Only proven technologies are used in a new commercial office building in Leeds, but the way they have been brought together sets a new landmark for energy efficiency in buildings.

Peter Orr explains how integrating building systems from the outset of a project incurs little or no extra cost — and then delivers savings throughout the life of the building.

Understanding the life cycle costs of a chiller installation requires a clear view of the full picture. Wayne Perrins explores the features of chillers that can make all the difference.

Mark Andrews explains why the whole-life approach forms the cornerstone of NG Bailey’s business strategy.

To benefit from the potential for centralised plant to achieve higher efficiency than decentralised plant, Evinox has supplied a Geminox condensing boiler module and Modusat interface units to provide heating and hot water for a development of 10 luxury apartments in Swanage.

Both energy and maintenance costs in the mains sports hall of the Sands Centre in Carlisle have been reduced following the installation of long-life, high-output Brilliance light fittings from Chalmor. The savings are expected to achieve a payback of three years on initial capital cost.

Stuart Aynsley explores how the cost of converged communications in buildings provides the basis for a whole range of new opportunities — without incurring significant cost.

Whether an installer is specifying a new or replacement air-conditioning system, it is important to embrace the concept of whole-life costs by educating the end-user on the key benefits. Simon Keel outlines what end-users need to know from installers so they can release the real value of their equipment.

John Garbutt describes the results of an independent analysis of the long-term-costs of ductwork.

‘We asked ABS Consulting to recommend what practical and most efficient measures we could take to cut our excessive energy use which would give use the greatest return on investment. Eliminating wasteful use of lighting by automatic lighting management was the clear winner,’ says Fiona Crann, head of facility at the South East England Development Agency’s (SEEDA) 5-storey headquarters building in Guildford.

Comfort cooling with low capital costs and long-term low running costs have been achieved in the main bakery area of Buxton Spa Bakery using a Breezair evaporative cooling system from Seeley International.

Helping to minimise energy costs for the environmental control system serving the Community Village Hall at Pendeen in Cornwall is a ground-source heat pump to provide heating and hot water for this award-winning project, which serves wide-ranging local needs from crèche to snooker club. The project has won the community category in the South West Green Energy Awards.

Cost savings of at least 20% are expected following the replacement of outdated boiler plant at the Arndale Estate in Wandsworth to provide heating and hot water for 388 homes in five blocks — and public areas. Other cost-saving measures include improved insulation, new pumps to improve circulation efficiency and an upgraded energy-management system for operating efficiency.

To minimise the energy used for air conditioning the various buildings at the £8 million Wildwood Triangle development in Worcester, each building has Daikin VRV heat-recovery air conditioning and energy-reclaim ventilation provided by 17 Daikin VAM units. Billed by developer Maximus as ‘the best office address in Worcester, the complex comprises five self-contains 2-storey blocks offering 170 to 725 m2 of lettable space, with a total of 3700 m2.

Replacing calorifiers with plate heat exchangers to supply heating and domestic hot water at Bradford Royal Infirmary will reduce energy bills by 15%, it is estimated.

Many electrical engineers and electricians have only ever known the sixteenth edition of the Wiring Regulations, but the forthcoming seventeenth edition will be less of a culture shock than the change from the fifteenth to sixteenth edition in 1991.

CP Electronics’ compact EBDSPIR detector can be mounted flush into a ceiling or on the surface of a ceiling using a fast-fix detector box.

Power-distribution specialist Electrak has played a key role in making the new Liverpool office of the UK Passport Service an energy-efficient operation with its Lightrak KNX light power distribution and controls system.

Details of the 17th Edition of the Wiring Regulations are due to be published in a couple of months. So now is the time to start thinking about how your software will cope with the new requirements, says Philip Grace.

Even worse than disruption caused by a mains power failure is a standby generator that refuses to start. Lorraine John offers advice on how to minimise such problems.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are well suited to emergency lighting. Barrie Walsh explains how their efficient use of electricity and long life can reduced the cost burden of emergency lighting.

The ability to supply a vital switchboard in record time helped Eaton Electric secure the order for a new PLC-controlled main switchboard for the Cheshire and Merseyside area of North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust as part of a major refurbishment of its electrical power supply.

Among the features of the 1500 kVA standby diesel generator supplied by Power Electrics to back up the critical installation at Bronglais General Hospital, which is in Aberystwyth, is an emissions reduction system.

