INDUS TRY NEWS
Eco-label points to financial
incentives
Mitsubishi Electric has become the first UK manufacturer of heat pumps to be awarded the European Eco-label in recognition of the superior environmental performance of its Ecodan range of residential heating units. The label guarantees that the company's three Ecodan products meet
the European Energy Directive environmental criteria for heat pumps. "Eco-labels are only given to class-leading products so we are delighted
that Ecodan has been recognised in this way," explained John Kellett, General Manager of Mitsubishi Electric's Heating Systems Division, which markets Ecodan in the UK. "This highlights how renewable Ecodan is as a heat source and raises awareness of the financial benefits of fitting an Eco- label product in advance of financial incentives due next year," he added. In April 2011, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is planning to introduce a Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI) which will encourage energy companies to incentivise the use of renewable heating. In simple terms, this means that anyone using an Ecodan unit will be
paid for every kW of renewable heating they produce. Ecodan harvests in order of 3kW of renewable energy from the outdoor air for every 1kW of electricity consumed, and can cut monthly fuel bills by over 30% compared to a gas boiler. "Ecodan can reduce household fuel bills immediately so it can help hard pressed families struggling with the rising cost of heating,"
added Kellett. "Fitting Ecodan will also ensure that these homes are able to take full advantage of RHI which will cut fuel costs further and reduce the payback period." The European Eco-label (known as the Flower) applies with immediate effect to the PUHZ W50 VHA(-BS); PUHZ W85 VHA2(-BS); and
PUHZ HW140 VHA2(-BS) Ecodan models some of which are manufactured in the UK at Livingston in Scotland. The three units make Ecodan suitable for almost any size of home and also allow it to be retrofitted to older properties that have been thermally upgraded. "Securing an Eco-label means meeting the highest environmental and performance standards so it is a real credit to both the hard work
of colleagues at the Livingston factory and in research and design around the globe," ended Kellett. Ecodan is straightforward to install, will work with both radiators and underfloor heating, and supplies efficient hot water even in the
middle of winter. In addition to lowering fuel bills over traditional carbon-based heating, Ecodan will also reduce emissions by half over traditional gas boilers and qualifies for both the English £400 boiler scrappage scheme and the UK Microgeneration Certification Scheme grant of £900.
Green Skills Academy
makes us fit for the future
Employers in the building services engineering sector are to benefit from a new National Skills Academy that will co-ordinate skills training in design, installation and maintenance of environmental technologies. Approval for the bid, led on behalf of employers in the sector by SummitSkills, to create the £3m Building Services Engineering Green Skills Academy was announced by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson. The academy will play a key role in transforming the ability for businesses in the sector to access the training and skills they will need to meet future increased demand for the installation of renewable and environmental technologies in the UK. The BSE Green Skills Academy will focus on design skills,
product knowledge, commissioning and maintenance, innovation, entrepreneurship and business development. The announcement of the academy comes at the same time as
the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, in its first National Strategic Skills Audit, highlights the critical role the building services engineering sector will play in the installation of the UK’s low carbon infrastructure and the need for the sector to change and improve its skills to meet this challenge. Keith Marshall OBE, Chief Executive of SummitSkills said: “The creation of a Building Services Engineering Green Skills Academy is a critical step forward for the BSE sector. “As the National Strategic Skills Audit highlights, future jobs and employment in the sector depend on the ability of businesses and employers to develop the skills to deal with the task of fitting the environmental technologies which will be commonplace as the UK meets its commitments to the low carbon agenda. “This BSE Green Skills Academy will play a key role in ensuring
that this skills capability is developed and that the BSE sector can become more proactive in promoting the green agenda to consumers and acting as a trailblazer for green skills.”
