Signify, the world leader in lighting, is supporting Sefton Council’s climate action by upgrading the borough’s public lighting to energy-efficient LED. The project includes the upgrade of 26,000 light points on traffic routes, roads, streets, and residential areas. The phased program will be completed in 2025 and is expected to reduce annual maintenance by 45%, saving the council over 7,161,500 kWh energy per year/£1.8 million per year on energy costs following the completion (based on average and estimated prices 2021-2025), as the lighting installed uses up to 70% less energy, when compared to the existing HID lighting installed.The reduction in ongoing energy costs is expected to pay for the project in full within 8 years. The upgrade is even more important against the backdrop of the ongoing energy crisis. This upgrade takes the council closer to its goal of leading to net zero carbon by 2030. In July 2019, Sefton Council declared a climate emergency and enacted a plan to reduce its environmental impact through energy efficiency and carbon reduction projects, leading to net zero carbon by 2030. By upgrading public lighting within the borough, the council can contribute to its goals to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption while also reducing long-term maintenance and improving the street environment for residents and visitors. Sefton has been on its path to net carbon zero since 2020, but skyrocketing energy prices and the need for safer streets for pedestrian and highway users have raised the urgency of replacing outdated technology with alternatives that are long lasting, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. Signify’s Philips LumiStreet gen2 LED luminaries were selected for the project. LED lighting is a safe, highly effective alternative to older technologies like the High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps that were previously in place within the borough of Sefton. LED lamps can produce excellent light levels using far less energy than their conventional counterparts and require little ongoing maintenance. According to Signify’s own data, if the entire UK&I region followed the example of Sefton Council and switched all conventional road and streetlights to LED, the country could save 603 thousand tonnes of carbon and £520 million per year in energy costs. In addition, the LED lights offer improved colour rendering which helps CCTV recognition, creating a greater sense of well-being and security for people in the area. LED lights can be more precisely focused on roads and paths to minimise any intrusion into homes or gardens. A neutral white colour was selected for the project to maintain a pleasant night-time atmosphere while maintaining excellent visibility. Sefton Council worked with Jones Lighting to carry out trials comparing results from different manufacturers to assess their relative quality and efficiency. Signify’s lighting solution impressed the council with its design, performance, and total cost of ownership, which considers how the initial project investment is offset by the energy savings achieved by converting existing lighting to LED. The reduction in ongoing energy costs is expected to pay for the project in full within 8 years. “The LED upgrade is a significant step forward towards Sefton Councils’ commitment to becoming net zero by 2030. Additionally, the streets are now lit better than before to ensure citizens can feel more confident and secure during the evenings or nights. A great win for the citizens and the borough’’ said Dave Jones, Managing Director, Jones Lighting. “After an extensive test of the market in which we reviewed the lanterns performance and costs followed on site trails, we determined that Signify would be our preferred manufacturer for the LED conversion scheme.” Said Mark Bond, Senior Street Lighting Engineer at Sefton Council. “Signify’s lanterns provided us with excellent output in terms of lighting performance and energy efficiency. After working with Signify and its logistics team, we’ve been very pleased with delivery timescales and overall performance.” “Addressing climate change is the most urgent issue of our age,” said Dervan Alleyne, Director Public Lighting and Sports Lighting, Signify UKI. “The lighting upgrade reinforces how lighting can contribute to the council’s agenda and the environment. We are proud to support Sefton Council in its journey to net zero and at the same time, create an improved experience for local people and visitors.” Learn more about the impact of switching to LED on Signify’s website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Deciding whether to use plastic or copper pipe, is one of the first things that an installer considers when tackling a plumbing project. However, regardless of the choice the installer inevitably makes, there will be others ready to sing the praises of the other system. Whilst each has its own applications, and it is best to be well-versed in both, recent technological developments have made it clear that plastic plumbing systems are progressing much faster than their copper counterparts. By taking a more in-depth look at the benefits in this blog, RWC hope to make it easier for you to decide whether plastic or copper pipe is the most appropriate system for your project. Explaining what plastic plumbing is The first thing to note is that plastic, in this case, means PEX plastic and polybutylene plastic, which despite both being a kind of polyethylene, have some differences. For example, polybutylene is a much more flexible material than PEX, due to there being less memory in the coil. Additionally, PEX is a crosslinked plastic and can therefore tolerate higher water pressures than polybutylene. While the two plastics largely serve the exact same purpose, it is still best practice to be aware of which of the two materials you are working with when using plastic pipe. Does plastic plumbing perform better than copper? Copper pipe certainly has its die-hard fans, and it’s easy to see why. Copper pipes and fittings have multiple performance benefits, most notably the fact that they are biostatic. This means that they have anti-microbial qualities that don’t allow for the growth or multiplication of any organism, but most importantly micro-organisms