LG has opened its new air-conditioning academy at Slough to installers and distributors. At a recent open day, key customers were given the opportunity to view LG’s new Multi V III product range and hear about the company’s new 5-year product warranty. The Academy is equipped with working models of the Multi V III, Therma V and Eco V — as well as LG’s CAC and RAC ranges.

Evance Wind Turbines, a leading UK manufacturer of small wind turbines, has reported sales growth of over 200% for 2011 and entering 2012 with a strong forward order book for its R9000 small wind turbine. Continued strong demand has seen Evance double the size of its facility to increase manufacturing capability and increasing the workforce by 25%.

The Peel Group has announced plans over the next 20 years for further phases of MediaCityUK at Salford Quays. The group is seeking outline approval from Salford city Council for an additional 459 000 m2 of development, with the ultimate aim of creating a new town centre for Salford Quays.

In a promotion reminiscent of Roald Dahl’s ‘Charlie and the chocolate factory’, a plumber has won £2000 by finding a wining token at the bottom of a pot of LA-CO soldering flux. Glyn Butler won one of the 53 prizes in the ‘Pot of gold’ promotion on special packs of this soldering paste distributed to merchants by Brian Hyde.

Building-services contractor SES has announced two major contract wins for its York office. One is to install building services for the £10 million new Hampton by Hilton hotel in York, due to open in May 2012. The other is for a wind-turbine testing plant for Siemens at Lincoln. SES is working on a similar wind-turbine project at Blyth in Northumberland for the National Renewable Energy Centre.

Social-housing providers are installing renewable energy without a full knowledge of its potential in a ‘fit-and-forget’ approach to fuel poverty, according to a report by Dr Fin O’Flaherty and Dr James Pinder of Sheffield Hallam University. The Centre for Infrastructure Management at the university says that renewable-energy technologies such as photo-voltaic arrays, solar-thermal panels and ground-source heat pumps are increasingly being used by social-housing providers to help alleviate fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions. However, to date, it is not clear which technologies are most effective.

Bob Shelley, president of the Heating & Ventilating Contractors’ Association, has described the recently announced name change and rebranding and repositioning exercise as better indicating the diverse, sophisticated and highly complex nature of the work members now undertake. The new name, which takes effect from 1 March 2012, is the Building & Engineering Services Association — abbreviated to B&ES. The suggested pronunciation is B ’n ’ES (like fish ’n’ chips).

Sudlows has won the contract to replace electrical power plant for the primary ICT data centre of Leeds City Council. The council requires an upgrade to a Tier 2 specification to provide power redundancy for the key ICT services provided by this data centre. It is currently supported by a legacy electrical infrastructure that has evolved over time and is not concurrent with the latest standards of efficiency and technologies.

Charlie Mullins, founder and managing director of Pimlico Plumbers and star of TV’s ‘Secret millionaire’ has backed calls from the UK radiators industry for a zero-tolerance approach to manufacturers which provide misleading information on the power of their products. He believes the plumbing industry has to be able to have confidence in the products being installed in customers’ premises, especially in terms of efficiency. His company employs over 150 plumbers and heating engineers and is a leading campaigner for improving quality and levels of customer service in the plumbing industry — including eradicating cowboy tradesmen.

To mark the significance of the largest installation anywhere in the world of Rehau’s Awadukt Thermo ground-to-air heat-exchange system to provide a renewable source of controlled cooling and ventilation, the company has created an award for the school where it is installed. The first winner of the award at the recently opened Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, was Jack Bedford, the current head boy and environmental champion .

Sustainable-energy group Ener-G has opened its new R&D centre in Salford. Group chairman Tim Scott (pictured) opened the centre, which is next to the company’s global headquarters. He said, ‘We are investing more than £1 million a year in research and development to ensure that Ener-G continues to be a global leader in clean technology — producing innovative world-class products that reduce cost and carbon.’

Graham Manly, business-development director with Gratte Brothers and a former president of the Heating & Ventilating Contractors’ Association and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List. He is a fellow of CIBSE.

Weatherite Building Services has completed its first project for Leeds City Council with the refurbishment of the Kitchen at Hawkesworth Wood Primary School in Leeds. Central to the upgrade was the installation of a highly efficient kitchen ventilation system. To further improve the working environment and reduce energy use, WBS also provided a tempered air supply to the kitchen.

The National Trust’s largest solar PV array at the Grade 1 listed Llanerchaeron property in Wales was completed before the 12 December deadline when reductions in the Feed-in Tariff came into effect. Installed by Dulas the arrange has an output of 37.5 kW. Combined with the existing 7.5 kW array, the overall system should generate up to half the electricity the house requires.

Engineering and environmental consultancy Hilson Moran has become independent following a management buyout. The firm won the NCE/ACE medium consultant of the year in 2011 and achieved a growth in turnover of over 20% last year. It employs over 200 staff. The MBO has been funded with the assistance of Albion Ventures, a major private-equity business.

What is believed to be the first community based renewable-energy project at an NHS site is expected to deliver over 8 MWh of Solar PV electricity a year. The installation at Stratford-upon-Avon comprises 52 panels and was installed by Eco2Solar. This 10 kW scheme was put together by local energy co-operative Community Energy Warwickshire and South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Stratford and Warwick Hospitals.

Inviron has won the contract to maintain most of the General Medical Council’s buildings in the UK. The GMC is the independent regulator for doctors in the UK, and the contract involves M&E and building-fabric maintenance for two buildings in Manchester and one each in Belfast, Edinburgh and London.

Amtech, which develops end-to-end software solutions for the building-services industry, is launching a free contractor directory. It will be a valuable tool offering HVAC, electrical and plumbing contractors greater exposure and helping them to win more work.

During 2012 Grundfos is offering a range of training opportunities focused at various professionals working with industry, commercial applications and water and wastewater areas. Courses are available at various locations around the country, depending on content and the need for demonstration products. Training days are free of charge.

An advanced system for smoke and heat exhaust ventilation developed by SE Controls has received full Registered Detail Certification from Local Authority Building Control following a detailed and extensive performance evaluation process. The SHEVTEC Extended Travel Distance System provides an off-the-shelf solution for developers to deliver extended travel distances with a single escape staircase while avoiding the expense of CFD modelling. The system enables the size of smoke shafts to be less than half the 1.5 m2 required by natural-ventilation system complying with Approved Document B.

Legrand’s power-distribution division has been granted accreditation for two new CPD courses focused on the busbar versus cable debate and a guide for specifying medium-voltage transformers. The courses can be delivered at Legrand’s customer training centre in Birmingham or taken directly to a client.

Metstrut, the cable-management division of Metsec, has been selected as a preferred supplier by Balfour Beatty Engineering Services. The Balfour Beatty group-wide initiative has created a framework to achieve environmental and operational benefits in three key areas: health and safety (zero harm); increased use of standardised components and off-site assembly; the building of competencies through the early influence and control of the procurement process.

HVCA, the Heating & Ventilating Contractors’ Association, is adopting a new name at the beginning of March. Its membership has voted overwhelmingly to change the name to the Building & Engineering Services Association. The decision was reached at a special general meeting following a major consultation across the membership and achieved over 90% support.

JCA Maintenance has secured a new contract with James Andrew RSW at the prestigious Beaufort House building in the City of London. Beaufort House comprises several blue-chip businesses and requires high standards of service and maintenance.

SAV Systems has marked the completion of its low-carbon technology centre at Woking, in a building formerly occupied by McLaren Racing, with a major open day that included interactive workshops and CPD seminars. The facility was described by managing director Lars Fabricius to some 80 visitors as ‘a single big test laboratory and facility that is visitor friendly’.

EMCOR Group has added to its 12-year relationship with British American Tobacco with a 3-year extension to its longstanding facilities-management contract which started in 1999. The latest contract includes providing integrated facilities-management and engineering services at BAT’s 18 200 m2 global headquarters next to the River Thames in London, which accommodates 1200 staff.

Despite concerns about the high global-warming potential of HFCs, a report by the United Nations Environment Programme has warned that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ refrigerant solution. The report expresses concern that the high GWP of HFCs that have been the replacement of choice for ozone-depleting substances may offset the significant benefits achieved by the Montreal Protocol.

Wessex Building Services has been awarded the £1.1 million M&E contract for the £7.5 million overhaul of Newland Primary School in Southampton. The contract was awarded by Mansell Construction. Work is due to begin in February for completion in November.

The 12 December deadline for the feed-in tariff for domestic solar PV installation dropping from 43.3 to 21 p/kWh saw a huge surge in activity for Eco2Solar. During the 6-week notice of the cut, the company installed 200 systems, compared with the normal rate of about 50 a month. These installations, and commercial projects completed during the period, accounted for over 3000 panels capable of producing 700 kW.

This new state-of-the-art training centre of LG at Slough is a key part of the company’s major new initiative in its UK air-conditioning business. At the same time, LG has significantly extended its product warranty and announced comprehensive packages for technical service, spares and support. LG has also introduced three new products (Multi V III, Multi V Water and Multi V Space), which address all aspects of cooling, space heating and hot-water provision.

As expected, the Renewable Heat Incentive for large biomass installations was sharply reduced when the scheme opened to applicants after a delay to resolve its compatibility with EU state-aid rules. The new rate for large biomass of 1 MWh and above is 1 p/kWh, compared with 2.6 p/kWh previously. There was an increase in the rate for smaller commercial biomass of less than 1 MW and also for small and large ground-source commercial heat pumps.

AECB, the sustainable building association, has called on the Government to stop wasting £billions on a ‘green-energy’ strategy that delivers neither value for money nor energy security. The association’s advice is that the Government should focus on the cheap and, even, free green alternatives that are being ignored or sidelined. The association has challenged the Government and the energy industry to show the value for money behind the ‘electricity generation first’ vision for a low-carbon future and to assess other options on a level playing field.

Amtech, which specialises in developing software for the building-services industry, has brought together all its software and services under a single new brand. The new brand includes familiar names from the industry — including Luckins, Estimation, National Engineering Specification (Nes) and Amtech Power Software.

Two academy contracts worth £8 million have been won by Kershaw Mechanical Services. One is for All Saints Academy in Dunstable and is worth £3 million. The other is for Bedford Academy (pictured) and is worth £5 million. Both academies will replace existing buildings and are designed around a central hub providing a circular reception atrium.

Tuffin Ferraby Taylor (TFT) an independent property and construction consultant has launched a new division offering M&E consultancy advice across the UK. Called TFT M+E Consultancy, it has a national reach, working with all six of TFT’s regional teams in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff and Manchester. The new division is headed by Fergal Rogers, who has been appointed specifically to lead the M&E team.

SummitSkills has declared that its vital work of improving skills and safeguarding standards in building-services engineering will continue — despite not having secured funding from the Employer Investment Fund (EIF). From April 2012, sectors skills councils such as SummitSkills will no longer receive Government funds which, with subscriptions from trade associations, has funded their work in the past. The EIF fund is one of the mechanisms the Government is using to change the way that sector skills councils are funded, and a number of them have missed out on funding.

Ant Wilson has been named to AECOM’s fellowship programme, which celebrates the company’s most senior thought leaders who have demonstrated a lifetime of industry advancement and technical success with the company. He is director for building engineering in Europe and has over 35 years’ experience in the industry and has dedicated his career to sustainable design.

Balfour Beatty Engineering Services has secured a contract to create a sustainable new landmark building at the University of Nottingham. The 2500 m2 Energy Technologies Building is designed for continuing and developing the university’s world-leading energy research. The £6.4 million facility designed by architects Maber will be an exemplar of low-carbon technology by minimising its demands for heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation from non-sustainable sources.

Delron Services has become the first company to gain microgeneration certification through BESCA’s arrangement with NICEIC’s Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). BESCA’s chief executive Bruce Kirton (left) presented the certificate to Martin Burton, senior project manager with Delron.

Jasun Envirocare’s Grade 9 rigid flow air filter has been given an A rating in a test commissioned by Eurovent as part of its certification scheme. The test was carried out by the Swedish test house SP Energy.

Better Blind Company, which specialises in automated solar-shading solutions, is now a member of the KNX UK Association. Operating in all areas of the UK, Better Blind Company places particular emphasis on automation and, specifically, integration with KNX building-automation technologies.

Shenton Group has introduced a nationwide service for its air-conditioning customers. Coolcare24 is an all-inclusive service package supported and delivered through the group’s Celtaire air-conditioning brand. Co-ordinated from Shenton Group’s headquarters in Andover, a Coolcare24 annual contract includes on-site servicing and maintenance of split air-conditioning systems. An integral part of the service is 24/7 emergency call out, with a 4-hour guaranteed response time.

Micronics, a UK manufacturer of clamp-on, ultrasonic flow-metering products for portable and fixed applications has been assessed and recognised by CIBSE as a CPD (Continuous Professional Development) course provider. There is significant potential for the greater use of clamp-on, ultrasonic flow measurement in the building-services sector for new and refurbishment projects to achieve cost and operational benefits.

HRP has added heat-pump courses to its range of training options. These City & Guilds courses are Level 3 awards for qualified air-conditioning engineers, heating engineers and plumbers, installers and designers who want to build their businesses by expanding their expertise into the developing renewable industry.