Peter joins Philips Dynalite
Philips Dynalite has appointed Peter Glasheen to the newly created role of Global Product Marketing Manager – Controls. Glasheen assumes product marketing management responsibilities for the company’s leading portfolio of lighting control based solutions. He will be based in Sydney at Philips Lighting’s Centre for Competence for indoor networked controls, from which he will provide leadership to Philips Dynalite’s regional product managers worldwide. According to Glasheen, the role involves liaison with key industry stakeholders to better
meet the market’s current and future needs for control products, systems and services. “It is essential to gain market insights to be able to identify the solutions that the end-user requires,” he said. “With this understanding, Philips Dynalite will be able to utilise our extensive research and development programme to develop these requirements into sophisticated solutions to meet the market needs.” With 30 years in the Australian electrical industry, Glasheen brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the new position. He has invaluable experience in engineering, research and development, and in a variety of product, marketing, strategy and general management roles. “My recent responsibilities with multi- disciplinary project groups have given me a wide view of the industry,” he said. “This provides me with a broad spectrum of experience to the position that will enable me to better serve Philips Dynalite’s customers.” Glasheen predicts that his immediate focus will be on selected industry segments, including offices, retail, hospitality and high-end multi-dwelling apartments. “I am particularly interested in the needs of end-users such as retail complexes, institutions and multi-unit residential development companies,” he said. “There is enormous scope in this market to make significant improvements in the levels of lighting, automation control, productivity and energy savings that we can deliver to these sectors as we move forward.” Looking ahead, specific targets for 2010 include the production of a road map to facilitate integration of Philips Dynalite’s products, systems and services with the Philips Lighting solution-set. “The aim here is to simplify dealer, distributor and installer partnerships in order to make the delivery channels more seamless and intuitive for the end-user,” said Glasheen. “The road map will additionally help establish how Philips Dynalite can best prepare for continuing to meet its customers’ evolving needs into the future.”
Make CRC a board level
priority
Businesses must make the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC) a board level concern and develop a strategy to manage participation to avoid financial loss and reputational damage. This is the message of a new film Understanding the
CRC from energy firm npower, designed to help businesses prepare for the scheme and avoid potential pitfalls. npower's film provides guidance on qualification for the CRC, the importance of managing energy and carbon emissions to succeed under the scheme, and the reputational implications of the CRC league table that will name and shame those participants failing to reduce emissions. It also points out the potential financial benefits of the scheme. DECC calculates that the CRC will stimulate £1bn of cost savings for participants through better energy efficiency. A further message coming through loud and clear from
Steel demand confirms price fears
Early this year, BEAMA’s Steel Products Group warned about the possibility of turbulent steel raw material price rises and the prospect of a patchy supply situation.
Now a new report (EEF steel market update, March 2010) states that world demand for steel during this year is expected to be restored
to 2008 levels. A spokesperson says this confirms the Group’s earlier fears, commenting: “Although demand in Europe is picking up, it is the emerging nations of China, India, Iran and some North African states, which are anticipated to consume far more steel. The pace of demand in these countries has hardly slackened. At one stage, China is estimated to have been producing 50% of the world’s steel supply. “This will affect the domestic re-stocking pattern as the 2010 season contract negotiations progress. Already, there are signs of price volatility in coal, coking coal and crude steel - the raw ingredients. “In 2009, UK steel imports fell more dramatically than sales, pointing to considerable de-stocking in the supply chain. In a market no
longer seen as prime, it is the speed of re-stocking this channel, in the correct qualities, that may cause the difficulties we envisage. “With steel suppliers seeing their margins squeezed in Europe, and where the UK is not considered a preferred market for imports from
outside the EU, there’s likely to be a time lag in the supply situation. This will allow price rises to hold. “Once again we feel it appropriate to repeat our January 2010 message – that customers can help themselves by buying from reputable wholesalers, anticipating project requirements, advance ordering, confirming actual prices prior to despatch, and by being aware that prices may rise. “Our Group members (manufacturers of steel cable tray, ladder, support systems and trunking) are reassuring customers they are doing everything possible to get supplies through the distribution system on time, and at the most competitive prices.”
6 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2010
the film is the importance of having a board member responsible for the CRC. Annual ‘evidence packs’ detailing participants’ energy consumption must have board level sign off. The CRC will also require enterprise- wide investment and behaviour change to improve energy efficiency, which typically can only be sanctioned at the highest level. Dave Lewis, Head of Business Energy Services at
npower said: “A lot of businesses are turning to us for advice on the CRC and it’s clear that many are still unclear on the obligations it places on them, and the opportunities and challenges it presents. Our film answers these questions and will hopefully go some way in addressing the concerns that some organisations have. Those affected by the scheme only have until the end of September to register, so it’s important they understand what they need to do and how they can make the CRC benefit their business. This must be driven from the very top if businesses are to realise all the advantages the CRC offers.” The film can be viewed at
www.npower.com/crc
VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
www.bsee.co.uk
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