Somfy Limited is the latest major manufacturer to become a member of KNX UK, the Association representing manufacturers, systems integrators, distributors, users and training establishments for KNX technology in the United Kingdom.

Hager is doing its bit to help more than 200 budding local electrical installers by sponsoring a new electrical test centre at Telford College of Art and Technology. The company will provide free electrical equipment to build Inspection and Testing training boards for students to work on.

John Hunt, formerly of Axima Building Services, and Stuart Lyon of MITIE Engineering Services (Scotland) have received HVCA Outstanding Service Awards.

A semiconductor manufacturer in Plymouth, UK is saving over £30,000 a year in energy costs, since installing six, 37 kW ABB HVAC drives on its three cooling towers. The £15,000 installation is set to give a payback in only six months. The drives were installed by the local ABB HVAC partner, Drive Control.

In the current economic climate, businesses have a greater incentive than ever before to save costs.

People in Europe spend around 90% of their time inside and that makes high indoor air quality (IAQ) critical to their health and wellbeing. Good IAQ and effective air distribution are intrinsically linked and that is why it is no use having one without the other.

High efficiency boilers and chillers and other plant; 60% to 70% heat recovery on air plant; a façade combination of high performance double glazed units and triple skin external ventilation; and automatic solar blinds  will all contribute to optimum energy usage and a consequent emissions rating designed to exceed Part L by more than 20%.

Student life is not what it used to be. Hand written essays and piles of books are a thing of the past, replaced in a world where laptops can produce neat word-processed documents and provide endless research resources. And it is not only aids to academic success that students bring along with them when they arrive on campus. The array of mobile phones, MP3 players, hair straighteners and espresso machines that are unpacked at student residences up and down the country each October mean that university accommodation has to be high spec to cater for the needs of its decidedly 21^st century student population.

The clock is ticking with the Government having set clear targets for buildings to become carbon neutral. New homes and new schools face a 2016 deadline, public sector non-dwellings need to become zero carbon by 2018 and other non-dwellings need to comply by 2019. However, despite these targets, the uptake of renewables and microgeneration is still slow with contractors and consultants failing to embrace the technology.

The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) has opened a new regional branch in North Wales to service impressive growth in membership figures of more than 50% in the last five years. The new branch opens in early 2009 and will be chaired by Andy Basham of Bangor-based, Owen & Palmer.

Grundfos Pumps has acquired Yeomans Chicago Corporation (YCC) who specialise in wastewater pumps.  The company has been in business since 1898 and market products under the brand names of Yeomans Pumps, Chicago Pumps and Morris Pumps. 

While the majority of property professionals requiring commercial energy certificates are concerned with sourcing a low cost standard certificate, a growing number are asking for full surveys with the intention of implementing some or all of the accompanying recommendations, according to the results of a recent survey.

The research undertaken by SummitSkills as part of the recent Sector Skills Agreement has revealed a general reluctance to engage in the renewables market throughout the building engineering services (BSE) industries.  The sector could clearly do more to meet the needs of the environment.  However, a large number of companies appear to be waiting for market stimulation before investing precious resources to develop their skills base and explore the business opportunities that renewable technologies offer.

With the world's continuing focus on reducing climate change and dependence on diminishing natural resources, there is an increasing amount of responsibility on the construction industry to focus upon sustainable solutions. For any project, the objective should be on creating a better world in which to work and live whilst simultaneously protecting the environment for all.

The emergence of Energy Performance and Display Energy Certificates (EPCs and DECs) plus the new requirement for mandatory air conditioning inspections will have a positive impact on VRF air conditioning in the UK, according to experts.

Chris Ingram is the new Chairman of the Underfloor Heating Manufacturers Association (UHMA).

TAC has appointed Dave Berardi as Managing Director of the UK and Ireland team. Dave brings with him over 25 years of industry experience, with 20 of those years spent working within the TAC family of companies.

Hot on the heels of BEAMA's own Climate Change White Paper (October 2008), the Government's Climate Change Committee (CCC, chaired by Lord Adair Turner) has published its report on Climate Change (December 2008).

For those installers required to move from the 16^th to the 17^th Edition wiring regulations, Logic Certification has launched a Part P update course, available for holders of the Logic Certification Part P defined or full scope certificate. The course is designed to help operatives meet the requirements of the competent person scheme, which stipulates that by the end of 2010 all operatives must hold the 17^th Edition version of the qualification.

The eagerly awaited Energy and carbon emissions regulation: a guide to implementation (EPBR) has been published by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Royal Philips Electronics has welcomed the decision made by the European Union to phase-out incandescent light bulbs in the EU by 2012. This decision is in line with Philips' call for action to accelerate the switch over to energy efficient lighting solutions in view of climate change.

