportunity to apply for an interest free loan that can be repaid over a period of four years.

The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) will have a positive impact on the market for combined heat and power (CHP) in buildings when it comes into effect next April.

The impact of the compulsory carbon cap and trading scheme was one of the key messages delivered by speakers at the recent Heat & Energy 09 conference attended by a large audience of public sector specifiers and government departments.

National  museums and Marriott Hotels are dominating the list of the organisations signed up to the 100 Hours of Carbon Clean up Campaign, leading the way in reducing the amount of carbon emitted from their buildings.

With just half a day's use, a variable speed drive can compensate for the environmental cost of its own manufacture and disposal, a new study from ABB shows.

The study, carried out in cooperation with Tampere University of Technology, demonstrates how long drives of various sizes need to be used before they begin making a positive contribution to the environment.

Priva Building Intelligence Ltd has appointed Adrian Scott as its business development manager for the South East of England.  This latest addition to the Priva team demonstrates the company's commitment to growing its business in the UK and supporting its network of Partners and customers.

AECOM has been appointed as lead consultant for a proposed new wind turbine facility at Lancaster University.

The proposed project is to develop two 2.3MW wind turbines on the University's Hazelrigg site to the east of the M6 motorway. Lancaster University would be the first in England to install wind turbines which would reduce its electricity consumption by approximately one third - equivalent to the residential requirements of all students who live on campus.

In a step designed to add value to registration with the organisation, NICEIC has launched an Equipment Hire service in association with Hire Station.

Equipment for any electrical or construction job can be hired by registered installers at extremely competitive rates and delivered directly to site, or collected from a local Hire Station store. 

SummitSkills has launched the 2010 National Training Awards, an awards scheme celebrating the achievements of the building services engineering sector's finest talent.

As the Sector Skills Council for the building services engineering sector, SummitSkills is looking for outstanding employees in the sector to be nominated for the awards recognising those who have demonstrated exceptional work in the industry.

Tour & Andersson has appointed Graeme Waugh as its UK technical manager. As an associate of Tour & Andersson's specialist TA Hydronic College, Graeme is equipped with an in-depth knowledge of hydronic engineering solutions.

A new bursary scheme to support the attendance of young engineers at the DFI and EFFC International conference has been launched by the Geotechnical Challenges in Urban Regeneration organising committee.

GEM Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thermal Energy International (TEI), has taken over the European rights to Kemco International's range of water and heat recovery products following the signing of an agreement between Thermal Energy International Inc and Florida based Kemco Systems Inc.  

The Open Metering System initiative of the manufacturers associations figawa, KNX and ZVEI has published an open, manufacturer independent, interoperable device and interface definition called an Open Metering System Specification.

Npower has launched a new tool enabling businesses to help forecast future energy consumption to save money, reduce carbon and better manage participation in the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC). 

The winners of the SkillPLUMB and SkillELECTRIC 2008 finals, hosted by SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for building services engineering, have represented the UK at WorldSkills 2009 in Calgary in Canada at the world's largest international skills competition.

Matt Johnstone, Dimitri Harrisis and Matt Heaman from Hoare Lea's Bristol office together with Nigel Jones, a client from Guernsey, have raised £4000 for the Meningitis Trust by cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats.

Green energy product manufacturer Stiebel Eltron has launched a new leasing scheme to make its renewable energy heat pumps more affordable.

KNX UK's application for entry into the CIBSE Directory of CPD Course Providers has now been accepted and the full range of KNX CPD courses will now be listed in the CIBSE Directory for the next two years.

HCP, a division of SAS International, has been recognised by the Construction Products Association for its innovation in the design and manufacture of its radiant heating panels.

The deadline for the Lighting Design Awards is approaching fast, and for the first time since the awards began, you can enter on-line. Once again, the ceremony will be held in the opulent ballroom of the prestigious London Hilton on Park Lane and will be attended by architects, lighting designers and manufacturers.

Grundfos Pumps has established a new industry, water & waste water team combining the industrial end-user, water distribution and water utility teams.  Customers will now have access to a larger team of 26 full-time pump professionals who are all dedicated to delivering the highest standards of service across the extensive range of Grundfos products.

BSRIA is now UKAS accredited to carry out acoustic testing and consultancy on all types of buildings for Part E of the Building Regulations.

MK Electric's echo has picked up the award for ‘best application of energy harvesting' in a product at the inaugural IDTechEx Energy Harvesting Awards thanks to its commercial success to date. The wireless, batteryless and self-powered range of switches is gaining rapid market acceptance and volumes are set to grow as wireless switching becomes the norm in residential and commercial applications.

