Engineers with a certain level of experience can choose to branch out and become selfemployed instead of working exclusively for one employer. This is true in almost every sector. There are clear benefits to becoming selfemployed, but what needs to be considered before going it alone and what are the working options available to engineers in today's marketplace?

Exploiting the benefits of combined heat and power (CHP) technology continues to grow in importance. In 2000 almost 6% of the UK's electricity was provided by 1560 CHP schemes. The chemical, oil, paper and printing, and food and tobacco industries account for about 75% of CHP electrical capacity

The Park is currently home to 24 companies, attracted by its excellent facilities, which include laboratories and test and diagnostic equipment. Many of these companies work alongside Qinetiq, creating a military-focused, high-tech hub for the West Midlands. Current tenants include Goodrich Aerospace and Dytecna, responsible for the installation and design of communication systems in a range of military vehicles.

The Energy in Buildings Directive has stepped up a gear, with the requirement this year for all public buildings to visibly display their energy performance certificates. This is of course a prelude to the initiative being rolled out and implemented across all commercial buildings, both public and private, above and below 1,000m2.

As fossil fuel prices continue to soar and Gordon Brown commits to a 60% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, there is a growing understanding of the benefits biomass can deliver, both by significantly reducing energy costs and cutting CO₂ emissions.

Many large commercial and industrial developments now incorporate electricity substations fed from a medium voltage (typically 11kV or 33kV) utility distribution system.  These employ circuit-breakers for circuit protection and control.   While vacuum interruption is the preferred technology at these voltages, many manufacturers enclose their vacuum circuit-breakers in SF₆ (sulphur hexafluoride) gas for insulation.  Alternative technologies are available which avoid the use of this greenhouse gas, require minimal maintenance and offer safe disposal at end of life.

Commercial buildings of all types are significant producers of the primary greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2). However there are plenty of technologies and control strategies to help reduce their carbon footprint, and it befalls architects, building services engineers and facilities managers to implement them.

The pressure is on all of us to reduce energy consumption both at home and work and for those involved in managing a building’s services this involves the double challenge of keeping costs down whilst doing our bit to save the planet.

While the industry is still coming to terms with the full impact of Part L of the Building Regulations, introduced in 2006, it is now facing new rules on long-term energy use in buildings.

Part L of the Building Regulations places great emphasis on measuring and monitoring building energy use. At least 90% of annual energy consumption of each fuel should be assigned to various end-use categories, such as heating, cooling and lighting. For buildings with a total useful floor area of more than 1000m², automatic meter reading and data collection facilities should be present.

As climate change continues to hit the headlines, the challenge to conserve energy has become an increasingly hot topic. The issue is now widely debated and treated with varying degrees of seriousness, but political pressure and legislation both at home and from Europe is slowly bringing about some necessary changes, particularly for the construction industry.

As environmental issues continue to grab the headlines commercial end-users have finally realised the importance of publicising their green credentials, with corporate responsibility becoming a competitive issue. This new environmental agenda is driving companies to not only focus on the way they run their businesses but also to look at the buildings that they work in. Since energy efficient climate control equipment can make a big difference to an annual carbon output it is important for end-users to purchase the right selection of building services equipment, guided by their building services consultant.

Micro generation, zero carbon and passive houses are all great ideas for showing where we should be heading to meet the targets that will make the energy future, especially in housing, one that will meet the problems of the next ten years and beyond.

Mike Sewell, Energy Services Director for Dalkia explores the advantages of generating heat, electricity and cooling using Combined Heat and Power (CHP) to significantly reduce carbon emissions from buildings.

At the same time, many individual companies have made public declarations about environmental action and many more are increasing investment in energy management; however, UK Government data shows that emissions levels have increased every year since 2002.

“Anyone who has spent any time in a timber, glass or steel framed building in the height of summer understands the discomfort of steeply rising temperatures. Anyone who has had to meet the bill for the air-conditioning – or who is concerned about climate change from the resulting CO2 emissions – understands the real cost of this problem…”

The large number of unqualified people looking to take advantage of the demand for sustainable technologies is a real source of concern. Growing demand for solutions like geothermal heat pumps and solar water heating is creating a buoyant market for the services of firms able to design and install them. However, these emerging solutions will only deliver energy savings and reduced carbon emissions if they are properly integrated with existing conventional services.

In the building industry there has always been a tendency to specify a lighting system that provides the client with all they require, only to be cut back to the bare essentials or, at best, a lower specification when the rest of the project has exceeded the budget.

The cost of running building services is rocketing as energy costs go through the roof. Optimising the efficiency of your steam systems can offset these rises and reap rich rewards, says Rick Plummer, UK Engineering Manager for Spirax Sarco.

Rowan Crowley, Event Director for the forthcoming H&V07 and co-located RAC07 (NEC Birmingham, 27 Feb – 1 March 2007) examines the shows’ theme of Sustainable Solutions for the Future and focuses on a selection of exhibitors who will be addressing these issues.

After several years of uncertainty in wholesale energy prices and the continued political drive to tackle climate change, management of costs and consumption is emerging as a new business discipline.

Whether you believe the two things are linked or not, the vagaries of the weather this year have ensured that global warming is at the forefront of everybody’s mind, and people are finally treating it as a serious threat. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions that are produced by the consumption of fossil fuels is the only way we can slow down the effects, and that means making ourselves more energy efficient.

With energy savings, low emissions and being ecologically aware at the forefront of everyone’s minds nowadays, there has been much discussion surrounding combined heat and power (CHP) installations and, specifically, the new microturbine units, which are now available. The new Part L of the Building Regulations also require CHP to be considered in new developments.

While attention has been paid to the Climate Change Levy and the tax allowances for fitting energy saving equipment such as variable speed drives, Trevor Longland of Schneider Electric, argues a strong case for looking at power factor correction first when looking to cut electricity consumption.