such as bacteria. This is the same reason that the bases of ships get coated in copper, to prevent the growth of organisms such as barnacles. However, beyond this plastic plumbing systems have multiple performance benefits. For example, Plastic pipes can easily be demounted and reconnected with residual water in the pipe. Whereas the heat of soldering wet copper pipework causes steam in the pipework, which is also a danger to the installer. A key benefit that JG Speedfit’s plastic pipes has over copper alternatives is a five-layer barrier system. This system insulates the water so that the expansion and contraction that happens as a result of natural temperature changes throughout the day, only affects the metal fittings attached to the pipe, not the pipe itself, which reduces any potential risk of air ingress into the system. equally, the minimal expansion and contraction of plastic systems reduces the noise that the system makes too. Are plastic pipes easier to install than copper? While there are certain situations where regulations dictate that copper pipe must be installed, in the majority of other situations many installers will turn to plastic fittings and pipes. And there’ll be no flirting around why either – it’s not much of a secret after all. Indeed, one of the main selling points of plastic plumbing systems is the ease of installation. Plastic push-fit fittings, such as those in the JG Speedfit Twist & Lock® range, only require a pipe cutter to make a watertight connection. Whereas copper pipe needs to be fluxed and de-burred before soldering, and then cleaned after the fact too, meaning that plastic plumbing wins from an ease of installation perspective. Additionally, some places will require a hot work permit for using the tolls needed for copper pipe, this is easily circumvented by simply using plastic plumbing systems instead. Are plastic pipes and fittings more durable than copper? On paper, you would think that copper pipes and fittings would be far more durable than their plastic counterparts, metals are typically viewed as stronger materials after all. However, many would be surprised to learn both copper and plastic plumbing systems are advertised as having similar lifespans, this of course varies based on a number of factors, such as the type of water the system is receiving, the quality of the installation, and the amount of usage the system gets. However, these factors tend to affect copper systems more than plastic ones, as, for example, copper can oxidize or corrode when used with water and air, so it is more susceptible to damage or pitting, than its plastic counterpart. Is plastic plumbing more affordable than copper? Finally, another reason why many installers prefer plastic pipe over copper is the price point. Whilst copper plumbing doesn’t cost nearly as much as other metal plumbing systems, such as stainless steel, they are still far more expensive than plastic ones. On an individual basis, plastic pipe costs less than copper pipe but typically copper fittings cost less than plastic fittings. However, many don’t consider the outside factors that negatively affect the copper price point. Firstly, when using copper plumbing systems, you will have to expend extra money on consumables such as flux, gas, and solder, which is not a requirement when working with plastic plumbing systems. Similarly, plastic plumbing systems, as an easier-to-install system, save a lot of money on labour costs overall. Plastic plumbing is progressing much faster than copper plumbing Whilst regulations dictate that copper plumbing must be used in certain scenarios and indeed it possesses unique performance benefits, innovations in plastic plumbing are making it a much more well-rounded solution. Additionally, whilst it is common to see both systems being used in conjunction with one another, with copper pipe fitting into plastic fittings and vice versa, plastic plumbing looks to be the way forwards. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

With the first Grade I-listed building in the UK having been granted planning permission for replacement double glazed windows, this approach could soon be adopted by other listed buildings. This could be viewed as the next important step for the construction and fenestration industries, as well as for preserving and increasing the use of heritage buildings, or as a slippery slope into the eventual demise of their traditional aesthetic. Ledston Hall, a 700-year-old stately home in Yorkshire, has received planning permission to replace its original metal-framed, leaded windows with double glazed alternatives.[1] The aim of the replacement is to increase energy efficiency with the building’s conversion to housing, following 65 years of being empty and falling into disrepair. Although at first glance this may seem a natural step forward with the increased focus on the need to look after the environment, and the cost-of-living crisis, the importance of the building’s heritage should also be remembered and honoured. Nicola Harrison, Managing Director for Bereco, commented: “While it’s great to see that this Grade I listed building has been granted permission to install double glazed windows to improve its energy efficiency, it could mean that owners of these buildings opt for alternative window materials rather than staying true to the design of the original windows and traditional style of the building. “In the UK we have some fantastic historic buildings, and although we understand they’re in need of some repairs to become more sustainable, there are lots of incredible alternative materials that not only match the traditional design of the building but also deliver exceptional thermal performance.” Bereco offers a wide range of timber windows and doors, all of which meet the Building Regulations Notional Target with U-values of 1.2W/m2K across the board. With their sustainably sourced timber and huge choice of designs, Bereco’s products are ideal for both listed buildings and newbuilds. To find out more, visit www.bereco.co.uk or call 01709 838 188. [1] Ledston Hall: 700-year-old Yorkshire stately home becomes first Grade I-listed building in the UK to get permission for double glazed windows | Yorkshire Post Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals