BIOME IS FOCAL POINT OF NEW BAY PROJECT
The fi rst phase of the Gardens by the Bay project in Singapore has been completed, with one of the two biomes – in the foreground – becoming operational. The project incorporates a liquid desiccant system coupled with the external supertree structures to provide dry air to the biomes – a system designed by consultancy Atelier Ten. The gardens will be fully open to the public in June.
Growing alarm over risks from smart meters
● MPs say only energy suppliers might benefi t from £11.7bn programme
Serious concerns about the government’s smart meter programme have been raised by the parliamentary body that oversees public spending. The Commons Public Accounts Committee
said the plan to put a smart meter in each of the UK’s 53m homes by 2019 was ‘challenging’ and subject to ‘signifi cant uncertainty’. Committee chair Margaret Hodge said there
was a danger that only energy suppliers would benefi t from the £11.7bn programme. ‘Consumers will benefi t from smart meters
only if they understand the opportunity to reduce their energy bills and change their
behaviour,’ she said. ‘So far the evidence on whether they will do so has been inconclusive. Otherwise, the only people who will benefi t are the energy suppliers.’ She added that there were no guarantees
that energy suppliers would pass on savings to the customer, who will have to pay for the installation and operation of smart meters. ‘The track record of energy companies to
date does not inspire confi dence that this will happen,’ Hodge added. The committee also questioned the ability of
the government to meet its schedule, which is a year ahead of that required by the EU. It expressed doubts about consumers’ willingness to cooperate and questioned
i0522-27 CondairMK5 AD AW_CIBSE Magazine 190x66 14/09/2011 10:37 Page 1
whether the data communications service – expected to cost £3bn – will be ready in time for the start of the roll-out in 2014. The committee stated that there were ‘obvious risks’ to cyber security associated with the wider use of smart meters. It also expressed concern that they would make it easier for energy fi rms to cut off ‘vulnerable’ customers. However, the British Electrotechnical and
Allied Manufacturers Association (BEAMA) claimed that smart meters would deliver £938m of savings in household electricity bills every year, with users worldwide cutting their consumption by 8.5%.
For more information visit:
www.parliament.uk/business/committees
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www.cibsejournal.com February 2012 CIBSE Journal 7
PATRICK BELLEW / ATELIER TEN
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