The launch of a new independent training provider in North Tyneside looks set to give a major boost to those seeking industry specific training and apprenticeships in the region.

Injuries and fatalities to electricians caused by touching live electrical conductors have been a frequent occurrence since electricity was first utilised. However these incidents can be easily avoided with just a few common sense procedures.

Bill Gabbott has been appointed Managing Director of Upower Systems Ltd and Mark Rostron has been promoted to Sales & Marketing Director.  Both Bill and Mark have between them over 50 years experience within the electrical industry and have spent the last three years building up the Upower brand name.

A new publication offering a comprehensive outline of building energy benchmarks is now available from The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

With a mission to bring about a significant reduction in the UK's carbon footprint, PURE the Clean Planet Trust - the UK's leading offset charity - has established an exciting new partnership with BRE. The partnership will focus on encouraging the adoption of better carbon management practices for the business community and individuals and aims to establish UK based offset projects that will help the UK reach its 2050 80% carbon reduction target.

Last month we looked at the pressures bearing down on the construction and building services industry. We concluded that, after a period of almost meteoric growth, the new realities required a fresh approach to technology and that most challenging of resources - the human factor and skills.

Colt International has provided a complete smoke control solution as part of a general upgrade at Westfield Shopping Centre in Derby. The project required a great deal of versatility due to the demanding layout of the building and necessity for Colt to refurbish the system while the shopping centre remained open for business.

Project manager's hurleypalmerflatt recently completed the upgrade of the Financial Services Authority's (FSA) 30,000m² office accommodation, known as RightSpace, at its Canary Wharf headquarters. 

Vaillant has supplied a four cassette, two performance wall-mount and one pro wall-mount air conditioning system for design agency RJ Design in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Jason Allen of Vaillant specified the design, while Mansfield Cooling Services installed the equipment, providing a total cooling output of 42kW.

Around 70 MWS-3DD Direct Dim microwave detection and dimming sensors from CP Electronics are reducing lighting energy costs at the new John Lewis Distribution Centre in Milton Keynes.

Pyrotenax mineral-insulated (Pyro MI) cables have been employed at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh in a programme of interior works which included the installation of new interior lighting, bespoke chandeliers and a fire detection system. Specified by the consultant Arup and installed by FES Ltd of Stirling, the light duty and heavy duty MI cables have been supplied through the Edinburgh branch of Ross Electrical in a sandstone colour, sympathetic to the fabric of the building.

A Potterton Commercial Eurocondense two boiler has been installed to provide energy-efficient heating at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, during a refurbishment of the Guest Hall, which is the castle's premier banqueting suite.

The change from the existing HID lamps to Megaman's 200W Clusterlites at Gatwick Airport's North Terminal, has helped to significantly reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs.  Gatwick is the busiest single-runway airport in the world, the second largest airport in the UK and the tenth busiest international airport in the world. Its development strategy for the future focuses on the airport's expansion as a single-runway, two-terminal airport, as it aims to handle around 40 million passengers a year by 2010/2011.

Attracting some of the most influential names in the building controls industry, over 200 professionals will attend this glittering evening of networking and celebration, so why not join us for a great night of business and entertainment as the whole industry gathers together to mark the achievements of both companies and individuals.

Vent-Axia is a name that is already well known in the ventilation market, but the constant changes to both the market and the building regulations mean that they are adopting a different approach. I spoke to Managing Director Ronnie George to find out more about their plans for 2009.

With most commentators backing the idea of the Government spending more to stimulate the economy there is much talk of bringing forward public sector capital projects.

Redring's Selectronic thermostatically controlled instantaneous electric showers are claimed to be one of the safest showers available.  Having achieved the new and additional safety standards necessary for use in care establishments and for less able users, Selectronic is the ideal product for domestic, commercial or institutional use. 

The Duo Maxi IP65 bi-directional wall light from Ansell Lighting has been introduced to provide the lighting market with a high quality amenity luminaire that is designed to project light simultaneously, in equal amounts, for both direct and indirect directions and as such is able to enhance a project's architectural design features.

Hamilton Litestat's new slimline Linea CFX Collection has incorporated a new range of trailing edge push on/off resistive dimmers to provide the market with enhanced performance.

The new MWS7 long range aisle sensor from CP Electronics provides precise, reliable, occupancy-based control of lighting in areas such as warehouse aisles, where other sensors are prone to false triggering. It also incorporates an integral photocell for combined occupancy/lux level control.

Riegens Lighting has launched Ambit, a continuous lighting solution for pelmets that combines flexibility with shadow free performance.   Designed with a simple plug and play system, Ambit includes overlapping lamps to ensure there are no visible dark spots on continuous run projects whilst ensuring fast installation time.

