Knightsbridge has taken the next step in its lighting evolution with the inclusion of SpektroLED® Tilt to the configurable, Knightsbridge SpektroLED® series. SpektroLED® offers so many combinations of wattage, colour temperature and bezel choice that the product provides a genuine 40-in-1 fire-rated downlighting solution, now in both fixed and tilt
45 million square feet of commercial property is built annually in the UK. Commercial building designers aren’t going out of business any time soon – unless they fail to provide functional and attractive designs. As well as ensuring that their designs are attractive and functional for businesses and commercial customers,
–Training costs, lack of customer demand, and excess paperwork are main barriers to change- -Installers will play a pivotal role in supporting homeowners with future heating decisions- The transition to low carbon heating is at finely balanced tipping point with installers split on whether they will be installing heat pumps
In light of the current energy crisis, Signify calls on the leaders and businesses in the UK&I region to accelerate the transition to energy-efficient connected LED lighting to help households and businesses mitigate the energy crisis. The move will also ensure quick wins in the UK’s Race to Zero. Business
Schools and colleges struggling to cope with the twin challenges of staff and pupil safety and energy efficiency can now finance ‘Clean Air as a Service’ through a new £3.5 million fund established by leading energy efficiency firm, Energys Group. Repayment costs are a little as 5p / per day
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, has worked closely with Sheffield Stagecoach to upgrade the lighting for all platforms on the Sheffield Supertram, one of the UK’s busiest tramlines with traffic of 10.5 million passengers every year. The upgrade is a move from energy-intensive SON-T lamps to the
Leading engineering specialist, SES Engineering Services (SES), has announced its appointment to deliver an £84 million new development at the University of Glasgow. The Adam Smith Business School and Postgraduate Teaching Hub is the fourth major development to commence as part of the University’s Campus Development Plan. Appointed by Multiplex
The Heat Pump Federation and its members welcome the Chancellor’s decision to reduce VAT to zero rate on energy savings materials, including heat pumps. Bean Beanland, the HPF’s Director of Growth & External Affairs said: “We, in concert with others in the sector, have long argued that the tax regime
Keeping the store lights on is the first rule of retail, but with increasing energy costs, many high-street names are seeking ways to reduce consumption without hitting the off switch. Whilst many retailers already recognise the benefit of installing LEDs, some aren’t aware of the further significant savings to be
Building specifiers and contractors are advised to put healthy design principles first when adapting existing structures according to REHAU, following cautions from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) about overheating buildings. The CCC’s latest analysis of the Government’s heat and Building Strategy has noted that current overheating policy is only applicable
Knightsbridge has taken the next step in its lighting evolution with the inclusion of SpektroLED® Tilt to the configurable, Knightsbridge SpektroLED® series. SpektroLED® offers so many combinations of wattage, colour temperature and bezel choice that the product provides a genuine 40-in-1 fire-rated downlighting solution, now in both fixed and tilt versions. With the introduction of SpektroLED®, Knightsbridge – one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of wiring accessories and lighting – has removed the limitations of traditional downlights, offering versatility, performance and style in one unique package, and allowing for customisation and personalisation of lighting design without resorting to multiple lamp types. The new SpektroLED® Tilt variant increases the options again. Like the fixed model, SpektroLED® Tilt offers a choice of two wattages – 5W and 8W – five colour temperatures (CCTs) and five bezel finishes, from white and matt black to chrome, polished chrome and brass; resulting in 40 different style and performance permutations. The wattages and CCTs are switch-selected on the rear of the downlight body. At 5W, SpektroLED® delivers up to 465 lumens and up to 795 lumens at 8W. The four CCTs available are 2700K, 3000K, 4000K and 6000K, representing warm white through to daylight. The choice of five bezels then allows further customisation to complement or contrast with any interior décor or colourway. Installation, as with all Knightsbridge products, is straightforward. Both units feature simple first fix power connectors with loop in/loop out terminals that can be terminated and hidden away while other works are finished. The downlight can then be plugged in to complete the installation after decoration and lend themselves easily for maintenance and access to the innovative CCT and power properties. The downlights are fire rated for solid timber, web joist and I-joist installation for up to 90 minutes depending on materials and, in addition, are IC rated for retention of efficiency of mineral wool insulation in the ceiling void. SpektroLED® Fixed has an IP65 rating from below, making it suitable for use in bathrooms and wet rooms, while SpektroLED® Tilt is rated at IP20. Once installed, SpektroLED® will give 50,000 hours of rated LED life and can be used with most leading and trailing-edge dimmers though compatibility should be verified beforehand. A five-year warranty guarantees peace of mind. For further details of the Knightsbridge innovative wiring accessories and lighting products, please visit www.mlaccessories.co.uk or call 01582 887760.
