The potential to provide low-carbon heating through district heating networks is a “game changer” for the economics of small modular reactors, the Energy Technologies Institute has told Utility Week. By using the two in combination, the revenues from small modular reactors (SMRs) could increase by between 40 and 60 per cent. The ETI has calculated that SMRs could make as much money from selling heat as they could from selling power, according to its strategy manager for nuclear Mike Middleton.  As optimising the reactors for the generation of combined heat and power would lead to a 20 to 30 per cent reduction in electrical output, this would translate to a 40 to 60 per cent increase in overall revenues when compared to reactors only generating electricity. Larger nuclear plants have already been connected to district heating networks, although not many of them. “You only have to look to somewhere the Besnau nuclear power plant in Switzerland where they do exactly this, and they’ve done it for decades,” said Middleton. “Their Refuna district heating system goes out into the countryside for tens of kilometres delivering heat supply to homes energised with nuclear power.” However, larger plants are not ideally suited to district heating. They are typically sited relatively far away from major population centres, and even if they were sited nearer “there are relatively few places in the UK that have a got a heat demand big enough to eat the thermal output from a [European Pressurised Reactor]” – the type which is planned for Hinkley. “[SMRs] have got a more flexible approach to siting,” Middleton added.  “I’m not talking about putting them in cities. I’m talking about even with the existing siting criteria, you can find sites to put SMRs where you can’t put big plants. “Their thermal output is such that they’re a much better match for the amount of heat that will be required by city-scale district heating systems.” Public perceptions of nuclear will be one of the biggest barriers to using SMRs for district heating, according Tony Roulstone from the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge. “I think that the public’s not ready for it yet,” he told Utility Week. “It’s quite a hill to get over.” Earlier this month the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy accidentally published for a few hours the list of eligible participants for the first phase of its competition to find the “best value SMR design for the UK”.  A roadmap for the development of SMRs is due to published by the government once the first phase is complete.  Source link

Shadow energy minister Alan Whitehead has backed plans for National Grid to continue in its current role as system operator (SO), as long as the company can achieve more separation from the rest of its activities. Shadow energy minister Alan Whitehead Speaking to Utility Week, Whitehead said: “An SO that was National Grid would be a very good thing providing it actually operates properly as a system operator and sorts out a number of its potential contradictions.” Whitehead said it is important for the “longer term” for the UK to have a “much better clearly defined SO that actually stands back from a number of those other process.” It was reported earlier this year that ministers are looking at the possibility of stripping National Grid of its SO role in favour of an entirely independent body. Currently there are a number of potential conflicts between National Grid’s activities and its SO role, such as its role in the development of interconnectors, which some have said compromises its ability to act in the nation’s best interest. However Whitehead said National Grid has acted in the best interest of the nation “when perhaps other people weren’t”. “Actually I think National Grid has done a pretty good job and has done a lot of innovative work sometimes despite the best efforts of government to do the opposite in looking at how the systems going to work in the future and what its requirements are. “For example the private work grid did on strategic balancing reserve and contingency reserve at a time when government was just messing things up in terms of bringing the capacity market.” National Grid is currently working with Decc and Ofgem to create greater separation of the SO role from its other businesses. Ofgem said the regulator can manage any potential conflicts of interest “at the minute” but its desire to give the SO a bigger role in evaluating onshore tenders means greater separation will be necessary going forwards. Source link