Whitecroft Lighting’s Duo luminaire gradually varies its intensity and colour temperature throughout the working day to counteract the peaks and troughs in alertness that most people experience through the day.

The Marshall-Tufflex MT32 power connection system uses pre-wired and pre-tested components to significantly reduce wiring time for socket outlets in commercial buildings.

Mercury Recycling has introduced a complete package to encompass all the products affected by the WEEE regulations (EC Directive on Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment).

Contractor Shepherd Engineering Services has used Hager’s sub-distribution boards for the tallest building in Yorkshire, Bridgewater Place in Leeds. This 32-storey building has 21 800 m2 of office space.

Wiring-accessory manufacturer Focus SB has added a new service to its web site. It enables customers to view the stock levels of its top 16 product lines so that they can see what is readily available for next-day delivery.

A radio-based system for addressing emergency-lighting fittings has won two awards in the Technology & Innovation Awards for 2007. The addressing system used in emergency luminaires from P4 is powered by batteries and does not require data cabling. It is efficient and clean to install anywhere, which is a special advantage for hospitals, clinics and medical centres.

Merlin Power Management has been awarded a contract to service and maintain standby generators at a number of Land Securities sites in London. The contract is for Inviron, which itself is now responsible for managing the mechanical and electrical services at these sites, which include Land Securities’ own office in the Strand and commercial, retail and office premises owned by the company.

Hager is to run a series of seminars on the 17th edition of the Wiring Regulation. They will run from January 2008 onwards, after the new regulation are published.

Dimplex has updated its web site to make it easier than ever to get information on the latest ideas in space-, water- and renewable-heating solutions.

Hamilton Litestat, which makes electrical accessories, has released its first digital catalogue covering its entire product portfolio. It also contains extensive technical information and details of major projects. This CD is free and contains more product information than the company has ever published before.

Acson International has prepared a brochure on its extended range of air-conditioning products. It highlights the key features and benefits of inverter-based systems — including wall-mounted, twin-split wall-mounted, ceiling cassette, ceiling exposed and ceiling concealed systems offering heating and cooling and using R410A.

Potterton Commercial has produced a free, easy-to-follow guide explaining the minimum requirements for commercial boilers under Part L2 of the Building Regulations.

A brochure from ABB highlights the features of motor drives that can help get the best possible performance for an HVAC system. Aimed at consultants, it is called ‘Variable-speed drives for building services: checklist for HVAC consultants’.

To make it easier for architects, specifiers and builders to install heating systems fired by wood pellets, the Energy Crops Company has prepared its ‘Wood pellet design guide’. It provides information on all the practical aspects of wood-pellet heating, including system design, access, delivery, storage and installation — as well as a summary of relevant planning guidelines and financial support available.

Calor, a market leader for liquefied petroleum gas, has launched a web site for commercial gas users. The company has invested over £30 000 in the site, which intends to be a one-stop shop for gas users. It offers replacement gas parts and commercial gas tools. There is an extensive range of products, including regulators, hoses, changeover valves, torches, industrial lighting and heating products, catering boilers/water heaters, thermocouples and accessories.

REO UK offers a 60-page handbook on ‘Main power quality’ It explains the nature of AC power quality, why it is increasingly important and outlines preventive techniques.

While not directly a source of renewable energy, heat-pump technology provides a very effective way of harnessing renewable energy — and can also help meet the renewable-energy requirements for planning permission.

Doug Robins shares his views on how the potential benefits of building intelligence can be realised in our regular series of article contributed by the Building Controls Industry Association.

Daikin has introduced a recycling scheme for air conditioning equipment that goes beyond the requirements of the WEEE directive for recycling electrical and electronic goods.

Tour & Andersson’s expertise in hydronic balancing valves for HVAC systems has won for the company NG Bailey’s award for market-leading technology. The award was presented to Nigel Huggins, managing director of T&A (left), at NG Bailey’s inaugural supplier conference by Martin Bailey, managing director of NG Bailey.

Balfour Kilpatrick has rationalised its supply chain over the last few months, a programme that has been orchestrated by David Swinburne, the company’s supply-chain and procurement manager.

A host of big-name organisations have signed up to CIBSE’s 100 days of carbon clean-up campaign, which helps to raise awareness of simple behavioural steps and managerial initiatives that can cut carbon emissions from buildings.

Look to the back of the set in the week when the finalists for the live finals of television’s ‘The X Factor’ talent show were announced and what do you see? The answer is a backdrop formed of a 1.6 m diameter fan from Flakt Woods’ popular JM range of industrial fans.

