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Mitsubishi Electric’s bold and ambitious programme to lead the nation in reducing carbon emissions within our built environment has been recognised again with nationwide acclaim at the prestigious edie Awards for Environmental Excellence 2008, held in London on 13 November 2008.

The company’s Green Gateway Initiative® won the Best Green Corporate Initiatives Project 2008 with the judges praising the energy saving plan as “a great example of exactly what a green corporate initiative should be about, showing economic and environmental sustainability working hand in hand.”

The initiative calls for everyone in the built environment to fundamentally reassess the way we heat, cool, ventilate and control both residential and commercial properties. The 10-point plan includes technological developments and new thinking combined with simple behavioural changes.

All of the initiatives are focused on creating a significant impact on CO2 reduction in the UK’s buildings by reducing energy consumption and the energy bills of both consumers and businesses.

“We are delighted with this recognition as it shows that our plan has real merit beyond our own industry and awards such as this will publicise the initiative to a wider audience and help reduce carbon emissions even more,” commented Martin Fahey, Mitsubishi Electric’s Green Gateway Manager, who collected the award at the gala dinner.

Now in their second year, edie's Awards for Environmental Excellence evolved out of a long-running annual survey of consultants and their customers.

The awards were handed out at the special event held at the Natural History Museum and enable the organisers to recognise those who are pushing the envelope when it comes to making practical improvements to the environment and the way we do business received the recognition they deserved.

Organised by Edie (Environmental Data Interactive Exchange) the awards were handed out at the gala dinner held at the Natural History Museum. Edie.net is an online resource for environmental professionals, researchers and all those with an interest in green issues, bringing together practical information and in-depth yet accessible news.

“Quite simply, we as a nation must control and minimise the energy that we all use in our buildings if we are to combat CO2 emissions and tackle global warming,” explained Fahey. “We have embarked on this mission because we felt that we could use our position in the market to influence the way everyone thinks about how we heat and cool our buildings in the UK and we are delighted that the judges have recognised this with this award,” he added.

The Green Gateway Initiative, which was launched by the company at the House of Commons, has already secured the RAC Cooling Industry ‘Environmental Pioneer’ Award 2007, the EDIE ‘Carbon Reduction’ Award and been short listed in the Defra and Independent sponsored CEED Awards in the Education category. Further details on the 10-point initiative can be found on the dedicated website www.greengatewayinitiative.co.uk.

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Addagrip exhibited its extensive range of high quality resin surfacing systems at this year’s Ecobuild, as well as showcasing the recently-launched Addagrip Porous Proctor Pave System, a porous resin bound surface suitable for drives, car parks and footpaths.

Developed through a demand for attractive and durable sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDs), the Addagrip Porous Proctor Pave System incorporates a chosen aggregate or recycled aggregate mixed with PU Addastone TP resin in a 100% recycled plastic paver. In addition the system incorporates a filter barrier for installation savings and incredible load bearing strength whilst retaining the resin bound aggregate within the structure.

The company also exhibited its wide range of decorative exterior surfacing products, which includes Addastone, Addaset and Addastone Tree Pit. The Addastone resin bonded system and Addaset resin bound system combine a choice of natural and recycled aggregates with resin to provide a low maintenance and hardwearing surface with the soft appearance of natural stone. Both Addastone and Addaset can be used for a range of applications from gardens, domestic drives and pathways to parks, monuments and heritage sites. Addastone Tree Pit provides an attractive porous paving system that provides tree root access to both air and water penetration.

Addagrip also manufactures a range of decorative interior floor finishes such as Addagrip EDL, a high-gloss, resin-based formulation that creates a bespoke surface suitable for interior floors and wall panels in contemporary residential and commercial projects. Also available for interior application is Addatex Stone Carpet, a mix of aggregates bound in epoxy resin that provides attractive flooring with the comfort and warmth of traditional carpet.

Further information is available from Addagrip on 01825 761333.

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Laidlaw Solutions’ new Ferramenta range of lever handles and related door hardware has been designed to add an extra touch of style to residential interiors. It encapsulates the essence of simply defined, smooth lines in a variety of subtle stainless steel finishes. The exquisitely crafted range of lever designs are available in timeless, Satin or Mirror-polished Stainless Steel as well as the increasingly popular Dual Satin and Polished finish. Concealed bolt-through fixings at 38mm centres are compatible with most locks and latches to suit doors of 38 – 44mm thickness, while sprung roses are suitable for lightly sprung locks and tubular latches. A number of matching escutcheons are available for Euro profile, oval cylinders and lever key functions. The range comes with a 5-year guarantee.

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Work on the futuristic tower known as The Blade is well under way and rising to an impressive 128m, the complex is now Reading’s tallest office block and most significant office development for a decade. Billed as Reading’s most imaginatively conceived building, it will completely dominate the centre of the town on its completion next spring.

Located to the rear of Forbury Square, The Blade will comprise cutting edge office accommodation over 14 floors within a few minutes walk of Reading station. The landmark development by PMB Holdings and Aviva Investors will provide close on 110,000 ft², available in floors of 5,630 ft² upwards and will be accompanied by 32 apartments in a separate block.

Air conditioning for the tower will be provided by over 300 off 4 pipe Trojan horizontal, chassis type fan coil units, manufactured by Ability Projects Ltd, Wimborne, Dorset and installed in false ceiling voids on each of the floors. Installation was carried out by contractor, Bailey Ltd, Reading. Capacities of the fan coils are between 0.52 and 4.82kW (cooling) and 1.24 and 3.0kW (heating) and all units conform to NR38 operational noise ratings.