As the Government announces its white paper plans for reducing carbon emissions, Jet Environmental has urged UK industry to adopt jet air induction systems more widely if they wish to reduce the predicted 17% increase in energy bills over the next decade.

Multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy, AECOM has appointed John Redding and Shaun Edwards to the growing development team based in the Newcastle office.

Can sustainable ventilation approaches be as successful in health care environments as they have been in other buildings?

The obvious concern that differentiates health care facilities from other building types is enhanced hygiene and infection control. Traditional hospital ventilation systems introduce air from near the ceiling, force it downwards with a diffuser, and then suck it back out through an exhaust grille, also at ceiling level.

The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan published by the Government sets out the key actions and strategies to meet climate change targets: cutting the UK's carbon emissions by 34% from 1990 levels by 2020 and deriving 15% of all energy from renewable sources by the same date.

SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the building services engineering sector has been praised as a well run Sector Skills Council in the National Audit Office (NAO) assessment of its performance.  The assessment was undertaken on behalf of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) as part of the relicensing process that all 25 SSCs will undertake this year.

The building services engineering sector has a great deal to gain from the increasing global commitment to carbon reduction and energy conservation, according to HVCA president Graham Manly.

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has launched the most extensive online library of engineering information in the world, ICE Virtual Library, which hosts the Institution's journal and book content back to 1836.

Walter Meier (Climate UK) has appointed Andy Johnson as business development manager for its Service & After Sales division, with responsibility to broaden and strengthen the UK client base and continue its growth in this area. Andy joins the company from York, where he gained extensive experience in the sale and ongoing support of chiller plant.

HETAS has launched a brand new scheme to assure biomass and wood fuel quality for both domestic and commercial users. The first company to have it's products approved under the unique Solid Biomass Approvals Scheme (SBAS) is Certainly Wood, which supplies kiln dried firewood and kindling throughout the UK.

The Institution of Civil Engineers has announced its official endorsement of the NEC3 as the best practice contract form for construction projects, in the UK and overseas.

New research from British Gas Business shows that almost two thirds of companies do not know who is responsible for energy efficiency or don't have a dedicated energy efficiency manager.

Kelly Butler, BEAMA's marketing director, has welcomed the Government's commitment to support heat pumps saying: "The BEAMA Domestic Heat Pump Association has only recently been set up, so the Government's announcement so soon is great news for the industry. 

Just a matter of weeks after its introduction, Ellis Patents has finalised a comprehensive short circuit testing process that means all of its cable cleats now have third party certification to, or above the levels outlined in the new International Standard for the use of cable cleats in electrical installations (IEC61914 - 2009).

The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering has welcomed the decision in Northern Ireland to fall in line with safety regulations in the rest of the UK.

Grundfos has released their 2008 Sustainability Report, explaining the great strides that have been achieved by the international pump manufacturer. To ensure they retain this edge, Grundfos continue to invest a total of 5.2% of their annual turnover in researching and developing new products. 

Two reports recently published highlight the link between noise and the effects on human health. Institute of Acoustics' members Bernard Berry and Dr Ian Flindell were commissioned by Defra to undertake a review of research into links between noise and health. Nicole Porter was also part of the project team.

The quantity of luminaires being recycled in the UK has increased by over 200% between the second half of 2007 and the same period in 2008, according to Luminaire recycling specialist Lumicom. In the last six months of 2007, 34 tonnes were recycled and this had risen to 80 tonnes by the end of 2008.

Public sector procurement has not been sufficiently focused in the past on vocational education and skills, according to Kevin Brennan, Minister of State for Further Education, Apprenticeship Skills and Consumer Affairs at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

AECOM and Steensen Varming have proved their commitment to developing young engineers - winning at the inaugural CIBSE Young Engineers Network Champions Award.

Long distance runner Stuart Walker has just returned from a mammoth trek travelling the entire length of the British Isles by muscle power alone.

Thorn has launched a major energy saving campaign, urging small and medium electrical contractors to change from installing glow-starter switch (magnetic) driven fluorescent fittings to high frequency (HF) electronic versions, which consume about 20% less power and hence reduce CO2 emissions.

The dedicated test cell at the Trox Technical Centre has been totally rebuilt due to the massive demands for fan coil system research and development.  This demand has been brought about by the need to measure energy savings accurately as in the case of VAV fan coil development work, the need to verify performance data on a project by project basis, and to enable further product research to be undertaken.

