BSEE
In 2016, the Paris accord on climate change took place during which the UK, along with all of the world's major economies agreed to tackle climate change, by becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
A
ttaining the status of carbon neutrality by the middle of the century is an ambitious goal,
but one that the UK
government is serious about achieving. A ban on petrol and diesel cars and gas boilers have been some of the most recent major announcements.
It appears that hydrogen is going to be a key part of the strategy too, with the first homes in the UK to be fitted with hydrogen boilers and hobs in April this year.
The burning of fossil fuels in UK homes for heating accounts for an estimated one-third of the nation's carbon emissions, so it’s not so surprising that it is at the heart of the government's low carbon agenda and so huge changes are just around the corner.
Hydrogen is viewed as a viable solution due to the fact its combustion is carbon free, unlike natural gas that produces carbon dioxide, hydrogen only creates water vapor as a waste product.
As a result, residential gas combi boilers have already been the target of substantial legislation, including a ban on non- condensing boilers, resulting in all new boilers at least 90% efficient, as well as a complete ban on gas boilers in all new build properties from 2025.
INDUSTRY COMMENT
Hydrogen Energy makes strides in the UK ‘
Other renewables such as solar and heat pumps have long been thought of as the government’s priorities for the next generation of residential energy production, yet have received considerable criticism for being impractical. Both solar and heat pumps are not reliable in terms of heat output and are incredibly expensive to install, averaging around £12,000 for ground source heat pump installation. Back in 2019, the Commission on Climate Change estimated that it would take more than 700 years to replace all gas boilers in the UK at the current pace.
These are just two of the major reasons why hydrogen is seen as more viable, but the other key point is that hydrogen can utilise the current infrastructure - the gas network. Hydrogen like natural gas can be fed into homes
relatively easily, making it far less disruptive and easier to roll out. Heating industry leaders Worcester Bosch and Baxi have both been developing their hydrogen boiler prototypes for several years now and have made significant progress. Yet, it’s not all positive. Hydrogen production is still not perfected - it can be costly to produce and contributes to carbon emissions because it relies on either using renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen to make “green hydrogen” or requires the use of carbon capture to trap the carbon released via the burning of fossil fuel to produce “blue hydrogen”. Still, it is far less problematic than the current reliance on pure natural gas and will help the government reach its carbon neutral goal in time.
The first hydrogen homes are planned to be set up later this year, in Gateshead, London, where they will be supplied with hydrogen tanks. The first homes in the world to use green hydrogen through a local gas grid will be established in Scotland by the end of next year.
Back in 2019, the Commission on Climate Change esmated that it would take more than 700 years to replace all gas boilers in the UK at the current pace.
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By Jude Mclean, Green energy consultant with an interest in future innovaon in the heang sector, primarily hydrogen technology
New features for Jangro’s Elearning platform
Jangro, the UK & Ireland’s largest network of independent janitorial and cleaning distributors, has made several enhancements to its innovave training plaorm, The Learning Management Soluon (LMS).
accredited certification on completion of each course, badges are awarded to users as they progress through the training courses. Once three modules have been successfully finished, the user receives a bronze ‘medal’. For silver status, seven courses are required to have been achieved. Only once all 12 training modules have been accomplished, is the gold badge awarded.
T
The badges are designed to encourage individuals to complete more courses, gain a higher status, and to then promote their success to others. Users can track their progress and view their status under their profile on the LMS site. Once they reach the bronze, silver, or gold level, the badges can be downloaded and added to email signatures or marketing material to promote their progress.
The COSHH course has also benefited from a revamp on the site, making it
he site now features badges, enabling users to track their progress, as well as an update to the COSHH module to make it even more user friendly. As well as receiving a CPD-
‘ Customer
expectaons of cleanliness and hygiene are currently higher than ever
’
more mobile-friendly, with a modern look and feel, and enhanced usability. Joanne Gilliard, CEO at Jangro comments, ‘Customer expectations of cleanliness and hygiene are currently higher than ever. Ensuring that professional cleaning staff receive high quality and relevant training is essential. It not only helps uphold these standards, but also helps to keep them safe, whilst continuing to work with coronavirus in general circulation. ‘We hope these new badges will help motivate users to complete training courses and share their successes as they progress through the programme; ultimately enabling them to stay safe and achieve a high quality clean every time.’
Hanwell changes will boost focus on sales and services
anwell Solutions Ltd, the UK’s leading manufacturer of wireless environmental monitoring equipment, has undergone restructuring by parent company the Ellab Group to provide the pharmaceutical, healthcare and food processing markets with an expanded, single point of contact for its range of products.
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As part of the changes designed to streamline the structure for supplying industry leading monitoring and validation solutions, the company’s sales, field service engineers and customer service teams have joined forces with the Ellab UK Division, headed by Patrick McKimm, Country Manager for Ellab UK and Ireland. This overhaul of sales and customer service at the Hertfordshire-based business has also culminated in the appointment of a new account manager, Richard Manning, taking over heritage from Jason Todd, who moves to another area of the company. Richard is also making inroads into industrial monitoring solutions including flood and leak detection and monitoring power outages.
Manning brings significant experience to his new post having worked at Wembley National Stadium Ltd for the FA (Football Association) Group for 11 years and more recently Coca-Cola European Partners, driving sales opportunities for both organisations.
‘ Designed to
streamline the structure for supplying industry leading monitoring and validaon soluons, the company’s sales, field service engineers and customer service teams have joined forces.
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Meanwhile, Hanwell’s International Sales Director, Derek Richardson, will also head up the heritage department in the new set up, building on his years of experience within this specialised area, protecting heritage sites from not just monetary loss but potential damage to irreplaceable historical and cultural items by instantly warning of compromised conditions.
He explained: “In addition to my main responsibility for international distributors and sales I now look after our third-party products which include Shocklog impact recorders and SpotSee damage deterrent labels. We are the main distributor for these products in the UK and Ireland. I also look after our wireless product sales in the UK which includes food service, industrial and energy monitoring applications.”
6 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER APRIL 2021
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