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To mark our 25th anniversary we were pleased to receive a visit from His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex on Tuesday 15th of January.

The Earl was entertained over lunch by ASD Lighting’s MD Tony Stewart along with company directors and members of staff who are celebrating their own 25th anniversary of working for ASD.

During the visit the Earl toured the factory and offices to view the recent multi million pound investments made by ASD in new plant and facilities. The Earl also visited the Lighting Projects and Product Design departments and received a demonstration on the latest developments in rapid prototyping at The Product Workshop.

Before he left the Earl unveiled a plaque to mark his visit and to celebrate the 25th anniversary.

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Welcome to EnergyBusinessNet.com, the latest addition to the BusinessNet Explorer site many of you will already be familiar with. With the energy sector constantly in the news, forever tasked to keeping the lights on and always in need of investment this is a sector that can’t be ignored and must, as Britain faces a looming energy generation gap, strict carbon targets and energy price and efficiency challenges, demand our full attention.

We might need a new generation of nuclear power stations, acres more wind farms, new carbon capture technology, reinforced and smarter energy grids, microgeneration, a step change in energy saving and insulation, fuel cells, heat pumps and smart meters – but can all this be achieved in the current economic climate?

We think that, with intelligent procurement decision making and the right information platforms, it can. That’s where EnergyBusinessNet.com can help you. This is a sales and marketing platform where you can also view up to date news and opinion which brings you the context in which your decisions have to be made.

That context is a fast moving one. March has brought us news that after withdrawels by BP and Shell, ScottishPower’s Spanish owners Iberdrola has now decided to defer 40 per cent of its investment in UK offshore wind generation.

That decision has been a huge blow to the Government’s 2020 renewable energy targets and won’t have been good news for the wind turbine industry and those who work with them either.

But renewable energy in its many forms and energy efficiency should not be seen as a luxury in a recession, but an opportunity to produce more efficient, sustainable energy and consume it in a more cost effective way.

EnergyBusinessNet.com will help to showcase the best in sustainable energy solutions, while bringing in the news and policy context in which the energy sector operates – as well as providing the platform for the industry and its suppliers themselves to show what they have to offer.

Clean energy is being cited the world over, from Barack Obama to the G20 summit, as a way to reignite the world economy and help create green jobs for a sustainable future. Let’s see energy as an opportunity to move the economy – and your business – forward.

Paul Garrett
Editor
30 March 2009

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Building upon its runaway success with Clean Extreme Scrubbable Matt, Crown Trade has launched a similar flat matt emulsion into its Timonox range. Now specifiers can have the best of all worlds… aesthetic appeal, colour choice, exceptional durability and the peace of mind that only flame retardant coatings can offer in areas covered by recent fire safety legislation which need extra time for evacuation in the event of fire breaking out.

Crown Trade Timonox Scrubbable Matt is a VOC 2010-compliant water-based emulsion boasting the chalky flat matt appearance, outstanding durability and scrub-clean finish for which Crown Trade's original Clean Extreme Scrubbable Matt has built an enviable reputation. The big difference is that Crown’s latest new product is also flame retardant which means it can help to deliver a Class 0 fire performance rating in high traffic areas, such as schools, hospitals and social housing, as well as hotels, private residential and leisure facilities.

Suitable for use on both new and previously painted substrates, Crown Trade Timonox Scrubbable Matt is available in Brilliant White and a wide range of tinted colours shown in the new Crown Trade Colour Collection, so specifiers and their clients need not sacrifice colour choice in order to benefit from the fire safety benefits offered.

The new coating is intrinsically dirt resistant. Many marks can be easily wiped away with water alone and scrubbing with a cloth soon gets rid of tougher soiling. For more deep-seated stains, scrubbing with a mild detergent will eliminate all traces without marking the paint finish.

Timonox Scrubbable Matt retains its 'just painted' appearance, even after repeated scrubbing, because the amount of paint film sacrificed each time soiling is removed is minimal. Achieving Class 1 in ISO 11998:2006 scrub rating tests, the painted surface can be scrubbed clean time and time again without any sign of burnishing or loss of flame retardant characteristics.

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Clarity – The stunning new collection of exterior luminaires from ASD Lighting – a truly comprehensive range offering a dazzling array of styles, colours, finishes, configurations and lamp options to suit a wide range of applications.

Clarity brings together all the best design and installation features found in ASD products with one clear vision; to deliver a distinctive and precision-engineered range that is stylish, eye-catching and bold.

