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Environmental technology manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric has launched an incredibly efficient new heating system that harvests and upgrades the energy found naturally in the outdoor air to minimise energy use within our homes and dramatically reduce carbon emissions.

The Ecodan™ heat pump boiler gathers over 70 per cent of the heat energy it needs from the surrounding air, making it significantly more efficient at providing heating and hot water than modern condensing gas boilers.

The energy in the air that surrounds us is a key sustainable resource that doesn’t currently factor into people’s thinking and installing Ecodan can therefore help developers and house builders achieve Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Introduced in 2006 as part of a growing body of legislation aimed at reducing CO2 emissions, the Code sets national standards for the sustainable design and construction of homes.

The average UK household currently produces over 4 tonnes of CO2 per year with space and water heating accounting for more than 73 per cent of this. Ecodan uses proven heat pump technology to reduce CO2 by 1,500kg less than a gas-fired boiler and 3,000kg less than an oil-fired. It offers outstanding performance against electric storage heating, solid fuel, oil or LPG and emits at least 30 per cent less CO2 than the latest modern condensing gas boilers.

With a conventional gas-fired boiler, 1kW of input energy provides less than 1kW of output energy or heat. In comparison, the Ecodan boiler converts every 1kW of input energy into an average of 3.6kW of output energy or heat, making it over three times more efficient than even the most modern gas boiler and the ideal choice for low cost heating and hot water.

“As a country we need to build at least 200,000 new homes a year and at the same time the Government is calling for these homes to be as energy efficient as possible,” explained Jason Tinsley, Technical and Product Marketing Manager for Mitsubishi Electric’s Heating Department. “We estimate that by 2016, over 720,000 tonnes of CO2 could be saved each year if these new houses use heat pump technology to meet the hot water and space heating requirements rather than gas.”

Ecodan, which has BRE* testing to validate performance, uses a sealed vapour compression cycle similar to a domestic refrigerator to exchange heat (or energy) between the outdoor air and the water supply. Ecodan comes as a simple to install, packaged system that is perfect for use in a variety of house sizes and styles. Ecodan is a new generation air source heat pump boiler (ASHPB) that is specifically designed for the UK’s domestic market and achieves an average of between 10 – 30 per cent reduction in running costs over gas, depending on the age of the gas boiler being replaced.

Significantly quieter and smaller than previous generations of ASHPBs, Ecodan is easy to install, requiring an in/out water and single-phase electrical connection. The company also stresses the need for exacting standards of installation coupled with modern levels of building insulation to ensure the greatest efficiency for each home.

Unlike previous forms of heat pump boiler, Ecodan’s carefully developed control system has been specifically designed to provide hot water to either underfloor heating systems or traditional radiators in properties with appropriate levels of thermal insulation. “Over 250,000 heat pump systems were installed in Europe in 2006 so this type of heating is already proven and the advances made in this technology now offer huge potential to help the country reduce emissions,” commented Tinsley.

The Ecodan boiler uses inverter-driven technology to regulate the heat output and this, coupled with advances in motor technology and sophisticated electronic controls all contribute to increase performance and efficiency.

The launch of this new boiler is part of Mitsubishi Electric’s Green Gateway Initiative™, a bold and ambitious 10-point plan which points the way towards a reduction of 3 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2016. Further details can be found at www.greengatewayinitiative.co.uk.

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The AMTECH Office Domestic software suite has been recognised as Electrical Software Product of the Year at the Electrical Industry Awards 2007.

The judges commented: “We felt Office Domestic would provide excellent functionality and offered both design and certification potential. The fact that the software can be carried on a number of hardware systems was also a great plus in our eyes.”

Developed specifically for electrical contractors specialising in domestic work, AMTECH Office Domestic provides everything they need in one powerful yet affordable package, including electrical design, cable sizing and Test & Inspection certification.

“Rather than expecting domestic contractors to pay for features that they'll never use, we developed this suite to address their day to day requirements at a very competitive price,” explained AMTECH Sales Director James Cooper. “As well as helping them use the latest technologies to keep up with the growing legislative burden, we believe this software encourages safer designs, accurate calculations and effective reporting – all contributing to improved safety in the home,” he added.

Using AMTECH Office Domestic, single phase installations consisting of up to 3 boards to BS 7671 can be designed quickly using a series of simple tabbed input screens. Cables and protective devices can be selected from a large database contained in the program. The Quick results view makes diagnosing problems in the design easy and changes to the design can be made at the click of a mouse. A range of reports including: circuit charts, cable calculations, consumer unit schedules etc are included.

After the work has been completed the software will produce Test & Inspection certificates that meet the requirements of Part P. These are suitable for use with all major accreditation bodies. In addition to producing professional looking certificates, all the test information and customer information is held in a database for future reference. A mobile version for use on a Pocket PC is included to enable contractors to produce certificates on site.