45 million square feet of commercial property is built annually in the UK. Commercial building designers aren’t going out of business any time soon – unless they fail to provide functional and attractive designs. As well as ensuring that their designs are attractive and functional for businesses and commercial customers, building designers must also ensure they design building security with functionality and aesthetics. So, which security technologies do building designers need to ensure their buildings are attractive and functional? This guide is designed to help building designers ensure tight security that does not interfere with the look and usability of the building. Keep reading to learn about the top security technologies every building designer needs to know. Integrating Video Security And Access Control Building designs can be complex, making it difficult for security camera installers to find optimal camera placement and ensure no blind spots. Building designers can ensure that the camera system in the building captures the identity of all visitors by installing video security integrated with access control. If you have a camera at your building’s entrance, you can capture high-quality footage of your visitors and ensure there is no way for any user to enter the building without being caught on film. Integrating video security and access control creates the potential for streamlined and user-friendly identity verification. With any access control system, there is always the chance that an unauthorised third party could steal mobile credentials, keycards, or fobs from building occupants and use them to enter the building without triggering an alarm. Identity verification eliminates the possibility of any user entering the building without confirmation that they are who they claim to be. Building security staff will be able to view access logs and video surveillance feed on a single interface in a more user-friendly approach to security. If you did not integrate video security and access control in your building design, then building security staff would have to correlate data from different sources and match timestamps to investigate incidents involving stolen access credentials. You could even consider installing identity verification software to automate the process, creating a system that will never permit users to enter unless AI confirms their identity. Regarding access control and video security, you can choose to integrate two different technologies or merge them into a single device. A video intercom reader offers high-definition video and touchless access control in one unified tool. Since this is a cloud-based solution, building security staff can view security data remotely on a mobile application and receive alerts when a potential security event is detected. Want to know the best thing about a video intercom reader? It has a minimalist design and will seamlessly fit with the rest of your building’s design. The reader is a compact device that will not be an eyesore in your new building. Reducing Security Hardware When designing a building with security in mind, designers decide whether to opt for a cloud-based, on-premise, or hybrid security system. If you choose an on-premise security system, you must be prepared to allocate space for servers. You will also need to design how the security system wires will travel throughout the building layout. On-premise systems are generally the most reliable and provide fewer outages. However, they can be expensive and time-consuming to maintain. On the other hand, you could consider investing in a cloud-based security system. With a cloud-based security system, you do not need to allocate space for server rooms. Nor do you need to plan out how you will wire the system. Cloud-based systems are wireless and do not require hefty servers. Additionally, they facilitate remote operation and the remote observance of security data. Many building designers are choosing to opt for a hybrid approach, as it combines the strengths of each security system. There will be fewer servers and thus less demand for space. Additionally, you can operate a hybrid system remotely and access security data from anywhere. Hybrid systems offer the reliability of an on-premise system while reducing the amount of security hardware necessary to keep the system running. Using Seamless Access Control Systems Building designers aren’t just responsible for improving the visual appeal of the building – they must also ensure that the building is convenient for users and provides clear pathways for evacuation procedures. Building designers should consider the benefits of commercial door entry systems to ensure that building security does not interfere with the daily activities of building users. Modern cloud-based access control systems do not require keycards and fobs. So, building users will not need to replace their fobs if they lose them. Instead, they can simply download access credentials and store them on their mobile devices. When users need to enter the building with their mobile credentials, they can do so without touching anything – or even removing their mobile device from their bag or pocket. They can enter with nothing more than a wave of their hand. So, if the user is carrying shopping bags, boxes, or even hot cups of coffee, they can enter quickly and conveniently. Touchless entry also ensures smoother evacuation procedures. The access reader will have built-in motion sensors. The reader will remotely communicate with the user’s mobile device when the motion sensor is triggered. The reader uses three separate modes of communication (WiFi, cellular, and Bluetooth) to ensure that there is no failure and the user can enter on their first attempt. If users can enter the building so effortlessly and seamlessly, you will be able to ensure your building design isn’t just attractive but entirely functional and user-friendly. Summary Cloud-based technologies are the future of effective building design and security. The technologies listed above can help you to design a future-proof building that supports easy entry and tight security. You can also make the building design and security installation process more practical by eliminating the need for wires. Consider which technologies provide the best solution to your building design difficulties.
