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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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Ceramic granite ventilated cladding supplied by Shackerley has been used in an innovative manner to enhance the exterior elevations of Allingham Court, a prestigious complex of luxury apartments in The Bishops Avenue in East Finchley, often referred to as “London’s Billionaires’ Row”.

The award winning development, comprising 12 individual residences ranging from £4 million to over £11 million combines modernism with vernacular architecture. The outer envelope features a striking combination of red brick, terracotta tiling and large format white-grey ceramic granite facade panels, manufactured and sized to simulate Portland Stone in a contemporary idiom.

Lesley Lawson of Scurr & Partners in Redbourn, Hertfordshire was the project architect responsible for designing and delivering the original PKS Architects’ initial proposals for the palatial building. Explaining her specification for the outer envelope she said: “Whereas ceramic granite is predominantly used to create sleek monolithic rainscreens, we wanted to use this versatile material to create a different aesthetic. We’ve used the panels not only as a conventional cladding material but also to create distinct pilasters, boxes and columns which change the planarity of our elevations and deliver the appearance of stone but with a very contemporary twist.”

Lesley adds “We considered a number of different materials including limestone but from the outset ceramic granite cladding presented a very cost effective and practical alternative. It offers flawless consistency and strength and the panels are very durable and relatively lightweight compared with a naturally quarried stone.

“Shackerley have their own versatile Sureclad carrier system and in-house cutting and prefabrication services, so we could have almost any panel format we wanted. We worked closely with the company to determine the most appropriate panel sizes in terms of cutting requirements and ease of handling for our contractor, Baris. Our rather complex designs also gave rise to a large number of specially cut panels for use on the columns and as infill pieces. Shackerley prefabricated all the panels in their Lancashire production facility which enabled Baris to fast track their part of the project and complete the ceramic granite cladding installation in just two months.”

Lesley concluded: “We are incredibly pleased with the overall appearance of Allingham Court. It has been a very prestigious development to work on and we’ve delivered a stunning building. I’m now completely sold on the versatility and aesthetic and performance benefits of Shackerley’s ceramic granite and am planning to incorporate the material in conjunction with the Sureclad system on many projects in the future.”

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The 2009 ACR News Industry Awards gala dinner, held at Birmingham’s National Motorcycle Museum on 25th February, was a very special evening for Guildford based Space Airconditioning plc; as for the 6th consecutive time at this biennial industry event, Space Air was judged worthy of a major award.

The prestigious ACR News Awards are contested by many leading players in the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump industry, which coincides with the sector’s main exhibition at the NEC. Space has won the “product Distributor Award” no fewer than 5 times and in 2003 the company was presented with the “Marketing Initiative Award”.

The Awards were presented by actor/comedian Hugh Dennis and as he handed the coveted trophy to Neil Afram, Managing Director of Space Air, the compere announced – “Guildford-based Daikin distributor, Space Airconditioning plc has, through its detailed submission, once again convinced the judges of its leading position in the field of distribution. Another great achievement for Space Airconditioning Plc.”

A proud Neil Afram commented, “This award is a very important accolade for us. It acknowledges our continued commitment to providing the industry’s very best in air conditioning distribution services – as we have done since becoming Distributors for Daikin Europe in 1980. Every member of staff at Space Air makes his or her valuable contribution and this award is thanks to them”

Space Air was also pleased to see one its long-standing customers, the Adcock Group, winning Contractor of the Year award.

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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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Wind, wave and tidal energy will create jobs

BWEA, UK's leading renewable energy trade association, welcomed the Prime Minister's endorsement today of the enormous potential of renewable energy to create employment in the UK. Studies published by BWEA in October 2008, concluded that wind, wave and tidal energy projects could drive job creation and stimulate sectors of the economy crucial to delivering the country’s 2020 renewable energy targets.

Maria McCaffery, BWEA Chief Executive, said: “The research we conducted in 2008 gave us a clear indication that wind, wave and tidal energy will become an economic powerhouse not only in terms of energy output, but in terms of employment and the beneficial effect on related sectors. We are delighted that the Prime Minister has now recognised this and are looking forward to concrete measures to bring this about.”

The report commissioned by BWEA from Bain and Co. in late 2008 reiterated that “the wind industry is now established as one of the highest-growth industries in Europe, growing at an average rate of 12 percent over the last 5 years.” The conclusions of the report also urged policy makers not to repeat the mistakes of the early phase of development, when the UK was not agile enough in securing sector jobs domestically.

The accompanying report delivered by SQW went even further in surveying the skills landscape, in terms of what skills will be in demand, and how potential skills shortages will be resolved.

“In these difficult economic times there is a sense that renewable energy is the way forward. Wind energy in the UK has yet to be developed to its full potential, so that the country as a whole can benefit. We welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement, which chimes with what the BWEA has been saying for years – it is now important for the Government to follow up words with actions,” concluded McCaffery.