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Aerial mapping company BlueSky has created a detailed 3D map to support East Renfrewshire Council's Road Transportation Service in the construction of a new link road in the Barrhead district to the west of Glasgow. Captured using the LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) distance measurement system, the aircraft-mounted laser technology determines accurate heights of land and buildings. The digital data, which provides height above sea level readings every metre with an accuracy of 15 centimetres, is being used to accurately calculate 'cut and fill' volumes in preparation for the earthworks stage of the project.

BlueSky used a survey aircraft equipped with a system of lasers, which flew over the proposed route of the road at a height of less than 700 metres above the ground. The lasers were beamed to the surface and the time taken for the beam to be bounced back to receivers mounted onboard the aircraft was recorded. Using the position of the aircraft, from the on board satellite positioning equipment, the time taken for the return of the laser beam and the known value of the speed of light the distance between the aircraft and ground was calculated. In order to increase the detail of the height model mirrors were used to deflect the laser beam creating multiple measurements from a single pass of the aircraft.

“BlueSky delivered somewhere in the region of 1 million individual spot heights,” said Fred Abercrombie, Principal Engineer. “Using Bentley MicroStation we created a triangulated model of the actual ground surface against which we can model the proposed route of the new road. This detailed information will enable us to accurately calculate cut and fill volumes to assist with the design and earthmoving stages of the project.”

The dataset was created to a very high specification in order to meet the requirements of the Council for accurate volume calculations. The measurement points are at intervals of 1 metre and have an accuracy of + / – 15 centimetres, meaning fine detail on the ground can be accurately modelled.

BlueSky are UK based specialists in aerial imaging and remote sensing data collection and processing. With projects extending from New York to Paris they have an international reputation for the creation of seamless, digital aerial photography and 3D landscape/cityscape visualisations. BlueSky also runs a national mapping centre, providing digital maps, site plans, satellite imagery, aerial photography and ultra-high resolution imagery of cities and towns.

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The new Technology Centre at Thorpe St Andrews School in Norwich will be the focus of the school's vision for innovative education in design and technology. It will also be available for other schools and learning groups to use. Designed by NPS Property Consultants Ltd, the single-storey pavilion building began on site in November 2006, with Hanson Building Products providing a cost-effective and sustainable solution to the construction in the form of its Thermalite Turbo blocks and Thin Joint Mortar.

“We examined a number of construction methods, including timber frame,” comments Paul McLaren of NPS Property Consultants Ltd. “We concluded that Thermalite aircrete blocks with Thin Joint Mortar best met our requirements. Influencing factors were the speed of build, the light weight of the blocks and the excellent thermal resistance offered, which met the demand to comply with an environmentally-friendly construction ethic.”

The 300mm Turbo blocks have been specified for the foundations and the external walls, with 100mm and 140mm Shield also used in some areas. The Turbo blocks offer very high insulation properties, due to their unique formulation, making them ideal for external wall applications where low U values are required. As Thermalite's aircrete blocks are manufactured using pulverised fuel ash, a by-product from coal burning power stations, up to 80% recycled materials are used in production.

On site, aircrete blocks have a distinct advantage over comparable building materials with a micro cellular structure offering extremely high thermal insulation, and consequently, lower energy consumption for the heating and cooling of buildings. Lightweight properties and high dimensional tolerances minimise waste, and the blocks can be precisely cut to the correct sizing.

The use of Thin Joint Mortar is also proving a major benefit. This is a pre-mixed cement based mortar which, as an alternative to sand/cement mix mortar, allows the depth of the mortar to be vastly reduced. Thin Joint Mortar improves the thermal performance of external walls, minimising the heat loss through mortar joints, by reducing the volume of mortar required by at least 70% compared with traditional mortar.

NPS Property Consultants Ltd are working with T Gill & Sons as main contractors, with Jewson supplying the Thermalite product range. “As the team has already worked with Thermalite products in the past, this familiarity has also helped with the speed of build,” continues Paul McClaren. “Overall, the cost efficiency in terms of reduced materials and labour means that the Thermalite blocks with Thin Joint Mortar are proving to be a very competitive form of construction.”

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Weatherite Building Services Ltd has upgraded the water systems at two Walsall leisure centres to eliminate the risk of legionella bacteria.

Following the results of a risk assessment of the hot and cold water systems at Bentley Leisure Pavilion and Willenhall Leisure Centres, Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council awarded Weatherite Building Services the contracts – worth over £50,000 – to ensure that they met the strict UK guidelines for the control of legionella bacteria in water systems.