–Training costs, lack of customer demand, and excess paperwork are main barriers to change- -Installers will play a pivotal role in supporting homeowners with future heating decisions- The transition to low carbon heating is at finely balanced tipping point with installers split on whether they will be installing heat pumps in their customers’ homes. That’s the main finding of a new report from heat solutions provider Baxi which assesses what would encourage installers to take the leap to low carbon sources of heat. Baxi’s research with installers found that nearly a third – equivalent to about 37,000 of the more than 130,000 of the UK’s heating engineers – are prepared to embrace heat pumps in the near future. By contrast, around 30% say they are extremely unlikely to install heat pumps. The government is targeting 600,000 heat pump installations every year by 2028. That is ten times the current market and represents a transformation from early adoption to a mass market proposition. It would require an army of low carbon heating installers to be assisting homeowners and encouraging to make the change. Amongst the main findings in the report “Heating Installers: Taking the Leap to a Low Carbon Future” are that the government and the industry will need to address the important issue of training costs, ensuring there is enough demand from customers and reducing paperwork. On training costs – 39% said they would be more likely to install heat pumps if they received help with training costs. They currently pay the full cost of training and forgo work in order to receive heat pump training On customer demand – 56% of installers said customer demand needed to be addressed and 38% of installers are concerned about lack of government support for the market. The current Boiler Upgrade Scheme which pays a max £5,000 grant to support air source heat pump installations ends in 2025. On paperwork – 44%wanted support to reduce the burden of paperwork, for example in applying for government assistance schemes Karen Boswell, Managing Director of Baxi UK & Ireland, said: “Installers will play an important role as we decarbonise the nation’s heating and it will be vital that the government and industry support them with the right information, incentives and training. “They will need to be advocates for low carbon sources of heat and recommend to the nation’s homeowners that they should make the leap to a heat pump. To achieve this, we will need to address their concerns, support them with training, and explain more clearly the financial and non-financial benefits of these appliances.” Baxi’s report makes a series of recommendations which include spelling out stronger government initiatives that will drive demand for heat pumps over the coming decade; support for training costs on a first come-first served basis; and an industry wide campaign to market the role of a low carbon heating installer to attract new entrants. For more information, and to download the report, click here
In light of the current energy crisis, Signify calls on the leaders and businesses in the UK&I region to accelerate the transition to energy-efficient connected LED lighting to help households and businesses mitigate the energy crisis. The move will also ensure quick wins in the UK’s Race to Zero. Business leaders in the United Kingdom and Ireland (UK&I) region should focus on making changes that deliver results quickly and impact both the professional and consumer lighting markets The switch to LED lighting can help the average British household save upto £250 per year, helping millions of households pushed into fuel poverty due to the change price cap in April’ 2022 In the UK’s Race to Zero, a green switch to LED lighting in the professional market could mean eliminating 3.9 million tonnes of CO2 emissions and saving a total of EUR 3.8 billion per year London – With the recent change in price cap introduced in April 2022, millions of households have been pushed into fuel poverty and several businesses are now facing added volatility due to its impact. In light of this, Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, advocates an accelerated transition to energy-efficient connected LED lighting to help households and businesses while positively impacting the UK’s Race to Zero. With energy prices around the globe reaching all-time highs and global emissions rising at unprecedented levels, it is now more urgent than ever that businesses in UK&I lead by example and take quick action to tackle climate change. More than a decade after Signify’s call to phase out the incandescent light bulb worldwide, it now calls for the transition to energy-efficient connected LED lighting as the new standard of ‘general lighting’1. The move will help meet the goals the UK’s ten point plan and other commitments that nations have made around the world in line with the Paris Agreement. Impact for Businesses According to Signify’s findings, switching to LED lighting in the professional lighting market could reduce CO2 emissions by 3.9 million tonnes in the UK&I region, the same amount of CO2 that 175 million trees could sequester in a year. Making the switch would also save 16.1 TWh of electricity, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 4.3 million households. This would result in a saving of EUR 3.8 billion on electricity costs2. Upgrading to connected LED lighting3 can offer enhanced controls for better