Two staff of Inviron are escaping the depth of the British winter for a project in the Southern Hemisphere — at the Rothera Research Station in Antarctica. Asa Downing and Jason Faulkner of the building-system team at Ipswich will be carrying out the 5-yearly test and inspection of all fixed electrical systems at Rothera. They are due to return in February 2008.

Ductwork specialists and M&E contractors were presented with a rare opportunity to air their differences at a symposium on ductwork contracting in the 21st century organised jointly by ADCAS (Association of Ductwork Contractors and Suppliers) and the HVCA (Heating & Ventilating Contractors’ Association).

A review of the Standard Assessment Procedure for dwellings will take account of two years of independent study in Europe that has confirmed that underfloor heating is more efficient than radiators. Aware that the results of this study were imminent, the BRE delayed a planned revision of the SAP to take account of the findings, and the new version is expected to show underfloor heating in a new and more favourable light.

Making sustainability an everyday expectation is the theme of next year’s CIBSE and ASHRAE National Conference. Called ‘Sustainability — from niche to norm’, it will be held at the Newcastle Gateshead Hilton from 28 to 30 April. The choice of theme reflects the increasing influence on energy-efficiency factors on the building-services industry.

Fire Protection, which makes and installs Flamebar BW11 fire-resistant ductwork, has won the Fire Safety Installer of the Year award for passive-fire-protection systems at the recent Fire Industry Awards, hosted by the BBC’s Jeremy Vine.

Carrier Corporation won the Best-of-the Best Stratospheric Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency in recognition of its achievements in helping to restore the Earth’s protective ozone layer.

Krystal Racing motorcycle racer Lee Jackson, who is sponsored by Space Air, overcame a chipped ankle bone and dislocated thumb from a smash at the Bol d’Or in September to end the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Champions season in sixth place. He finished the season at Brands Hatch with two top-10 finishes to notch up 111 points for the season.

Balfour Kilpatrick has opened an office in Bristol as part of its continued expansion. The office will be managed by Steve Lea and services the south-west market.

SummitSkills is to update the National Occupational Standards for renewable technologies to ensure approved training and assessment is in place as a matter of priority.

A team from lighting-controls specialist Simmtronic and building-services clients finished in fourth place in the IRC Class 6 in the Little Britain Challenge Cup regatta at Cowes. It was one of 250 entries in the construction industry’s charity yachting event, and the 10-man crew comprised Simmtronic staff and different clients each day.

Inviron, which provides building-services and facilities-management services, has won the 2007 customer-care award of the British Institute of Facilities Management.

A specialist commercial facility is part of a new training centre of Buderus at West Thurrock in Essex. It give heating engineers, contractors and installers the opportunity to undertake hands-on training with large boilers with outputs from 40 to 400 kW. Products representing the full range of Buderus high-efficiency commercial boilers and its extensive selection of commercial control system can all be found in this centre.

The HEVAC Chilled Ceilings Association has changed its name to reflect the increasing demand for chilled-beam solutions to deliver energy-efficient comfort cooling. The Chilled Beam & Ceiling Association, part of the FETA Association, is the only trade body to represent the interests of such equipment suppliers.

Chilled-ceiling panels from SAS International provide comfort cooling in the refurbished customer-services centre of EDF Energy in Ipswich. The project included the conversion of a 2-storey outbuilding into a call centre, and the ceilings were specified as the cooling solution throughout both floors.

Natural daylight is delivered to the bathrooms and stairwells of 31 newly built Victorian-style town houses in Salford by Solatube daylighting systems. Developer Godliman-Watson Homes chose products from the Brighten Up range for this project in Albert Park Views.

Wood Energy has installed biomass boilers to provide heating for two new hospitals in Wales. A 1 MW Binder boiler has been installed at Rhondda Valley Hospital and an 850 kW Binder boiler in Ysbyty Alltwen Hospital in Porthmadog.

A north London private hospital has converted unused interior space into four additional day-care rooms, each illuminated by Solatube daylighting systems from SolaLighting and incorporating a means of reducing lighting levels as required.

Sustainable hot water for a neighbourhood centre in south-east London is being provided by an air-source heat pump supplied by Clyde Energy Solutions.

As part of the refurbishment of an office building at Hook near Basingstoke, the Greenwell building has been air conditioned using nine Toshiba heat-recovery VRF systems — enabling the building to be split into three lettable floors, that can be subdivided still further.