Savills and Parkinson Chartered Surveyors & Property Consultants have been instructed by a private landlord as joint letting agents at No.1 Smithy Court, an office building at Pemberton Business Park in Wigan. The three storey property offers 25,500 sq ft (2,369 sq m) of high quality business accommodation which is available from small suites of  2,000 sq ft (185 sq m) to combinations of floors totalling up to 12,600 sq ft (1,176 sq m).  No. 1 Smithy Court is located close to Junction 25 of the M6 motorway and would benefit from the future development of the proposed M58 link road, providing easy access to the M58 and M6. Daniel Barnes, associate in the office agency team at Savills, comments: “With flexible office space, an attractive landscaped environment and excellent connectivity, No.1 Smithy Court would be well suited to a wide range of local and national corporate occupiers.” Quoting rents at the property are £10.00 per sq ft (£108 per sq m). Source link

We have been consistently impressed by YOPA, whose technological edge, dedication to transparency and focus on the client at the heart of the sales process all resonate strongly with our core values and the way we do business.. News has broken today that Savills, one of the largest high street estate agency firms, has acquired a minority stake in hybrid estate agency YOPA after participating in a £16m fundraising round. Although it is not yet clear as to the size of the acquisition, Savills now join Connells in the foray into digital disruption by the incumbency. YOPA was founded in 2014 and has since developed its technology-led business model, which was launched in hybrid form in January 2016. It comprises digital technology to link the activities of sellers, buyers and YOPA’s own franchised local property agents, who are further supported by a dedicated customer service centre. Jeremy Helsby, Group Chief Executive of Savills, said: “We have followed the rapid advance of the online ‘hybrid’ estate agency model over the last year. This investment broadens the Group’s access to the UK residential sector by enabling us to take an interest in the high volume segment of the market, comprising over 1 million transactions annually, to which Savills has had little exposure to date. We have been consistently impressed by YOPA, whose technological edge, dedication to transparency and focus on the client at the heart of the sales process all resonate strongly with our core values and the way we do business.” Russell Quirk, founder and CEO of eMoov.co.uk, commented: “Today’s news is great for the hybrid sector and particularly the larger players like eMoov.co.uk. The alternative, better value, better service proposition offered by the likes of eMoov and other hybrid players has been gaining traction and credibility at a significant rate. When a long-standing incumbent like Savills wakes up to the realisation that they must invest in such a disruptive proposition in order to prevent themselves from becoming obsolete, despite it being the antithesis of all they stand for in terms of high fees, then you know that the inflection point is on the horizon. It also demonstrates that homeowners themselves support this new method of selling and the more consumer-friendly proposition it offers, although this is hardly surprising. You only have to look at the scale of growth in the sector to see why Savills have sat up and taken notice. I predict that the hybrid sector will account for at least 20% of all estate agency transactions by 2020, an increase from 5% currently. eMoov alone are now 130% bigger than this time last year and with a tech platform and a team that is leading the space. The future of the consumer property industry is set.” Source link

The sentences followed a case brought by the Crown Prosecution Service after incidents which occured in January 2014. C Smith and Sons had won a contract to demolish the Harvey’s and Carpetright buildings in Heaton Norris, Stockport in 2014. It subcontracted the job of dismantling the roof of the building to Allan Thompson’s company, Building and Dismantling Contractors Ltd, which was based in Scotland. It was originally planned that plant machinery would be used to remotely bring down the structure, however a decision was taken by Michael Smith, owner of C Smith and Sons, that the building be dismantled piece by piece instead. This meant workers were required to work at height to remove the roof sheets prior to the structure being unbolted. On 15 January 2014, four men employed by Building and Dismantling Contractors Ltd travelled to Stockport to carry out the work. The roof of the building was made up of steel corrugated sheets with interspersed plastic skylights, which had deteriorated and subsequently been covered with corrugated steel sheets in a bid to repair the damage. On 20 January 2014, 42-year-old Scott Harrower accidentally stepped through a skylight and nearly fell 30 feet to the concrete floor below. Although he prevented himself from falling in a near miss, the group returned to the site to continue work the next day. At just after 9am on Tuesday 21 January 2014, a 47-year-old man fell through a skylight, fracturing his spine, pelvis, right leg, heel and wrist. Ambulance and police attended, but the incident was deemed to be an accident and after advising on the company’s obligations to inform the HSE, officers left the scene. The men were ordered to return to the roof just hours later and at 4pm Mr Harrower fell through a skylight to the concrete below. He suffered catastrophic head injuries and died as a result. Allan Thompson, 49, of Woodburn Crescent, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, was jailed for six years after he was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter. Both Mr Thomson and Building and Dismantling Contractors Ltd were found guilty of offences under Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act and for breaching regulations 4 and 7 of the Work at Height Regulations at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square, on 3 February 2016. On Friday last week, Thompson was jailed was six years, fined £400,000 and was ordered to pay £55,000 court costs. Michael Smith, 52, of Lightowlers Lane, Rochdale and C Smith and Sons (Rochdale) Ltd, were found guilty of offences under Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act and for breaching both the CDM Regulations and Work at Height Regulations. Smith was jailed for eight months, fined £90,000 and ordered to pay £45,000 court costs. Detective chief inspector Richard Eales said: “First and foremost, our condolences go to the families of Scott and his colleague, who were the victims of both companies’ criminal negligence and who died in tragically preventable circumstances. “It is clear from the evidence that both Smith and Thomson saw an opportunity to make a quick profit without any thought for the workers they sent on to the roof, and as a direct result of that greed Scott died and another man suffered life-changing injuries. “Smith and Thomson’s remorse did not then stretch to admitting their guilt, as both tried to hide behind their companies and refused to plead guilty to the charges levelled against them personally. “Thankfully, the jury saw through their attempts and both now can face justice for the decisions that they made, decisions that have robbed one family of a loving partner, father, and son, and another of a man’s ability to live a life untainted by severe physical injury.” Scott Harrower’s mother Irene added: “Scott was a nice guy who didn’t deserve to go in such tragic circumstances.  He will be missed everyday by his whole family”. Scott’s partner Jane and his two children, Justin and Robyn, said: “The last two years have been devastating, for us knowing that Scott’s death could have been prevented is unforgivable.   “The effect it has had on us as, especially his two children, is not something that any family should have to go through. “Scott is and always will be greatly missed by us all.” HSE inspector Sandra Tomlinson, said: “Falls from height, and in particular falls involving fragile roofs, are one of the main causes of work-related deaths in Britain. The risks are therefore well-known and documented, as is the guidance on how to reduce these risks. “The roof dismantling works were not properly planned or supervised and adequate precautions, such as netting, were not put in place. “This led to two men falling in separate incidents and resulted in one man suffering life-changing injuries as well as the dreadful tragedy of Mr Harrower’s death.” Source link

Category: Construction Industry Today | Subscribe to Construction Industry Today Feed Published Fri, Mar 18th 2016 Recofloor members celebrated their record-breaking vinyl recycling achievements at the scheme’s fifth annual awards event at Old Trafford, the Home of Manchester United, in March. Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday Recofloor members celebrated their record-breaking vinyl recycling achievements at the scheme’s fifth annual awards event at Old Trafford, the Home of Manchester United, in March. Flooring companies, contractors and distributors have collected more than 2,700 tonnes of vinyl flooring – including 508 tonnes in 2015 alone – since the UK take-back scheme was founded by leading flooring manufacturers Polyflor and Altro in 2009 to divert waste material from landfill. The main winners were Carpets ‘N’ Carpets Ltd (Contractor of the Year); 3D Flooring Supplies/ MCD Wales/ Flooring Accessories (Distributor of the Year); S&D Flooring Specialists Ltd (Best Newcomer); STS Flooring Distributors Ltd (Greatest Improver); Mark Purnell of Fantasy Flooring Ltd (Recofloor Champion), Mezmirizin Flooring Ltd (Drop-Off Site User of the Year); Birch Distribution (Outstanding Achievement Award )and Branagan Flooring Services (Long-Standing Service Award). Winners received their trophies and certificates from guest host and former Southampton and England footballer Matt Le Tissier who was clearly impressed and commented: “Manufacturers collaborating in this way to improve the sustainability of their products must be unique. It’s fantastic for the environment: a win-win situation!” Entries were judged mainly on last year’s achievements, while also recognising collectors’ significant contributions in various ways. Directors Bob Smith of Polyflor and Altro’s John Patsavellas both expressed their delight that ‘more and more companies are recognising the wider benefits of Recofloor, not just in connection with cost savings, but also with regard to enhancing their business offering and increasing their environmental sustainability’. Thanking members, John said their ‘commitment and engagement is central to the success of the scheme’. “Altro, like Polyflor, is proud to be a founder of this scheme, which is a core part of both our sustainability programmes. Recofloor as a scheme leads the way across the Europe. We have a ‘world first’ in collaboration that has created a scheme that really works. As Recofloor continues to evolve, others will find it very difficult to replicate.” Material collected by Recofloor’s 700-strong membership is recycled back into products, including new flooring, which benefits the environment and can reduce collectors’ waste disposal costs by up to 70%. The scheme accepts smooth and safety vinyl offcuts, uplifted smooth vinyl, roll ends and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT). Key speakers from the flooring industry included Richard Catt, CEO of the Contract Flooring Association, Ian James from FITA and Anthony Francis, Managing Director of Mayfield Floors. Richard commented: “Sustainability and waste management are extremely important to our industry and Recofloor makes a significant contribution. Winning a Recofloor award is an achievement that is growing in recognition and an important addition to any company’s profile.  So congratulations should go to all the winners – particularly the significant number who are CFA members!” Recofloor Manager Jane Gardner, who showed the new Recofloor video on how the scheme works, said: “Recofloor is a unique scheme at the heart of the Circular Economy and shares these principles in recovering resources for reuse, where possible, in high value products. Everyone should be proud of what’s been achieved and we are striving to do even more.” A total of 29 firms received Gold and Silver Awards based on the amount of material collected per fitter.   Source link

20 October 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal Take-up of London office space rebounded in the third quarter of 2016 after a weak second quarter, according to the latest market report from global real estate adviser CBRE.    During the second quarter of 2016 heightened uncertainty, partly because of the pending referendum, take-up for London office space fell 22 per cent quarter-on-quarter to 2.4 million square feet.    In contrast, the third quarter of the year saw a quarterly increase of 21 per cent, with a total of 2.9 million sq ft of office space acquired. Lettings were therefore close to the 10-year average of 3.1 million sq ft.   Take-up in the quarter was driven by two major deals, notably the letting of 467,300 sq ft at Battersea Power Station, and a 220,700 sq ft owner-occupier acquisition at 33 Central, King William Street. The deal at Battersea Power Station meant that the creative sector represented the largest proportion of take-up in the quarter; constituting 33 per cent of the total.   An increase in take-up coincided with an increase in availability for the sixth consecutive quarter, driven principally by 534,000 sq ft of additional secondhand space. Consequently, availability rose by 3 per cent to stand at 13.7 million sq ft, yet remains 6 per cent behind the 10-year average of 14.5 million sq ft.   The amount of space under offer in Central London fell by 23 per cent over the course of the third quarter to three million sq ft following the signing of these large transactions.    But the amount of space under offer remains above the 10-year average of 2.8 million sq ft and active demand in London remains high. At the end of Q3 2016, there were 14 requirements for space of more than 100,000 sq ft. Source link

At your new house, keep your cat indoors for a minimum of two to three weeks before letting them out Barratt Homes teams up with the RSPCA to provide pet owners with advice on making moving home as stress-free as possible for their animals. Alison Raine, Sales Director at Barratt Homes Northampton, said: “Moving to a new home can be a worrying experience for pets, who often get overlooked during this busy time. We want our customers’ moves to be as stress-free as possible, and that includes keeping their pets happy! That’s why we’ve teamed up with the RSPCA to ensure a happy move all round.” Rachel Butler, spokesperson for the RSPCA, said: “Moving house can be a stressful time for everyone, and that can include pets as they get used to settling into their new home. If you have a pet and are moving house, we strongly suggest that you plan ahead and take the time to think about the best way to move your pet in a way which will minimise as much stress as possible.” Here are the RSPCA’s top five tips for a happy move: 1. Plan your journey Make sure your pets are fit to travel and if in any doubt, contact your vet. If you own an animal that is pregnant, seek advice from a vet before transporting her. Plan your route to minimise journey time and maintain suitable comfort and environmental conditions. Never leave an animal unattended in a vehicle. 