Two new Quality Assurance Managers have joined The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) to ensure the quality of the certificates being lodged by CIBSE Low Carbon Energy Assessors (LCEAs) and further raise standards within the industry.

REFCOM has signed an agreement with the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirming its appointment as a mandatory F gas company certification body for businesses operating in the stationary refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump (SRAC) sector in Great Britain.

EMCOR Group (UK) has been awarded a three year extension of its facilities management contract with one of London's most iconic institutions, the Natural History Museum.  EMCOR Group (UK) has provided mechanical and electrical engineering services across all of the Museum's sites since 2001, ensuring the Museum has a solid infrastructure in which to preserve and display many of the 70 million specimens under its care. 

Wieland Electric has appointed Glasgow-based Sinelco as a stocking distributor for its comprehensive range of safety products, including the 4000 series of safety relays as well as safety sensors and emergency stop buttons. Sinelco will also have access to Wieland's innovative Samos Pro modular safety system.

CIBSE and HVCA have issued a joint statement on air conditioning inspection training, warning potential trainees that they may not be able to be accredited to work as air conditioning inspectors after undergoing certain training.

Following its recent acquisition by Royal Philips Electronics, the newly named Philips Dynalite is looking ahead to bigger and better things. Now a key element of Philips Lighting's Lighting Electronics Business, Philips Dynalite has been designated a ‘Centre of Design Excellence' and is tasked with developing smart engineering control solutions for Philips worldwide.

BRE and partners Duany, Plater-Zyberk, Turnberry Consulting and the University of Hertfordshire are the proud recipients of a Charter Award from the US-based Congress for New Urbanism.  The award relates to their work on the development of a masterplan for growth in Hertfordshire in line with Government targets for the East of England region.

The IOA's Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control, which has recently been revised and updated, is regarded as a significant qualification for those wanting to pursue a professional career related to acoustics and noise control.

Sanyo has introduced an approved installer scheme for its ECO C02 high efficiency heat pump-based heating system.

Dear Editor

Cavendish Engineers wanted to take the time to inform BSEE on how impressed and surprised we have been as to the impact the building control awards has made to our company. This is the first time that we have entered the awards, so we were delighted when Cavendish reached the finals for the ‘Best Service and Maintenance Provider award.'

Marflow Hydronics has appointed Mark Burns as sales & marketing manager, with particular responsibility for developing the company's sales and marketing strategy in line with new product developments. Mark has over 25 years experience in the HVAC industry and has held key positions in companies such as Vaillant, NuAire and AHED.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Europe (MHIE) is stepping up its air conditioning presence in mainland Europe with the appointment of London-based industry specialists to co-ordinate continental sales, focusing on growth of the KX6 VRF range. It has appointed Des Franklin and Louis Sullivan to strategically develop product sales and international key account business through the network of 27 MHIE distributors who cover Europe from Hamburg to Marseilles. Both have extensive experience of the air conditioning distribution business and the MHI product range, having previously worked for a UK distributor of MHI equipment.

In a year that has seen Monodraught develop new distributors overseas, the company is announcing a series of board and sales appointments to strengthen the management team.

Live trials of Mitsubishi Electric's unique PWFY water heating system have proved that it is far more cost-effective and produces far less CO2 emissions than traditional methods with demonstrated savings of 78% in both running costs and emissions over the previous system.

EMCOR Group (UK) has been awarded a three year extension of its facilities management contract with one of London's most iconic institutions, the Natural History Museum.  EMCOR Group (UK) has provided mechanical and electrical engineering services across all of the Museum's sites since 2001, ensuring the Museum has a solid infrastructure in which to preserve and display many of the 70 million specimens under its care. 

The Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) has played a key role in rolling out a revised British standard designed to improve access to and within buildings for disabled people.

Building Engineering Services Training (BEST) has been selected as one of only two national M&E training providers to share in £11m of Government funding to create new apprenticeship places. Announced on 14 May by Skills Secretary John Denham and Schools Secretary Ed Balls, the funding forms part of a new approach to help employers train skilled workers of the future.

De Dietrich Remeha Group and Baxi Group have entered into detailed discussions to form a new group company that will have a leading position in the European heating market.

Building controls expert BG Controls has reinforced its Systems Support arm of the business by opening a dedicated service and maintenance office in Preston.

The City of East London in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, representing The Amathole District Municipality, will receive assistance from the City of Glasgow in the second global LightLinks Competition. The winner was announced at an awards ceremony held at the LumiVille public lighting trade fair.