In the leisure centres, Weatherite engineers supplied and installed a new calorifier, pumps and mixing valves to provide safe, temperature-controlled hot water to service points throughout both buildings. In addition, existing pipe work was insulated and modified to eliminate “dead legs” and the whole of the systems were sterilized throughout.

Roy Buckle, Sales Engineer, Weatherite Building Services, commented: “We are pleased to have worked with several local authorities to help them comply with their strict water safety requirements to prevent against scalding and risk of legionella bacteria

“We were able to carry out the work quickly, cost effectively and on deadline, causing minimum disruption to staff and customers at the centres. Having developed a good working relationship with Walsall Council, we look forward to helping them again in the future.”

This is the latest in a series of projects Weatherite has carried out for Walsall Council, which has included installing air conditioning at the new Art Gallery, the installation of gas fire heaters at Pelsall Youth Club and carrying out similar legionella control works at several Walsall schools and colleges. Weatherite Building Services is part of the £40m Weatherite group, one of the UK leaders in air conditioning and air handling equipment.

More recently Weatherite Building Services has expanded its activities to cover other sectors of the building services market, including heating, ventilation, boiler house refurbishment, water, control systems and electrics, as well as all aspects of commercial air conditioning systems. WBS now offers a single source choice to its customers which includes project management, design, installation and commissioning capabilities.

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Astraseal is strengthening its reputation as a specialist fabricator of the REHAU Polytec 50 composite curtain walling system. It has just completed an installation for the London Borough of Greenwich in 8m high stairwells at Maribor House.

The stairwells originally had concrete and timber framework in place to match the timber windows installed in the block of flats but this was all in need of replacement. Consultants on the project Baily Garner approached Astraseal to discuss durable and cost effective solutions and they recommended the REHAU Polytec 50 system.

It has similar aesthetics to an aluminium system and many of the strength and performance capabilities but, because it is a composite system, it is quicker and easier to install.

It also provides a much more contemporary look to the flats than the original screens and matches with the REHAU Tritec windows which Astraseal also installed throughout the block.

Wellingborough-based Astraseal is one of the UK's leading commercial PVC-U fabricators and is an approved supplier to the London Housing Consortium. Further details are available at: www.astraseal.com.

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ELGA Process Water is one of the latest group of successful companies to join a leading edge scheme, designed to help industry improve its safety record.

The Marlow-based firm recently received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practice amongst UK contractors.

Employing 236 people, ELGA Process Water is principally involved in the provision of services and equipment to produce high purity water for industrial, healthcare, and life science markets.

ELGA Process Water’s most recent clients have included major players such as BAE Systems Submarines, BP, E.ON, International Power plc, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Pfizer, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Seabank Power, Scottish & Southern Energy, Scottish Power, University of London and Vanguard Healthcare.

The company’s application for SAFEcontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business.

ELGA Process Water’s Managing Director, Martyn Fisher, is delighted with the accreditation but is far from complacent. “Safety, Health, Environment and Quality are of paramount importance to our clients, and accreditation by SAFEcontractor is a measure of our competence within this field,” he says.

SAFEcontractor accreditation is expected to enhance the company’s ability to attract new contracts and its commitment to safety will be viewed positively by its insurers when the company liability policy is up for renewal.

SAFEcontractor is operated by international safety, health and environmental risk management specialists, the National Britannia Group. The system is applicable to most sectors although it is particularly relevant to food manufacture, property, facilities management, retail and leisure sectors, all of which are big users of contract services.

James Ostler, Managing Director of Information Service at National Britannia said, “Major organisations can no longer run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies”.

“More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that ELGA Process Water has done. The firms’ high standard has set an example, which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector.”

For further information on SAFEcontractor, please contact ELGA Process Water by email at sales.uk@veoliawater.com or call +44 (0) 01628 897000

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Heckmondwike FB, the UK’s leading manufacturer of fibre bonded carpets and carpet tiles has had a new installation of its own, with the launch of a new website.

The recently launched user friendly site has been designed to provide instant information that can be easily accessed by any user. With no registration details needed and technical specification downloads readily available, sourcing information about Heckmondwike FB products couldn’t be easier. Whether you’re looking for a specific product or just having a general browse the new layout will quickly help you find what you need.

Robert Mortimer, Sales Director of Heckmondwike FB said, “Our main focus for the new website was to provide easily accessible information at the touch of a button. The new design will allow everyone from architects and specifiers to contractors and end-users to find what they need as quickly as possible. Users also have the advantage of being able to order samples, request a call back or ask for further information, all in one place on the new website.”

Along with customary information on the company, products and technical specifications, the website also provides users’ with recent case studies, maintenance and installation advice and gives the opportunity to order samples online. The design has also incorporated a ‘What’s New’ section, which will keep people up to date with regular information from Heckmondwike FB, from new projects and people through to completed installations and product developments.

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