11 industry news
Energy efficient strategies T
he government has published its strategy for housing in England, which includes a con-
tinued commitment to a zero carbon standard. To achieve these high levels of energy efficiency the new focus for building standards will be on high levels of fabric efficiency designed to make the property airtight and ther- mally efficient thereby conserving fuel and power. To complement this, there will be a new focus on the effi- cient use of water. The current work being undertaken
on the UK’s most sustainable barn style show home, demonstrates the types of materials that can be used to provide these energy efficiencies. The ‘First Fix‘ work on Potton’s
Wickenbrook barn is almost complete and high levels of insulation are being fitted throughout the house. Within the month, this will all be
behind plasterboard and the rooms will have taken shape. Next month, Kingspan’s latest rainwater harvesting system will be delivered to site.
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CA Group highlights UN report urging developers to consider the use of fibre insulation
S
pecialist building envelope manufacturer and installer, CA Group, has highlighted a new
report published by UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme. The report warns of the cost to the environment of what were previously believed to be ‘ozone friendly’ HFCs and urges investors and developers to consider the use of fibre, rather than foam insulation, in new construction projects. The report, entitled ‘HFCs: A
Critical Link in Protecting Climate and the Ozone Layer’, warns that HFCs could account for up to 20 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions and have the potential to reach a level compa- rable with current emissions from the global transport sector by 2050. Brian Watson, group development
Race is on to find UK’s heat pump champions as national awards scheme opens for entries
L
eading manufacturers, consult- ants, contractors and end users are being invited to compete
for top honours in the forthcoming National Heat Pump Awards 2012. Entries are now invited for eleven
categories in the expanded annual awards, which celebrate top tech- nology, projects and personal con- tributions in this rapidly emerging renewable energy sector. With energy prices rising sharply,
heat pumps are seen as one of the most promising renewable energy technologies. They capture free energy from the environment – from the air, ground or water – and harness it to provide low-cost, low-carbon heating for homes, commercial premises and industry. As a result, modern heat pumps
enable businesses and home owners to significantly reduce their energy costs – in some cases by as much as 50 per cent – while ensuring high quality comfort. Launched last year to acclaim, The
National Heat Pump Awards celebrate the best new products coming on- stream and their application in proj- ects across the UK. The competition is backed by the industry’s leading bodies and some of the biggest com- panies in the market. With the need to establish the
energy-saving potential of renewables, the awards’ organisers have set clear evaluation criteria so that entries can be judged on a level playing field and valid comparisons drawn between products and applications. Tony Bowen, chairman of the
judging panel, said: “The first year produced a good number of entries and indications of a growing market. The judges would like to see clear evi- dence of performance monitoring this year, and the guidance has been updated to encourage this. People need to see the evidence of low running costs and happy customers. We know it’s true, but we need to see the data.” He added: “People go to a lot of
director for CA Group, explained: “We have been actively encouraging the use of fibre insulation for some time for a number of reasons: it is a natural, fire retardant material, which does not contribute to the fire load; it is an extremely efficient sustainable solution to the issue of heat loss and
trouble to gather the information for entries and this can be used in all sorts of ways. For example, the winning entry for one of last year’s awards was submitted to Greg Barker, minister for climate change, as proof positive of the impact of heat pumps.” Despite hiccups in the introduction
of government incentives schemes, sales of non-subsidised heat pumps are reported to be rising steadily – driven by rising energy costs and growing awareness of the energy- saving potential of the technology. There is government assistance for
commercial ground-source heat pumps under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, while home- owners can get support for certain projects under the Renewable Heat Pump Premium (RHPP), operated by the Energy Saving Trust. The expanded awards, now an
annual event in the industry’s calen- dar, have an expanded judging panel. Newly appointed is Danny Davis,
thermal performance; and further- more, its use does not carry with it the significant disposal costs associ- ated with insulation that uses blowing agents. The report highlights the positive
impact of the Montreal Protocol on the reduction in Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs). However, it also confirms that the use of HFCs, as a replacement for CFCs and HCFCs, are now proven to present a signifi- cant threat to the environment. Watson concluded: “The report is
a real wake-up call for any funder, developer or architect considering the use of blown foam insulation. Sustainable options do exist and will save much more than money in the long run.” CA Group endorses the concept of ‘cradle-to-cradle’ construction, which requires that building materials used in the conception of a building also take into account its end-of-life impact by being ecologically compatible, eco- nomically acceptable and socially responsible in equal meas
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principal technical officer with the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering. Danny Davis says: “I believe heat
pumps have a bright future. With the tightening in the economy and contin- uing sharp increases in energy costs, businesses and homeowners are looking to reduce their outgoings. A well designed and installed heat pump can make a big impact.” He added: “The key, of course, is
to ensure that systems are properly designed and installed. I believe we are at a critical stage in the introduc- tion of the technology; it is vital that we protect the good name of heat pumps in the market so that the public keeps faith. The awards have an important role to play, by spreading awareness of best practice and holding up the best of the best on a national stage.” The awards culminate in a gala
dinner accompanied by an evening of top class entertainment at the ICC in Birmingham, on 31st
May 2012.
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