Resource Data Management (RDM), the pioneering HVACR control and energy monitoring company has acquired leading software developer Resorsys.

A new footbridge in Aylesbury - the Bourg Walk - has been named Overall Winner at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Engineering Excellence Awards 2009, the highest honour for civil engineering excellence in the Thames Valley region.

Samsung has stepped up its drive to capture a significant slice of the UK air conditioning market by forging a strategic alliance with nationwide specialist wholesaler HRP Ltd. The move makes Samsung's DVM Plus III (VRF) range available nationally through a newly formed specialist HRP subsidiary, Samsung Air Conditioning Centre (SACC), and Samsung split systems available through HRP's extensive branch network.

Building Product Design Group, which includes brands such as Glidevale, Passivent, Kingfisher Louvre Systems, Richmond Building Products and Z-Led, has promoted Graham Dronfield and Neil Rideout to joint managing directors. The two combine to bring over 40 years' experience within divisions of the company to the board.

Working alongside key players from the mainstream heating industry including Worcester Bosch, Dimplex, Baxi, Danfoss Heat Pumps, Vaillant, Stiebel Eltron, Zehnder UK and Myson, BEAMA has created the BEAMA Domestic Heat Pump Association. Its chairman is Chris Davis, head of renewables at Dimplex.  

Live trials of Mitsubishi Electric's award-winning Ecodan systems over the past winter have clearly demonstrated that the low-carbon heating system lives up to expectations and is more than capable of dealing with whatever the British weather can throw at it.

Gas Safe Register now has more than 121,000 registrations for engineers and 56,500 for businesses - exceeding expectations for the first year in a matter of months.

SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for building services engineering has launched a UK-wide initiative to find people passionate about their work to fill the role of ambassadors for the sector.

Martin Bailey was inaugurated as the president of The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) for 2009-2010 at the opening of the organisation's annual industry conference. 

New legislation taking effect from the start of next year could be bad news for anyone with air conditioning that is older than five years - yet most companies remain ignorant of the major impact this could have on their business.

Baxi Group has been victorious at the Micropower Awards 2009, winning the hotly contested Innovation category for the Ecogen microCHP unit.

A buildings engineer is planning to swap planes, trains and automobiles for aches, pains and no mobiles as he prepares to travel the entire length of the British Isles using only muscle power.

Philips is calling upon leaders of world businesses, municipal authorities and other owners and operators of buildings to seize the opportunity to cut back on energy consumption by simply switching to energy-efficient lighting.

The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering has declared its support for the Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment, launched in September 2008. The CBE Diploma is a qualification for 14 to 19-year-olds designed in collaboration with employers and universities. It is part of a national programme to encourage young people to continue learning for longer by widening their choices and helping them get the qualifications they need to succeed in work and life. It will allow young people to progress onto employment, college and university.

The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has welcomed the proposed carbon targets and green stimulus package announced in the 2009 Budget.

Recent news that EU member states have approved a plan to ban low and standard efficiency circulating pumps from 2013 has been warmly welcomed by Wilo here in the UK. The plan also states that from 2015, only very high efficiency intelligent circulators will be allowed.

NICEIC Group has been accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to run a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for installers. The Scheme is designed to register businesses undertaking environmental technologies installation work in dwellings in the United Kingdom.

SAS International has developed a new CIBSE recognised CPD presentation on the theme of radiant heating. Ceiling mounted radiant heating panels (RHPs) are produced by HCP, the specialist heating division of SAS International.

ITT Corporation has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Laing GmbH of Germany, a privately-held leading producer of energy efficient circulator pumps primarily used in residential and commercial plumbing and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.  Once completed, the acquisition will significantly broaden ITT's offering and will reflect the company's continued strategic focus on satisfying the market's growing demand for energy efficiency and lower life-cycle costs.

Samsung has announced the appointment of Dysk Air Conditioning, Easy Air Conditioning and Gallant Air Conditioning to a new line-up of distributors who will spearhead sales of its new DVM Plus III air conditioning systems alongside the range of RAC solutions.

There were some sharp intakes of breath recently when SummitSkills published its report on the likely impact of current economic conditions on jobs in the building services sector.

The Empire State Building is going green, following the unveiling of a landmark energy sustainability programme for the iconic property by Jones Lang LaSalle and its programme partners that will reduce the energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 38%.

The CIBSE Young Engineers' Network is looking for companies who take the development of young people seriously and who know that supporting young people both in employment and in education is vital.

