Heat pumps are a very effective way of using renewable energy in commercial buildings, leading Mitsubishi Electric to develop a new product range.

Mike Jenkins discusses the importance of construction contracts during this post-recession recovery period.

Companies with a skilled workforce will be the strongest contenders for new business when the economy emerges from recession, as Mike Jenkins explains.

Non-domestic buildings emit about the same amount of carbon today as they did in 1990, hence the importance of a new report from the Carbon Trust on reducing emissions from such buildings.

The performance of aluminium busbar trunking systems has so improved over the last few years that they have many advantages over copper — as John Clarke explains

Sources of renewable energy that can be used in buildings to reduce carbon emissions and comply with planning-permissions requirements for onsite renewable energy are limited. What’s more, they tend to have rather high capital costs and can pose other planning-permission issues — especially wind turbines.

Reports that the recession is over doesn’t mean we are out of the woods yet. Businesses need to hunker down and maintain good relations for the long haul recovery, as Mike Jenkins explains.

Fossil fuels play no part in servicing a new building at Lambeth College. Instead the project advances the application of ground-source heat pumps to a new dimension by combining the ground loops with the structural piles.

There are a lot of Daikin VRV air-conditioning systems out there using R22 which looked to have a short-term future with the phasing out of virgin R22. Now the company has come up with an upgrade strategy.

Counting the pennies to take care of the pounds has never been more vital than during a recession, as Mike Jenkins, business development manager of Welplan and group co-ordinator of HVCA Business Plus, explains.

Squaring-up to the challenges of the recession, businesses should go back to basics, as Mike Jenkins explains.

Getting the best from heat pumps depends on where its energy comes from and how it is to be used. Garry Broadbent discusses how.

Storing heat when cooling is required and releasing that energy later when heating is required, and vice-versa, is an effective approach to reducing a building’s carbon emissions. Paul Aitchison explains how Monodraught has achieved just that.

Mike Price discusses how to keep heated air in a building — even with doorways 
that are used often or deliberately kept open.

Achieving very low usage of mains water will require the harvesting and use of rainwater, as Mike Norton explains.

Achieving zero-carbon or low-carbon buildings has a price tag. Dave Cheshire give his perspective on the cost effectiveness of the various options.

The new president of the Heating & Ventilating Contractors’ Association, Graham Manly, would like to look forward to a competent industry delivering lower carbon emissions — backed by regulations that are made to stick.

Dr Judith Thornton describes an alternative approach to reducing water consumption in homes and non-domestic buildings.

Business looking for new revenue streams would be well advised to look at their lighting installations and consider the benefits of one-for-one replacement.

The industry approach to commercial valve specification is changing. Mike Link explains how a new range of commercial valves will make life easier for specifiers and deliver a modern approach to commissioning.

How many buildings are delivering their full potential? And how many could realise much more of their potential with a little help? Enter a new approach to handing over buildings.

In these straitened economic times, Ian Bradley shares his thoughts on the significant opportunities for the building-services industry.

The introduction of two new Advanced Diplomas for engineering and the built environment prompts David Pepper to stress the importance of continuous training for building-services engineers in helping society become a more energy efficient.

What are the benefits of prefabricated building services? Terry Farthing shares his experiences.

How is the Carbon Reduction Commitment meant to work? How well will it work? The property industry has been considering the implications.

New lighting offers many possibilities for reducing energy costs and maintenance bills — with some very short paybacks, as Steven Henry explains.

Green buildings do not just happen. They depend on intelligent control to integrate their various systems and renewable-energy options, as Sarah Chiappi explains.

Engineers should argue the financial benefits of investing in reducing energy consumption and costs and compare them with other, riskier, forms of investment argues Mike Malina.

The move to an existing building gave Chalmor the opportunity to upgrade it and massively improve its energy efficiency, including some novel ideas — as Ken Sharpe found out.

With the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), a new emissions trading scheme for large non- energy intensive organisations, starting in April next year Tom Fidell discusses the need to develop a 5-year strategic plan — now.

As a lighting engineer, Mike Simpson, CIBSE’s new president, believes that lighting should be given the opportunity to show how it can help reduce the world’s carbon emissions.