NEWS & APPOINTMENTS
German lessons should inspire UK Net Zero action
The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has urged the UK government to follow the example of Germany, which has announced plans to spend €177.5bn on climate action, including €56bn on a huge programme of building renovations. Germany’s Climate and Transformation Fund aims to reduce the 30% of the country’s total energy consumption that is used to generate space and water heating and is particularly focused on improving buildings in the bottom 25% of energy performance. This also represents a dramatic shift in government priorities from supporting the construction of new homes to renovating more existing ones with one government official saying: “One euro spent on renovation is ten times more efficient than if it was spent on a new home.” Other European countries are expected to announce similar plans with the EU intensifying the focus on retrofit in its planned revisions to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. “This looks like a comprehensive plan for retrofitting buildings with both net zero and
reduced energy costs for consumers in mind,” said BESA’s head of technical Graeme Fox. “We have long been calling for something similar in the UK and I would urge our officials to look at this closely.
Productivity
“The built environment is responsible for more than 40% of total carbon emissions so upgrading our building stock could have a major impact on our net zero targets while improving health, well-being, and productivity at the same time by creating better indoor conditions,” he added. “It is also the quickest and most cost-effective way to drive down gas and electricity consumption in homes, schools, offices and industrial buildings when we are facing an unprecedented energy crisis.” Germany is grappling with the impact the Russian invasion of Ukraine has had on its gas supplies and has pledged to invest €35.5bn in its renewable levy to lower electricity prices with another €20bn going towards decarbonising industry and developing the hydrogen industry. German consumers no longer pay the renewables levy that helps to finance the expansion of wind and solar power. Instead, the government has stepped in as part of efforts to cut electricity bills, but without reducing its investment in renewable infrastructure. The Green Building Council calculates that around 70% of UK non-residential buildings were built before 2000 and says most will need to be substantially retrofitted to improve energy efficiency and reduce embodied carbon before 2050.
National Underground Asset Register pilot completes
The safety and efficiency of construction works across the London boroughs is set to significantly improve following the completion of a pilot project to digitise the underground electricity cables and gas pipelines. Energy Assets Networks (EAN) won grant funding from the Government’s Geospatial Commission, in partnership with the Greater London Authority (GLA), to vectorise the position of underground cables and pipes as part of the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) initiative. “This data will ultimately form part of a vast national digital resource that highway authorities, utility companies and their contractors will be able to use to carry out works in the safest and most efficient way,” said Andrew Collin, network manager at Energy Assets Gas Networks. “The information we’ve vectorised and which will soon be uploaded to the live NUAR platform pinpoints the depth and position of our cable and pipe assets across London within an accuracy of a few centimetres. This rich data will enhance the technical support we can provide to customers for planned developments, while at the same
time reducing the risk of accidental – and potentially dangerous – electricity and gas ‘strikes’ by operatives during site works.” The data gathered by EAN includes pipe and cable size, material, location, route and connections, which can be displayed on a clickable map that reveals detailed asset plans and information. The EAN London project is one of a number around the country mapping utility assets digitally to develop the NUAR platform. “This activity provided a valuable learning experience for EAN as an asset owner,” said Andrew Collin. “We now have the knowledge and technical know-how to adopt a ‘vector first’ approach to digitising and sharing asset data. We also continue to contribute to working groups engaged in the wider national project.” EAN is among the fastest-growing local
energy network owners in Britain, responsible for the operation of many thousands of final mile electricity and gas connections. They work alongside accredited utilities connections providers, housebuilders, commercial developers and EV charging network companies.
Appointments
Fernox announces new UK and Ireland sales director
Fernox has appointed Greg Banham as UK and Ireland sales director. With over 25 years’ sales experience in the heating and plumbing sector. Greg brings with him a wealth of water treatment industry experience, including a previous tenure at Fernox which spanned 16 years. Having held senior sales and management roles in the plumbing and heating, and water treatment sectors, Greg will be instrumental in strengthening the leading water manufacturer’s presence and reach in the UK and Ireland. On the new appointment, Ernie McDonald at
Fernox said: “We are delighted to welcome Greg back to Fernox. With his valuable industry experience and his understanding and knowledge of our business, Greg will be a huge asset in serving our customers to meet their expectations and driving our growth strategy.” Greg said: “I’m thrilled to be back in the Fernox family and working with the team again. There has been a cultural shift in fossil fuel consumption, and I am pleased to be working for a company that has pioneered the development of water treatment products that keep heating and cooling systems working at optimum efficiency, thereby reducing carbon emissions and fuel wastage.”
Unitherm welcomes new account manager
Renewables specialist Unitherm Heating Systems has welcomed Blue Hachipuka to their team as an account manager based in the company’s Exeter headquarters. He joins the team from Nu-Heat where he was for the past 12 years, initially in business development and latterly as an account manager. Unitherm supplies heat pumps from the LG, Vaillant and Hitachi ranges, a full range of underfloor heating systems and a selection of radiators, to customers across the UK.
Now based in Exeter, Blue is originally from Zambia but has been living in the UK for 20 years. He played rugby for 35 years and now enjoys a lazy game of golf in his spare time
Airedale appoints data centre lead
Airedale by Modine, the critical cooling specialists, has appointed Adrian Trevelyan as the director of its cloud services business unit. Responsible for one of Airedale’s most significant commercial operations, Adrian will be accountable for a worldwide territory (excluding US), leading the data centre cooling arm of the Airedale by Modine business as it accelerates its growth strategy. Having worked with Airedale by Modine for 32 years, most recently as aftermarket director, he has vast experience of the data centre industry, both at a hands-on and strategic level. Reporting in to Adrian will be Airedale’s established data centre focussed engineering, project management and commercial teams. He will work alongside Airedale’s existing business unit directors.
Adrian said: “I am thrilled to be taking up this new position with Airedale by Modine. I have been with the company for a long time and am keen to take it to the next level, supporting my teams along the way.”
Armstrong Fluid Technology names global head of district energy team
Armstrong Fluid Technology has appointed Neil Parry to the role of global head of district energy. Based in the UK and reporting to Peter Thomsen,
director, building systems, Neil will be responsible for defining, developing and delivering Armstrong’s suite of solutions for distributed energy networks (Heating and Cooling). This will involve working in close collaboration with stakeholders around the world in developing district energy solutions and the supply chains involved in their design, creation and expansion. He has over 30 years of experience in engineering, manufacturing and HVAC system design, with diverse roles covering product management, technical training, lecturing and sales. He is a CIBSE-accredited Heat Network Consultant in addition to being a licensed and approved lecturer and CPD provider.
4 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2022
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