BSEE


Michael Gove sets out ambition for Environment Bill at Kew Gardens


n a speech, delivered to a packed room of environmental groups, business leaders and journalists, Michael Gove has set out the big issues facing our natural environment, reflected on a number of his successes while in the post, and set out his ambitions for the upcoming Environment Bill.


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In the speech, the outgoing environment secretary said time is running out to make the difference we need; to repair the damage we as a species have done to the planet we have plundered. Nature is in retreat - we have seen a catastrophic loss of biodiversity across the globe as a result of man’s actions. But, late as it may be, Gove said there is still time. The scale of action required may be daunting, but he said the need to act is imperative. There is a political need to act, because we cannot leave this planet to the next generation more polluted, more dangerous, denuded of its natural riches and increasingly inhospitable to all life. There is an economic need to act,


because unless we restore our natural capital then we will have depleted soils incapable of yielding harvests or sustaining livestock, we will have oceans with more plastic than fish, we will have dried up or contaminated water sources and we will have severe weather events endangering lives and livelihoods.


And there is a moral need to act, because, as Margaret Thatcher reminded us, we do not have a freehold on this planet, it is not ours to dispose of as we wish, we are partners in the great chain of evolution with the rest of nature and endowed as we are with reason we therefore have the responsibility to steward and protect. Mr Gove said he wants the Environment Bill, to be published later this year, to set the world’s first legally-binding commitment to comprehensive environmental improvement in the areas where we can make a decisive difference - improving air quality, water management, waste reduction and wildlife revival.


Aggreko launches bridging gap decentralised energy service


ith the UK’s demand for mains grid power expected to outstrip supply by 2026, companies are being urged to adopt alternative energy solutions for their requirements. Aggreko’s offering, said to be a first in the rental market, comprises three main products: gas generators; combined heat and power (CHP) packages; and battery storage. All available to hire, the solutions enable companies to adjust power needs to suit current demand, delivering greater efficiency and cost savings. The new service means UK industry can immediately reap the benefits of decentralised energy, breaking down the barriers put in place by the significant capital investment required for a reliable source of energy. Avoiding the high up-front costs, companies utilising the new service can start work on building a permanent off grid solution for the future. One of the key benefits of the Aggreko decentralised energy solution is that it enables organisations to keep pace with the latest technology, therefore mitigating the risk against technical obsolescence.


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The new proposition follows Aggreko’s recent report, which found that cost, technical resource and impact on production were key barriers to implementing a decentralised energy solution. Based on a survey of 200 UK energy decision-makers across industry, many respondents remain reluctant to actively consider alternative methods of generating electricity.


Chris Rason, managing director of Aggreko UK, said: “We truly understand the dilemma facing UK industry when it comes to decentralised energy. Our recent survey showed us, and the UK, that there is appetite to implement the technology, but there are clear barriers in the way. “Our unique service allows UK industry to end their reliance on the grid, while provides an opportunity to save and prepare for a full decentralised energy model.”


The decentralised energy solution is available now, with Aggreko’s customer service team available to discuss tailored applications. For more information, visit www.aggreko.com/energy


4 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AUGUST 2019


uJon Belfield, president of the BCIA


he Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) is encouraging people in the building controls sector to make one small change to their everyday lives to improve energy efficiency in buildings and create a more sustainable future. Many people in the building controls industry might think that issues surrounding climate change are too big to be fixed and that their actions will not make much difference.


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risk to public health in England and Wales, David Ridgway, product application manager at Andrews Water Heaters, is reminding industry professionals of the importance of water treatment and legionella risk management. The ‘Monthly Legionella Report May 2019’, produced by Public Health England, reveals that there have been 110 confirmed cases of legionnaires’ disease (LD) since January 1 2019, with 18 of these cases being recorded in May alone. Legionnaires’ disease continues to pose a serious, but avoidable risk to public health. Several notable incidents have recently occurred including a leisure centre customer contracting legionnaires’ disease in Tendring, and a fatality in a hotel in Ludlow.


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“Such incidents are wholly avoidable,” comments Ridgway. “By designing, maintaining and operating water services under conditions that control the


ith legionella continuing to pose a prevalent


risk of legionella, commercial properties can safeguard end-users. Best-practice is to ensure that the system water is treated to control, or limit, the ability of bacteria to grow. Additionally, water should not be allowed to stagnate anywhere in the system. Correctly designing the pipe runs in the first instance, combined with the correct use of controls and interfacing of the water heater and associated pumps, can help to further reduce such risks.” Manufacturers of


appliances such as water heaters, are consistently working on combatting the rising risk of legionnaires’ disease. For instance, the MAXXflo EVO from Andrews Water Heaters has full anti- legionella functions and optional strap-on pipe sensor. This control and monitoring of the secondary return circuit temperature and pump operation ensures protection against bacterial growth.


“What we are seeing in England and Wales is members of the public contracting a completely avoidable disease. By


NEWS


Industry urged to take action against legionnaires’ disease


uDavid Ridgway


designing water systems with legionella risk management in mind, the threat to the public and employees in commercial sites can be reduced. Additionally, once installed and commissioned, ongoing servicing, maintenance and water treatment can help to control bacterial growth in water heating appliances and components in the system such as


showerheads, expansion vessels and thermostats,” says Ridgway.


BCIA urges one small change to make one big difference


However, if each one of us takes one small step towards changing everyday habits in the workplace, such as closing the window when the air conditioning is on, turning off the lights in the rooms that we do not use, or perhaps something more complicated, such as changing the control strategy to change a chiller setpoint based on overall cooling demand, together, we can indeed make a big difference in the long-term. Jon Belfield, president of the BCIA, said: “It is


abundantly clear that highly- trained, smart BEMS engineers are already making innovative and effective changes to play a huge role in improving energy efficiency and at the same time, making buildings


more comfortable for occupants. This professional approach to improve the overall performance of buildings is critical in ensuring the sector continues to grow and remains strong over the coming years.


“Therefore, I would like to challenge everyone in the building controls industry to share their own method(s) of saving energy in a building or your workplace, be they large or small, it is the combined difference that we make together that will make the overall change we wish to see. Post it on Twitter, LinkedIn or your website with the hashtag


#OneSmallChange and let’s see what we can learn from each other while collectively improving today’s commercial buildings.”


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