Features

• Portrait or Landscape mountable
• Louvre, Eyelid, Cage or Ring trims
• Coloured halo options
• Black, White or Titanium finishes
• Range of lamp and control gear options
• Switch start or High Frequency
• Energy saving options include lamp
• Diffuser available in opal and Fresnel prismatic
• Fast fit base and geartray
• Single screw fixing front trims
• Interchangeable trims
• Secure, IP rated diffuser
• Photocell
• Tough polycarbonate construction
• Designed, Engineered and Manufactured in UK

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Information from Future Energy Strategies
January to July

In italics – event has taken place
Bold – attended by Future Energy Strategies

January

8 January – An Audience with Steve Holliday, CEO National Grid, London
19-21 January – World Future Energy Summit (with Masdar), Abu Dhabi
20 January – Energy Industries Club, Lord Browne of Madingly, London
21 January – British Wind Energy Association Parliamentary reception, London
22-23 January – Claes & Casteels EU Energy Law and Policy Conference, Brussels
27 January – Environmental Industries Commission reception, London
28 January – Energy Security, organised by the Economic Research Council, London
28-29 January – European Gas Conference, Vienna

February

2 February – Platt’s 3rd Central and Eastern European Power Conference, Warsaw
4 February – Strategic Issues in UK and US Nuclear Markets (Westminster Energy Forum), London
9 February – Platt’s 3rd Annual European Gas Storage Summit, Budapest
9-13 February – Sustainable Energy Week (European Commission), Brussels
16 February – Financial Times special report: Working in Energy
16-19 February – International Petroleum Week, London
17-19 February – Energy from Waste, London
19 February Meeting of EU transport and energy ministers, Brussels
23 February – Solar Power Generation, Barcelona
24 February – Utility Street Works: Best Practice, keys to success (SBGI-ENA), London
24 February – Energy Industries Club, Nick Horler CEO Scottish Power, London
25 February – Nuclear Decommissioning 2009, Manchester

March

2 March – EU Environment Ministers debate including emissions legislation and environmental management
4-6 March – New Energy Finance Summit, London
5 March – After RBI-X – What Next? London
5 March –Energy Market Risk, Global Energy Advisory, London
9 March – Nuclear New Build Construction Challenges, London
9-12 March – The Doha Natural Gas Conference, Qatar
9-13 March – Flame, International Gas and LNG Conference Amsterdam
11 March – National Grid meeting at Elexon, London
11 March – British Wind Energy Association’s BWEA Connect with Norton Rose, London
11 March – Energy Prices with the Utility Strategy Group and Simmons & Simmons, London
16-17 March Energypact conference on Energy, Environment & Development, Geneva
16-19 March – European Wind Energy Conference, Marsaille
17 March – Nuclear New Build (Energy Institute), London
17 March – Transmission and Distribution Europe 2009, Barcelona
17-18 March – The Future of Utilities (IEA, Marketforce) , London
18 March – Clean Coal (Energy Institute), London
19 March – The Metering Forum (IEA, Marketforce) , London
24 March – Energy Industries Club, Paul Golby CEO Eon UK, London
24 March – $75 oil – a fair price? CGES Conference, London
25 March – Energy Technologies – Policy, Development & Deployment (Westminster Energy Forum), London
25 March Building the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Future conference, Birmingham NEC
31 March – Adapting Your Energy Strategies for Turbulent Times, with the MEUC, Birmingham NEC
31 March-1 April – Carbon in the Environment, Health and Energy, Manchester

April

2 April – Platt’s European Renewable Energy Conference, Berlin
16 April – How Green is Your CRC, London
22 April – APX Energy Trading Symposium (with Moffatt Associates), Brussels
22-13 April International Small Wind (with the BWEA), Watford
28 April – Peak Gas ? Organised by the Economic Research Council, London
30 April- Energy Industries Club, Steve Holliday CEO National Grid, London
30 April British Wind Energy Association, Bath
30 April – 1 May – SHE 2009 (Safety, Health and the Environment) with Western Power Distribution and ERA, Bath

May

6-7 May Private Equity International (PEI) Global Energy Forum, London
19 May – Delivering UK & EU Renewables Targets (Westminster Energy Forum), London
12 May – The Energy Charter Treaty (Energy Institute), London
13 May Carbon Capture and Storage (Energy Institute), London
19-21 May NEMEX, Birmingham
28 May – Energy Industries Club, Vincent de Rivaz CEO EDF Energy, London

June

9-11 June European Future Energy Summit (Masdar), Bilbao
23-25 June – The Global LNG Congress, Istanbul

July

2 July – Annual Review of UK & EU Energy Policy & Regulation (Westminster Energy Forum), London

August

September

9-11 September – World Nuclear Association 34th Annual Symposium (WNA), London

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Sadolin Ultra is being specified by Hackney Homes Planned Maintenance following successful trials at Banbury House, where the highly translucent woodstain was recently used to redecorate over 450 window sets plus fascias and soffits.