Multi Service Chilled Beams (MSCBs) from Trox UK were selected for Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport after rigorous analysis of the benefits. The energy-efficient MSCBs will provide the best possible levels of comfort for both passengers and staff in the main arrivals corridors. Active and passive beams are also being integrated into the ceilings in other critical areas.

To provide flexibility for the Kestrel Court business centre in Portishead, AET’s Flexible Space Concept has been integrated into the design, incorporating Hiross underfloor air-conditioning systems.

Europe’s largest luxury airport hotel and convention centre, the Sofitel at Heathrow, will make extensive use of fan-coil units from Ability Projects for its air-conditioning requirements. This 5-star hotel is connected to Terminal 5 by bridges and is a £180 million joint venture between Sofitel and Arora Hotels.

As part of an indepth refit of the Old Orleans ‘floating’ restaurant at the Lakeside retail complex in Essex, Daikin VRV air conditioning serves the bar on the lower deck and restaurant on the middle deck.

Ability Projects is supplying over 750 fan-coil units to provide air conditioning for the Colmore Plaza office complex in Birmingham. This £155 million project is being developed by Abstract Land on behalf of the Carlyle Group.

Condensing combi boilers from Ferroli are being installed as part of a major regeneration project in Salford. Developer Urban Splash is giving hundreds of Victorian terraced houses a 21st-century makeover at Chimney Pot Park, and mechanical contractor RAD Mechanical Services recommended 25 kW combi boilers from Ferroli’s SEDBUK A-rated Optimax range for the projects.

Energy-efficient equipment to provide space heating and hot water for the new timeshare development of Butlins at Minehead has been supplied by Lochinvar.

Building services throughout the UK’s largest science facility to be built for 30 years have their valve requirements met by equipment from Hattersley. The company supplied some £500 000-worth products, including check valves, strainers and commissioning sets. They were installed by Haden Young for control of all heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems and chilled-water circuits. The extensive plant room of the Diamond Light Source synchrotron project in Oxfordshire also houses 400 mm butterfly valves — some of the largest valves produced.

Air conditioning for the conversion of a 14 000 m2 office and warehouse building into a state-of-the-art business centre hosting independent light-industrial units and some larger premises is being provided by Vaillant climaVAIR units.

Sustainability was a major consideration for the recently completed Bristol Brunel Academy, part of the Building Schools for the future initiative. It was designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, with Buro Happold as consulting engineer.

Heating and hot-water services for 31 flats, offices and communal areas at Catherine Mill in Whitehaven are provided by a district-heating scheme using 36 Nexus units from MHS Boilers.

Not only has brewer and leisure retailer Adnams chosen a disused gravel pit as the site for its new distribution centre, but a wide range of environmental measures are incorporated into its construction.

The Zenex GasSaver, which recovers heat from the flue of modern condensing boilers, has been added to the list of product types recognised for the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) Rating for dwellings following tests by BRE. A new classification has been created in Appendix Q for passive flue-gas heat-recovery devices, and GasSaver is the only product listed in this section. It is intended to be used in instantaneous combi condensing boilers fuelled by mains gas.

Kamco’s Scalebreaker C230 tank-mounted pump can descale larger calorifiers, boilers, cooling towers and heating systems.

The Defensor PH15 evaporative humidifier from Axair Climate provides precise control of relative humidity and incorporates innovative filters to remove dust and odours from the air.

The Blue Box range of Datatech close-control air conditioners is available from Axair Climate in over a thousand possible configurations. these units combine high sensible cooling with precise control of temperature and humidity.

As part of its Cooling IT technology portfolio for tackling heat loads generated by blade servers in data centres, Eaton-Williams has launched a range of large data room (CRAC) units.

MHS has introduced two range of boilers that are suited to biodiesel.

Honeywell has added an HVAC drive with IP21 protection to its established IP54 models. The latest drive costs less but is equally easy to install and can be set up in 30 seconds using Honeywell’s start-up wizard.

Stiebel Eltron now offers open-outlet water storage heaters for commercial and domestic applications. They are available with capacities from 5 to 15 litres and feature Thermo-Stop and anti-drip technologies to give greater efficiency in operation and no drips.

Hertel Solutions has speeded up its work in legionella control with a digital pen system that reduces the time for information to reach clients from around a week to just two minutes. It has evolved from a pilot system devised to meet the needs of a legionella-control contract for Sandwell Metropolitan Council.