Finder has announced new additions to its 19 Series of 35mm DIN rail modules, adding override and status monitoring modules to the series.

A new type of indoor heating sensor has been launched by Radiant Control Limited.  The Kanmor 084e discreet sensor is the first to be designed to push into plaster or plasterboard in a unique way that means it can be completely hidden from view.

The new Sky Vector in-ceiling warm air heater from Sabiana comes with a fresh air option to meet the new ventilation requirements for schools.

Eagerly anticipated by commercial lighting consultants, Ridi has launched its new managed emergency lighting system, ControlE. 

BSS Industrial has launched BOSS Supastor - a range of cylinders designed to generate and store hot water for the domestic and commercial market place.

Marking a huge step forward for digital lighting technology, Helvar, is launching the 920 Router.  The 920 seamlessly integrates commercial and architectural lighting systems and resolves the problems faced by lighting designers looking to combine energy efficient lighting design with striking displays of powerful scene-setting capability.

The task of producing new specifications for human-safe clean-agent fire protection systems, made necessary by the introduction of BS EN 15004 in place of ISO 14520 as the current British Standard, need be neither time consuming nor difficult if the latest version of the FP SpecWriter software package from Siemens Building Technologies, Fire Safety, is used.

UPS specialist, AEC UK, has launched the T6 Compact⁺; a true on-line double conversion UPS that has been specially engineered to offer performance, compactness and reliability for critical applications.  Available in power ratings of 10kVA to 30kVA in three to single phase and 10kVA to 40kVA in three to three phase, the T6 Compact⁺ is lightweight for easy manoeuvrability, has convenient access for cable and battery installation and with noise levels of just 60dBA at one metre, can be conveniently located in computer rooms. 

Danlers Limited manufacture a comprehensive range of passive infra-red occupancy switches for automatic lighting control. The products are easy to install, using the existing wiring in a building.

The introduction of the new Daikin RWEYQ-P water cooled heat pump and heat recovery VRVIII extends the third generation of this highly efficient and advanced technology. New features include an individual heating and cooling changeover facility on the heat recovery option and the highest COP (6) and EER (5) ratings in the current market. A new 8HP model complements the existing 10HP model, allowing a greater range of system combinations. In addition, a further new model, designated RWEYQ-PR, is designed for application to geothermal energy projects. 

Growth of the convenience store sector has created new demand for high performance and cost competitive refrigeration solutions. Searle Manufacturing Company has tailored its new ME range of air cooled condensers specifically to this need, producing robust, compact outdoor units to support in-store display cabinets for chilled food and drinks. The latest addition to Searle's line-up of solutions for the retail sector and food industry, the Eurovent certified ME range, offers a wide choice of component specifications and fan speeds, enabling the design engineer to achieve the best possible match of condenser and system.

The new AMP-TWIST 7AS SL connector from the AMP Netconnect Business Unit of Tyco Electronics combines ease of installation with a high-density SlimLine (SL) style, and has been designed to offer premium performance well above the Category 7A Class FA frequency limit of 1000 MHz.

Operators of high-ceilinged distribution and storage facilities can now take advantage of energy and cost-saving lighting control from Ex-Or, the Honeywell owned lighting management specialist.

Pioneering Daikin VRV climate control technology for commercial buildings is extended with the introduction of new and upgraded VRVIII models with higher COP/EER ratings for both heat pump and heat recovery ranges.

New from LG are new models in its Art Cool Mirror range which include all of the LG advanced features as standard.  The new additions allow for digital air flow control to ensure maximum comfort.

Cool in summer and warm in winter, Xpelair's Digitemp climate control unit delivers.  Designed for domestic and commercial use, Digitemp provides all year round climate control.

Xpelair is introducing the CarbonLite range of innovatively designed fans which have a long working life and low energy use.

New from Creda is the wide range of TPRIII mechanical thermostat, electric panel heaters which offer a compact and versatile choice of panels with contoured styling and a variety of control options.

Bitzer has extended its product range in the low-temperature sector with the new semi-hermetic screw compressor HSN8591 as part of the HSN85 series. 

Steinel's new FRS-20-light combines sensor technology and low energy lamps in a slim, aesthetically pleasing design to provide a whole host of advantages for professional electricians and consumers alike.

Hager has launched a yearly time switch that offers a simple way of saving energy through the distribution board and is easy to install and programme.  Each timer can control up to four circuits, which might include lighting, heating and/or ventilation.