Gary Lane Principal Contracts Manager said: “Ultra was presented as a practical cost effective alternative to the two-product woodcare system we were using for cyclical maintenance work. Keen to benefit from up to seven years decoration and protection, we put it to the test.

“This was a straightforward maintenance application of Ultra Mahogany topcoat to previously stained joinery. Two full coats brought all the wood back to the same deep tones, delivering a consistent translucent finish across the board.

“Our operatives were very happy with Ultra’s application characteristics and the ease of achieving a high quality finish. They also appreciated not having to carry two tins to every work station or change brushes as they weren’t swapping from base stain to topcoat.

“The trial was a great success delivering excellent results for our tenants and receiving a resounding 'thumbs up' from our decorators. Wherever and whenever we need to use a translucent woodcare system for planned maintenance work, Hackney Homes will be specifying Sadolin Ultra from now on.”

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ELGA Process Water’s high quality water softeners meet the diverse requirements of industry for softened water

ELGA Process Water’s range of competitively priced BerkoionTM water softeners are suitable for a wide range of industrial applications including low pressure boiler feed, glass washing, cleaning and rinse waters, reverse osmosis pre-treatment and general manufacturing water.

The BerkoionTM range is produced in the company's IS09001:2000 accredited manufacturing facilities, the units use high capacity cation exchange resins, are based on proven designs and feature corrosion resistant GRP resin vessels and polyethylene brine tanks. Three ranges are available.

The BerkoionTM Compact range, suitable for small commercial applications, offers flow rates from 0.5 to 3.0 m3/h. Units have a highly compact design with integrated brine tanks. Volume or time based automatic regeneration and multiplex versions ensure continuous output and maximum flexibility. “A” Series units are automatically regenerated after four days without use and are completely disinfected during regeneration.

The BerkoionTM Classic range is for industrial water applications of up to 17m3/h, units are available in simplex and duplex configurations. Automatically regenerated models are time, volume or sensor controlled. These models employ Bercore™ counter current regeneration to reduce salt usage and waste, thus both lowering the cost per litre of treated water and improving final water quality. Units incorporate advanced controllers with LCD user interfaces, which may be integrated with centralized control systems.

Models in the BerkoionTM High Flow Duplex range produce up to 68m3/h of softened water to meet the demands of most large scale industrial applications. The units incorporate multiple individual valves, which reduce pressure loss by up to 50% compared to single valve systems. As with the BerkoionTM Classic models, regeneration uses the Bercore™ counter current system, with a choice of volume or sensor initiation to ensure maximum efficiency and low operating costs.

BerkoionTM softeners are supported by ELGA Process Water’s comprehensive after sales service. For further information on BerkoionTM softeners visit www.elgaprocesswater.co.uk

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Passive fire prevention is a major factor in any new build or refurbishment project. With this in mind Marshall-Tufflex launched a versatile range of Dry Lining Boxes in conjunction with the highly successful Envirograf Intumescent fire barrier gaskets. The gaskets offer up to 71 minutes in a dry-wall fitting and comply with edition IEE Wiring Regulations and Document B of the UK Building Regulations.

In the event of a fire, the cover plate of a socket, switch will sag and disintegrate, leaving a perfect escape route for flames to travel up the cavity and into an adjoining room or ceiling. The gasket expands in the presence of heat and creates an effective fire barrier.

This Envirograf fire protection is also available with a variety of other Marshall-Tufflex products, including wraps for PVC-U trunking or conduit systems and pillows for filling a trunking void. Different shapes, sizes and thicknesses are available.

Electrical contractors and building design professionals now have a legal obligation to ensure that the properties they design construct or refurbish, comply with the current regulations. By incorporating Envirograf passive fire prevention products into the M T range will especially help to protect lives and reduce fire damage claims.

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News of major energy companies like Shell, BO and now Scottish Power’s Spanish owners Iberdrola pulling out of wind energy don’t bode well for green energy right now. But as government’s everywhere look desperately for green shoots to lead us all out of economic meltdown, there are still signs that the environmental services sector – and low carbon energy – could buck the economic trend and help lead the way to recovery.

The growing number of job vacancy websites featuring opportunities in the green energy sector is evidence of this. Look in places like lowcarbon.com and environmental strategy managers, renewable energy consultants, sustainable development officers and carbon offsetting researchers are being sought by public and private sector alike.

A glimmer of economic life is there in the sustainability and carbon abatement sector – and there are even signs that with targets in Britain of zero carbon new homes by 2016 and ambitious renewable energy and emissions targets for 2020, there may even be a skills shortage in terms of establishing ‘green teams’ to deliver Britain’s low carbon future.

Many of our environmental targets come from the European Commission and were conceived before the recession hit. But additional low carbon impetus has come from the need to drive ourselves out of the current economic plight. In the US, where the recession began, Barack obama was talking about green energy as an economic catalyst even before he was elected President.