Installation times for metal flues can be reduced by up to 30% using SFL’s new Nova system.

Lochinvar and Rayotec have joined forces to offer renewable water-heating solutions for commercial and industrial applications. Lochinvar manufactures water heaters and boilers, and Rayotec is an established UK distributors for Schott solar panels.

Coolmation now offers the Rhoss Y Power scroll series of air-cooled chillers in the UK. They have cooling capacities from 368 to 523 kW and use R410A and multi-scroll compressors to achieve superior energy performance at part load.

A beam-type smoke detection system from Fire Fighting Enterprises is certified as compliant with EN54:12, CPD and LPCB standards. The F5000 incorporates the Easifit first-fix system and a visual laser alignment aid to ease installation. Once fitted, an automated, motorised beam-optimisation process ensures the infra-red beam is always adjusted for maximum efficiency and functionality.

Existing pipework for R22 or R407C refrigerant can be reused with a new installation of Toshiba Air Conditioning’s Digital Inverter 3 (DI3), the third generation of its inverter-controlled split air-conditioning systems.

Atag has added a new model to its Q Solar boiler range. This latest model has a 3-coil integrated solar cylinder for solar, domestic hot water and central heating. The coils are of stainless steel and connected via 3-way valves and programmed to supply solar, blended and full gas heating as conditions dictate.

Airedale has added a reverse-cycle heat-pump option to its StoreMaster range of packaged/split-system air-conditioning units. The dual-circuit heat pump provides heating or cooling according to the season.

To help specifiers and installers meet the requirements of Part L2 of the Building Regulations for non-domestic premises, Eaton has introduced a range of energy-metering solutions. They simplify the provision of metering for lighting, small power and other loads at the final distribution board and reduce the need to wait for factory-made specials.

Wilo’s CC-Booster switchgear is an advanced system for controlling multiple pumps in pressure-boosting sets.

JS Humidifiers has added new features to its JetSpray compressed-air and water humidifier. They include a remote user interface, easy commissioning, advanced hygiene technology and an increase in capacity from 300 to 600 l/h.

Radio-Tech has produced a remote Legionella control and monitoring system that delivers significant time and cost savings to employers. The RTcom Legion is the only system currently available to fully comply with table 3 of the Approved Code of practice (ACoP) and Guidance, Legionnaires’ Disease: the control of legionella bacteria in water systems (L8), which stipulates that temperature monitoring should be carried out once a month on all sentinel taps. RTcom Legion offers a cost-effective means of monitoring individual or multiple sites remotely using radio. Should a water system fail to satisfy the levels indicated by ACoP L8, the monitor will issue an email or text alert to notify the relevant party.

Tyco Thermal Controls has expanded its Raychem range of under-surface electric snow-melting systems with the launch of a further two new products developed for keeping exposed pedestrian and vehicular access open and safe during wintry weather. These additions are a 400 V heating cable suitable for large-area applications with a 3-phase supply available (circuit lengths up to 250 m) and an easy-to-lay power pre-terminated power mat for fast installation.

Hattersley valves are currently being installed at three of the largest construction projects in Kuwait.

PHS Waterlogic is offering an hygienic alternative to the kettle in the form of mains-fed water dispensers. Providing consistently safe, pure drinking water of the highest quality, mains fed water dispensers present facilities managers with a clean refreshment solution.

New from LG for end-user benefit is a radio-frequency remote controller and receiver kit. This allows ducted indoor air-conditioning units to be controlled through any type of ceiling — wirelessly and without the need for a receiver to be fitted inside the room.

Rapid Walkway is a versatile and economical solution to roof access problems. It provides a formal route for maintenance engineers and a safe pathway for personnel. The galvanised steel frame and anti-slip glass-fibre grid are simply bolted together and mounted on anti-vibration blocks. This spreads heavy loads on delicate roofs without penetrating the surface. The modular design enables a team of two to construct a 30 m run in under an hour. Optional safety hand rails can be easily fitted during or post installation. Rapid Walkway is delivered from stock, flat packed in 1, 2 and 3 m lengths and 90° corner sections.

Wagner UK’s OxyReduct system has been chosen to protect the British Library’s new book storage facility at Boston Spa from the risk of fire. The facility will provide storage space for seven million items from the UK national collection, which is currently expanding at a rate of 12.5 km of shelf space a year.