Thorn's new Voyager LED range enables designers to specify emergency lighting that is more aesthetically pleasing, consumes less power and requires smaller power supplies. There are three options (Route, Area and Spot) available in white or silver with a choice of recessed or surface mounted styles. All use single, high performance 2.7W LEDs and sophisticated optics to give better light control than traditional fluorescent-based systems. The fittings can thus be spaced more widely with consequent savings in installation and running costs.

Fluke has introduced the new Fluke 1650B Series of multifunction Installation Testers to test and verify domestic, commercial and industrial electrical installations - the 1651B, 1652B and 1653B models. The 1650B Series builds on the rugged performance of the earlier 1650 Series, but it has been redesigned to make testing even more productive. The testers ensure that fixed wiring is safe and correctly installed to meet the latest BS7671 17^th Edition wiring regulations as well as IEC 60364 and HD 384.

New from Jaga for 2009 are two products inspired by traditional column radiators that have been given an added contemporary twist. The Jaga Pinch has soft, sculpted curved ribs that make it suitable for the hippest hotel, office or home, while the Jaga Twine has a cool authenticity to ensure that it complements and enhances any setting be it traditional or modern.

Zucchini have added a new Lighting Busbar to their 25A to 40A range of power distribution systems for use in major lighting installation projects.  Designed specifically for suspending and powering light fittings, the new Zucchini LB is extremely fast to install and provides total flexibility during planning, installation and subsequent maintenance of lighting equipment.

CIELOS LED, from Zumtobel, is unique in its ability to display logos, animations or movies onto a luminaire plane, which acts like a giant TV screen. The CIELOS modular ceiling and wall lighting system is also designed to change colour on demand over the course of the day, essentially mimicking real daylight experiences and adding an extra emotional and biological component to lighting solutions. 

The newly launched AMTECH2009 comprises upgraded and enhanced versions of FastTest, FastTest Domestic and FastTest Mobile, ProDesign and ProDesign Domestic and SingleCable software from Amtech Power Software. Many of these new features have been introduced in response to requests from customers.

Extreme2009 is Estimation's most powerful software release yet, with a host of major enhancements, productivity benefits and advanced contract and financial management tools in Estimating, Job Costing and Accounts packages.

The new LST (low surface temperature) version of Dunham-Bush's popular Series AM fan convector ensures that surface temperatures do not exceed 43°C - satisfying  the growing requirement for fan convector casings and grille temperatures to be safe.

Now in its 3rd successful year, H&V09 has become the major UK heating and ventilating event within the industry's calendar. Taking place at the NEC in Birmingham on 24-26 February 2009, H&V09 will provide a first-class showcase for all that's new in the sector.

Andrews Water Heaters and Potterton Commercial, part of the Baxi Group, will be showing recent additions to their ranges alongside already well established and popular hot water and heating appliances together with a selection of LZC solutions.

Visitors to the Parasense stand will find energy monitoring solutions such as the ERM utility and sub-metering monitor and the LRM lighting controller that have been shown to bring energy savings of between 30% and 50%.

From heat pumps and solar thermal to air curtains and unvented cylinders, Dimplex has over 400 ideas for energy efficient space and water heating solutions and will be showing a selection of them on their stand.

Emerson Network Power has a significant presence at RAC09 with its Precision Cooling, UPS Power, UPS Distributed Products Group, Monitoring and Service divisions all represented on the stand. This global leader in business-critical continuity is exhibiting its Adaptive Architecture integrated solution for high heat density continuous process data centres. This supports Emerson Network Power's Energy Logic approach to data centre energy optimisation and demonstrates its commitment to meet the challenge of achieving the green data centre.

HygroMatik is launching its HDS system at RAC09 which is ideal for new and refurbishing existing airhandling systems, and offers the very latest in energy efficient and hygienic AHU humidification.

Lochinvar will be using H&V09 to launch their CHP unit, the latest addition to the Renewables product range.

LG's stand at RAC 2009 will be stacked with new products from its Multi V II range of VRF products and the very latest in the renowned Art Cool range of indoor units.

Bitzer UK will be highlighting a number of innovative products at the 2009 RAC Exhibition including the energy saving Ecostar air-cooled condensing unit, compressors for the fast growing CO2 market and the Gemini twin condensing unit.

EcoCooling is Europe's leading manufacturer and distributor of evaporative coolers, a traditional concept which provides cool fresh air by using the process of evaporation to cool the air as an alternative to using refrigeration.

Sanyo will use RAC09 as the UK launch pad for a ground-breaking new carbon dioxide-based heat pump system, which the company believes will transform the heating industry and open up an unprecedented new business opportunity for the ACR trade.

Viessmann can offer a number of cost effective energy solutions in the domestic, commercial and renewable market sectors.