He said at the end of 2008: ‘We’ll invest $15 billion a year over the next decade in renewable energy, creating five million new green jobs that pay well, can’t be outsourced, and help our dependence on foreign oil’. He was supported by Senator Barbara Boyer, the chair of the senate Environment and Public Works Committee, who said: ‘We need a tax incentive so people will put solar rooftops on, invest in solar, wind and geothermal’. All the signs are that now in office Obama is delivering on his promise. And others, including the UK government, are trying to follow suit.

The kick-start that green energy jobs can bring is certainly supported by the European Commission. DG Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said recently: ‘The Climate and Energy package is part of the solution and will enhance Europe’s energy security, increase the competitiveness of European industry and create high quality green jobs’. Europe, of course, has a big driver here – targets for the year 2020 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce energy consumption and increase the contribution made by renewable energy.

In Britain, an ‘energy gap’ is looming from 2015 when old coal and nuclear power stations start to shut down. New job opportunities in low carbon energy, be it wind, wave, nuclear or carbon capture, are possible. Green homes, too, offer prospects.

But industry will have to contribute to skilling the new green workforce – providing the needed investment in low carbon energy and housing is able to go ahead.. Paul Davies of UK housing contractor Wates told The Guardian recently: ‘Only if we get a long term, broad investment in green homes will the right personnel be found and trained on the scale needed for a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions’.

So the green jobs of hope await, building and managing wind farms, nuclear power stations and zero emissions housing estates, not to say working across the whole panoply of energy efficient technologies from insulation to smart metering. It all makes economic and environmental sense – providing governments, regulators and industry can work together to create the investment framework to make it happen.

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Mira Showers will be exhibiting for the first time in its own right at the KBB Show, which takes place from 2 to 5 March, 2008 at the NEC, Birmingham. The main highlights of the stand will be products from the recently launched Autumn Collection, including the range of miniature-sized Mini mixers, the design-led Orbis electric shower, available in white and revolutionary black, and the environmentally friendly ECO handset.

Mira’s new Mini mixers are half the size of conventional mixing valves, yet deliver the same great performance you would expect from a Mira product. The Mini range, which follows the global trend towards miniaturisation of high technology items, will be available in built-in and exposed single sequential control valves (Minilite), built-in and exposed concentric control valves (Miniduo), and a new format of exposed vertical dual control valves (Minibelle and Miniluxe). To cater for retrofit installations of a standard sized valve, an adjustable elbow pack is available, allowing the Minilite and Miniduo inlet centres to be adjusted from 133 to 153mm. This ensures the valves can retrofit all current Mira products as well as many other shower brands, without the need to move or adjust inlet pipe work.

Minilite, Miniduo and Minibelle are complemented with Mira fitting kits and the stylish Miniluxe shower is provided with a new deluge head and rigid riser. The Mini range offers the consumer added style options at a competitive price, and gives both installers and retailers even more opportunities to recommend a Mira branded product.

The stylish Orbis, available in white and a stunning new black finish, is set to steal a share of the design-led, upper-mid market electric shower sector. Orbis offers thermostatic control with LCD technology – a first for Mira. Positioned at a similar price point to the Mira Escape, the Orbis provides a link between the traditional ‘white box’ on the wall and the stylish, design-led Azora and Galena products. As well as displaying temperature, Orbis also features a clock, a first in the shower market for electric showers.

Orbis is available in 9.0kW, 9.8kW and 10.8kW models, each with three power options. The slimline case features soft curves and a simple circular-shaped, push button power selector. Thermostatically controlled with safe maximum temperature limit for added user protection, this high performance product is suitable for new and replacement projects and will retrofit current Mira Sport showers and some competitor products.

A specially dedicated and designed ECO Area will be included, illustrating the high level of commitment Mira gives to developing products that are sympathetic to the environment. The display, which will have particular appeal to customers interested in ‘green’ issues, will feature the new ECO handset. To be sold alone, Eco is suitable for use on mixer and power showers (not suitable for electric models). Designed to reduce the amount of water normally used by up to a massive 75%*, which in turn will offer users huge savings in energy to heat the water.

The adjustable Eco handset offers three aerating spray modes that reduce water consumption while still giving a great performance. The ‘ecofficient™’ technology uses a Venturi principle – introducing air without a pump. Mixing air with the water spray creates larger droplets filled with air bubbles. The droplets explode on impact and produce similar coverage to conventional, finer sprays giving the impression of increased volume of water and a refreshing shower.

Mira is anticipating a huge demand for the handset from both the private sector as well as hotel groups and house builders where there is a growing responsibility for improving the energy use within a household. Available in white and chrome, the Eco handset is competitively priced. A BIR version is also available, and new packaging has been developed that is also environmentally friendly.

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