All units incorporate high level condensate alarms, supplied and fitted by Ability. Free issue actuators were wired by Ability and identified by colour coded labels – third party supplied free issue valves were fitted by others on site. The fan coil units are not fitted with condensate tray drain connections since the chilled water design conditions are such that condensate is not envisaged. Some units are also provided with factory fitted electric heaters and electric heating solid state relays for installation in areas in which LPHW pipe work cannot be connected. All units also feature fan failure air flow switches and 250mm dia. spigots.

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Laidlaw Solutions has recently been awarded the international environmental management standard ISO14001 as a result of its commitment to minimise its impact upon the environment. Laidlaw specialises in architectural ironmongery, doorset and handrailing systems and operates through 12 locations nationwide. It is one of the first companies within its sector to achieve this accreditation.

The company’s Environmental Manager, Adam Dorman commented “Laidlaw has set itself stringent standards to ensure that it continually reduces the environmental impact of its activities. These have become embedded into our working practices and procedures, and achievement of this accreditation is a formal recognition of the progress we are making. As the internationally accepted environmental management standard, ISO14001 provides a valuable benchmark for specifiers and clients as they assess supplier attitudes to environmental policy.

Management review and monitoring procedures will ensure that we now maintain continuous and sustainable improvement and that we comply with all environmental laws and regulations”.

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The SceneMaster8000 is an easy-to-install and simple to programme dimming system from Leax Lighting Controls.

Offering unlimited circuits for scene controlled dimming, each rack in the Leax 8000 can be supplied with between 1-12 circuits. It is suitable for any combination of load types and can be programmed directly at the switch plates or from a laptop using specially developed Leax ControlMaster software providing the ultimate in control, configuration and programming.

The 8000 comes complete with an RS232 for interfacing with audio-visual equipment and it can be integrated with daylight linking control.

In addition, the system can control curtains and blinds and is compatible with non-lighting LonWorks® compliant products such as heating and ventilation.

It comes in a wide range of control plates with a wide range of finishes customised to suit the requirements of any interior scheme.

Whatever the lighting project, Leax has the solution.

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EES Data are providers of Contract Estimating and Management control software. The system is built around a number of core modules and is supplied with an extensive database of industry standard products. This industry designed Software includes Full Contract Estimating, Small Works Costing and Billing, Supplier and Quotation Request, Purchase Ordering and the option to bolt on the Plus range of management tools that cover Project Financial Monitoring and Control, Application for Payment and Valuation System plus a comprehensive Stock Control System.

The EES Data estimating and project management software is available direct from EES Data and is also available through Newey & Eyre and The BSS Group.

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Wavin, the UK’s leading supplier of plastic pipe systems and solutions has extended its range of Electrofusion Fittings suitable for both potable and non-potable water applications. They are all 40 volt fittings and have 4mm connection pins. The list of available fittings is comprehensive and includes couplers, tapping tees, elbows, reducers, end caps and a duckfoot bend kit.

All fittings are WRAS approved; certified to BS EN 12201:2003 and meet DWI regulations 32, 30 and 27. Fittings up to and including 63mm diameter contain integral clamping to improve productivity and deliver the highest joint quality. The heating wire is covered to ensure it has no direct contact with the pipe, but direct contact with the fusion surface ensures a high quality connection. All fittings are barcode labelled for automatic fusion and limited path fusion indicators maintain pressure within the joint and offer a visual check as to the success of the jointing.

Cleanliness is essential with Electrofusion Fittings and although the standard installation methods are well understood, it is hoped the additional features offered by the range will deliver superior joint quality. Wavin also offers an Electrofusion product and installation guide, which is available on request.

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Unlike many other currently available instrument test boxes, the new Megger MTB7671 checks all of the key operating parameters of instruments under test. Users can, therefore, have complete confidence that the accuracy and performance of their instruments are maintained between routine calibrations, as required by the Guidance Notes that accompany the IEE Wiring Regulations.

Designed specifically to address the shortcomings of existing test boxes, which typically check only the primary functions of instruments, Megger’s new MTB7671 also checks vital parameters, such as the voltage applied by the instrument during insulation tests.

Not only are the limits for these parameters laid down in the IEE Wiring Regulations and EN61557 which is called for in the 17th Edition, making them a mandatory part of the test procedure, they also have a huge effect on the validity of test results. For example, if the insulation test voltage is too low, defective insulation may register as satisfactory – with potentially dangerous consequences.

The MTB7671 is capable of checking insulation testers, continuity testers, loop testers and RCD testers. Test functions are colour coded to ensure ease of use, and pass/fail limits are incorporated for all parameters where such limits are published. Instruments can, therefore, be checked quickly against a series of simple pass/fail indications.

For insulation testers, the MTB7671 provides confirmation that the instrument is producing the correct voltage and current, as well as checking calibration at five values from 0.25 megohm to 90 megohms. Continuity testers are checked for correct output voltage and current, and for accuracy of resistance measurement at 0.5 ohm and 5 ohm.

When checking loop testers, the MTB7671 provides a direct loop measurement from the outlet socket, which can be measured either with a trip or a no-trip test. It also offers loop plus 1 ohm and loop plus 180 ohm checks for verifying that instruments will give reliable results in TT installations. For RCD testers, the MTB7671 provides RCD values of 10mA, 30mA and 100mA. For each value, the five standard tests can be performed.

The test box is also provided with 230V output terminals to provide a quick check for instruments with voltage-measuring ranges, and its special design means that it can be safely used with either standard or RCD-protected supplies without the risk of tripping the supply.

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