2. Reduce stressful situations Try to keep your pet away from the all the commotion of the packing, unpacking, moving and cleaning to help reduce their stress. 3. Ask your vet about calming products Speak to your vet about artificial pheromone products, for example Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs – these may help to make your pet feel more secure and settled in their new home. 4. Update your details Update your contact details with your pet insurers, vets, microchip and any ID tags. You may need to register with a new vet, depending on how far you are moving. 5. Keep a routine When in the new house, try to keep to the same routine with your pets as you had in your previous home. Rachel continued: “Cats in particular may find a house move stressful as they can become attached to where they live. At your new house, keep your cat indoors for a minimum of two to three weeks before letting them out. This gives them time to get to become familiar with the new house. When you first let them out make sure it’s before their meal time – if they are hungry you should be able to call them back for their favourite food. Let them go out for short periods to start with and build this up, as this will allow your cat to become more confident. With dogs, as it is now a legal requirement to have your dog microchipped, it is so important to make sure you update your address details on the microchipping database. On moving day, pack all your dog’s things – including food and water bowls, food, bed and toys – into one clearly-labelled box so that you can find it easily when you arrive at your new home. Getting out things that they are familiar with will help minimise their stress.” Source link

Green gas ‘could deliver decarbonised heat to the UK’ Published:  07 July, 2016 The Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) has responded to the annual Future Energy Scenarios (FES) publication from National Grid, and called for more to be done to decarbonise UK heating by directly injecting green gas into the national mains-gas grid. Isaac Occhipinti, head of external affairs, said: “We welcome this report from National Grid as it acts as a catalyst to start a stimulating and thought provoking debate, using four possible energy scenarios. EUA recognises that decarbonisation will continue to drive the agenda, with heat and power being joined by the transport sector as a target to drive down emissions, while still maintaining security and affordability. We need a clear pathway to decarbonise heat, one which recognises that behavioural change and cost are integral factors to achieving the required outcomes. “We believe that gas will remain the primary heating fuel beyond the 2040s. The fact that the gas grid currently delivers gas into the homes of over 85% of the UK population, coupled with the very large investment needed to change this, suggests that gas, albeit green gas will be a vital component of the UK’s energy infrastructure for many years to come. “The opportunity afforded by injecting green gas directly into the grid – whether biomethane, synthetic natural gas or hydrogen – will allow the gas grid to be decarbonised without homeowners needing to take action and with little additional investment.” The EUA also highlighted the government’s recent adoption of the fifth carbon budget, which sets new and legally-binding emissions reduction targets for 2030. In order to achieve this, Mr Occhipinti said the industry needs a strong commitment and a robust policy framework in place. “EUA and its divisions will continue to work with DECC to identify an action plan and also overcome the current challenges,” he said, noting that the budget has suggested the existing Renewable Heat Incentive tariffs offer little help to tackle the upfront costs of installing renewable technologies. “We also need to support the research and development of ‘mainstream’ green gas as a low carbon alternative fuel source. Injecting green gas directly into the gas grid is the best and most cost effective way of decarbonising heat. There is little appetite to simply abandon gas and start again with a new system, not to mention the enormous costs involved, so green gas, whether biogas, bioSNG or even hydrogen offers a very real solution to delivering seasonable heat demand in a low carbon way.” The EUA comprises six organisational divisions – Utility Networks, the Heating & Hotwater Industry Council (HHIC), the Industrial & Commercial Energy Association (ICOM), the Hot Water Association (HWA), the Manufacturers’ Association of Radiators and Convectors (MARC) and the Natural Gas Vehicles Network (NGV Network).   Source link