Meiny Prins, General Manager of Priva has become the Businesswoman of the year after being presented with the Prix Veuve Clicquot 2009.

There is increasing pressure on building managers to reduce energy use. Legislation in the form of Energy Performance Certificates and Display Energy Certificates is making building owners and occupants more aware of their energy consumption than ever before.  Perhaps even more important is the rising cost of energy in an increasingly uncertain economic climate. Managers in the private and public sectors are on the lookout for any ways to reduce operational costs.

Three innovative products and 11 outstanding projects were the winners of this year's Lighting Design Awards where projects were as diverse as they were distinguished, with a sublime cathedral and an urban gym sharing the laurels with a glistening 50m wide spider's web and a luxury apartment on the Strand in London.

Owners of buildings with air-conditioning systems are being urged to adhere to new inspection legislation or face fines. HVCA subsidiary, BESCA, warns that many owners are unaware of the European Union's Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD) and legislation in the UK requiring all air-conditioning systems of more than 12kW to be inspected, regardless of whether the system is in a commercial or domestic property.

Mitsubishi Electric's green initiative targeted at helping everyone reduce energy consumption has been acknowledged at the SEE Awards in Brussels as part of the 3^rd Annual EU Sustainable Energy Week.

As part of a new EU directive, incandescent lamps and other lighting products that are heavy users of electricity will be phased out from 1 September 2009. Starting with the most inefficient lamps, the ban will come into effect over a period of eight years until only energy efficient alternatives are available in the UK with the onus being placed on retailers and manufacturers to ensure only approved lamps are made available to purchase.

KNX UK, the association representing companies promoting KNX intelligent building technology, has published a new guide to KNX technology. ‘Putting the Intelligence into Building and Homes' is designed for building services engineers, specifiers and users of KNX technology in the commercial and residential sectors.

The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) is pleased to announce the launch of ECA Bid (www.ecabid.co.uk), an online auction site where electrical contractors can buy and sell goods.

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has announced that five projects are the recipients of the ICE London Merit Awards 2009, the city's highest honour for civil engineering excellence.

LG Electronics' hugely successful air conditioning operation, which has held the world number one ranking since 2000, has been spun off from the company's other home appliance businesses to its own independent division, LG Air Conditioning Company.

REFCOM is to be the UK's mandatory F-Gas company certification body for the stationary refrigeration and air-conditioning (SRAC) sector, to allow businesses to comply with European Commission F-Gas Regulation No 842/2006. Formal appointment by the Secretary of State is expected in the next two weeks.

Shaun Foster has joined Baxi Commercial Division as Area Sales Manager representing both Andrews Water Heaters and Potterton Commercial in the North West. Shaun has extensive experience in the H&V Sector, having worked as a Sales Engineer for British Gas for 19 years during which time he completed extensive technical and managerial courses. He originally joined Baxi in the domestic sector in 2000, and has now returned to his preferred role working in the commercial sector.

Buro Happold has been appointed as the engineering consultant for the Barnsley Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. This follows the BSF experience already built up by the international multi disciplinary engineers, delivering a number of award winning educational facilities in Bristol.

Grundfos Pumps has been actively championing variable speed pumps for many years. The range of variable speed options has increased each year and although sales have continued to increase, their take-up, hasn't always lived up to the S to E (standard to electronic) programme goals they set for themselves.

SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for building services engineering, is advising those considering becoming a plumber, as a career change or looking for work, to beware of expensive, short plumbing courses that will not lead to the employment they expect.

Leading awarding body EAL has worked with the Electrical Contractor's Association (ECA) and SummitSkills to develop a suite of cabling qualifications, designed specifically for the electrotechnical sector.  EAL's NVQ qualifications in Installing Structured Cabling Systems at Level 2 and Electrotechnical Services Level 3 recognise competence in electrotechnical activities including pathways for installing and inspecting structured cabling systems and electrical installations.

Barry Gregory has become Managing Director of Riello Ltd, and is now responsible for all Riello's UK operations in both the residential and commercial burner markets. Barry has been with Riello for 17 years, most recently in the role of Technical Director.

SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for building services engineering (BSE), has published research that highlights the possible effects of the recession on the sector's workforce.

The 2008 KNX UK Awards were presented at the Association's AGM by President Iain Gordon and recognised winners in the categories of Product of the Year, Installation of the Year and KNX Champion.

Specially designed trailers from Stanley Handling have been supplied to longstanding client Enviro-Waste GB Ltd, a leading provider of sustainable and cost effective site-based waste management and recycling solutions.