NEWS & APPOINTMENTS
With nearly nine out of 10 new school sites above the World Health Organisation (WHO) targets on major air pollutants, Elta is urging decision makers to address the problem through a ‘three-step’ process to ventilation specification and maintenance. The callout follows a study led by researchers from Evelina London Children’s Hospital and King’s College London (KCL). Following their analysis of 147 new school locations around England that were to be built between 2017 and 2025, the researchers found that 86% of those sites exceeded air quality targets. Those targets are for particulate matter PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 (Nitrogen Dioxide), leading to the conclusion that air quality around new schools is “alarmingly poor”. With emerging studies also showing that poor air quality leads to lowered cognitive growth, Elta, UK’s leading experts in ventilation equipment, outlines three measures to tackle the problem. The three steps are aimed at preventing poor air from entering the school building and classrooms, including: 1. Installing air monitoring equipment in schools to identify concentrations of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and other contributors to poor air quality
2. Using correctly specified mechanical ventilation systems to process and filter air of harmful particulate matter and substances, to bring indoor air quality to a safe level
3. Having a robust maintenance schedule in place to clean ventilation equipment on a regular basis
David Millward, group product manager at Elta Group, parent company of Elta, said: “This latest study by Evelina London Children’s Hospital and King’s College London is a harsh wake up call to everybody in the country and is a reminder that poor air quality has a real detrimental effect on children.
“Through three simple steps of air quality monitoring, correct specification of mechanical ventilation systems, and regular maintenance of these systems, we can at least prevent poor air from making its way into the classroom.”
New figures show a significant surge in demand for heat pumps – fuelled by a 50 per cent increase in Government grants.
Ahead of the two-year anniversary of the launch of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme on 1 April, figures for February show applications soared by 75% compared to the same month in 2023.
This marks the fourth month that there have been more than 2,000 applications since grants for air source and ground source heat pumps increased to £7,500 – making the Boiler Upgrade Scheme one of the most generous in Europe.
It means the monthly average for applications received between November 2023 and February 2024 is 45% higher than the monthly average before the grant uplift. Energy Security Secretary, Claire Coutinho, said: “No family should be forced to make changes that aren’t right for them. With the right support – like the 50% increase in heat pump grants – families can make their homes warmer and cut their emissions without breaking the bank.
“Figures now show that our plan is working with applications up by 75% from last year.” Up to the end of February, there have now been 35,741 applications and the scheme has paid out close to £127 million in vouchers to customers. The figures come alongside the government’s Welcome Home to Energy Efficiency campaign, which continues to promote the Boiler Upgrade Scheme as well as highlighting the wider efficiency measures that can work together to help save money on bills. They also follow changes to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme criteria, which will make heat pumps cheaper and easier to install.
Families will no longer have to install cavity wall or loft insulation to use the scheme, giving them greater choice on how they improve their home and potentially reducing the costs associated with installing a heat pump on a semi-detached property by around £2,500.
Properties should still be well-insulated so families can heat their homes for less and save money on their bills, but by removing mandatory cavity wall and loft insulation, households will be able to spread out the cost of changes at a pace that works for them.
Saniflo is pleased to welcome Zahin Sanjania to the sales team where he will be focusing his energy and experience on the range of Zehnder and Saniflo commercial pumps. As Technical Sales Manager for the North, Zahin started his new role at the end of 2023 and had already delivered a number of CPD sessions to public health engineers and installers, mechanical consultants and architects. He’s also been on the road working with customers on spec’ing up pumping solutions for their projects. Before joining the team at Saniflo, Zahin was working in Dubai with GF Piping Systems for almost 9 years and has over 15 years of experience in sales and marketing based in the Middle East.
When he’s not at work, Zahin likes to spend quality time with family. Having recently moved to the U.K, he - along with his wife and two sons - love to set out on road trips to explore sight and scenes around the country. He is passionate about cricket and supports his team India on any given occasion. He loves to cook and host family gatherings at home, specialising in Indian cuisine.
The Heating & Hotwater Industry Council has announced the appointment of its new Chair, Henrik Juhl Hansen. Managing director of the Vaillant Group UK and Ireland, Henrik takes over the role from previous Chair Karen Boswell of Baxi. Henrik has more than 30 years leadership experience in cross cultural business in USA, Nordics, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He joined Vaillant in 2016 and has been managing director at Vaillant Group UK & Ireland since January 2022. In his role as Chair of HHIC, he is well placed to lead on work supporting the UK’s on-going decarbonisation programme, carving a path for the industry ensuring a sustainable transition, whilst at pace.
“The HHIC has a vital role to play in the complex challenge that is decarbonising heat. As a whole industry across manufacturers, merchants and installers, we must all be active and engaged when it comes to educating and raising awareness of the challenges the heating industry faces, whilst seeking to help others working in the arena to see the issues from several points of view,” he says. “As an industry we are technology agnostic. A multi technology approach is likely the most pragmatic solution to move swiftly and effectively. “We are at a pivotal time in the heating industry so Government and industry need to work closer than ever to transition to a low carbon future. Broader collaboration is needed across industry to help give the consumer more choice and more opportunities when choosing a new heating system, providing clarity and direction to homeowners across the UK.”
Building Services Forum qp 1 BSEE
May24.indd 1 4 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2024
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk 17/4/24 16:38
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