energy consumption management. Impact for households Research from the Energy Saving Trust4 indicates that lighting takes up about 11% of the average UK household electricity consumption. Our data5 suggests that after the change in the energy price cap introduced in April, switching to energy-efficient LED lighting can help the average British household save £15-£18 per light bulb, which equates to a saving of £2506 per year. Given that there are likely more lamps to replace in homes hit by fuel poverty, the positive impact would be more significant there. The switch to smart LED lighting will also pay a huge role in reducing CO2 emissions, furthering the UK&I’s progress to a greener future. The International Energy Agency (IEA) echoes Signify’s call to action. Nicholas Howarth, Senior Analyst at the International Energy Agency said “The world is facing the most significant energy crisis in recent history and energy efficiency is a solution to many of its most urgent challenges. Highlighting its importance, in June at the IEA Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, 27 governments from around the world issued the Sønderburg Action Plan calling for energy efficiency and demand side action to play a much greater role protecting households, businesses and the economy from high energy prices. This is vital for addressing the energy crisis, rising inflation and greenhouse gas emissions.” Stronger policy packages covering regulations, information and incentives will play a key role accelerating energy efficiency and related measures. This includes the deployment of smart, efficient lighting, upgrading homes with better insulation, improving the fuel efficiency of cars, as well fostering investment in new industrial machinery. Efficient lighting is a proven technology to reduce electricity demand, fast. This will also help create extra electricity capacity needed for electric heat pumps and vehicles which put upwards pressure on power demand’’ Climate Group, an international non-profit working with businesses and governments around the world to drive climate action, also aligns with Signify’s ambition.Morgan, Senior Manager, Built Environment, Climate Group, said“Climate Group is proud to work in partnership with Signify to raise awareness of the multiple benefits of energy efficient LED lighting for businesses and cities. LEDs play a key role in decarbonisation as we strive to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero carbon buildings by 2050.” “The unprecedented energy savings from LEDs compared to traditional lighting presents compelling urgency to raise the priority of global LED adoption. The drive towards smart, connected LEDs can also serve as a digital platform for smart building and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, opening up a myriad of options for businesses.” Stephen Rouatt, CEO, Signify UK&I said: “Households in the UK are now in one of the most difficult situations as they see their energy bills rise by 54%, while businesses continue to struggle as well. We understand the urgency created by the energy crisis to help families and businesses under pressure. Switching to energy-efficient LED lighting guarantees quick wins in saving money on energy bills and responding to the urgent action needed to tackle the climate crisis. After the change in the energy price cap introduced in April, switching to energy-efficient LED lighting can help the average British household save upto £250 per year (£15-£18 per light bulb). Accelerating the transition to LED lighting is one of the quickest renovations that can dramatically cut CO2 – it does not require large capital investments, has a short payback time, and can positively impact the challenge posed by the UK’s built environment and its carbon footprint.” “As leaders in the lighting sector, we have a firm commitment to transformative action and there is no better opportunity than London Climate
Schools and colleges struggling to cope with the twin challenges of staff and pupil safety and energy efficiency can now finance ‘Clean Air as a Service’ through a new £3.5 million fund established by leading energy efficiency firm, Energys Group. Repayment costs are a little as 5p / per day per pupil on a 5-year agreement. The fund, which ‘goes live’ today (27th June 2022) is designed to be off-balance sheet; simple to administrate and apply for; and presents no commercial risk to successful applicants. Any educational establishment – local authority maintained, academy, or faith school – is eligible to apply. Independent schools are also eligible and welcome to apply. Energys Group is already well-known for its installations of energy efficient retrofit technologies including LED lighting in over 1000 schools and colleges. The Company believes its new Clean Air as a Service (CAaaS) model and dedicated £3.5m fund, will act as a much-needed driver for safer, more energy efficient schools, in line with a school’s duty of care to provide a safe environment. Well-managed indoor air quality delivers a wide range of benefits including: lower rates of sickness and absenteeism higher levels of productivity and cognition, leading to better results peace of mind to staff, pupils and other building users. Energys Group’s CAasS finance model is very similar to that used in other sectors where the upfront cost of investment in hardware is prohibitive to uptake. For a pre-agreed monthly ‘packaged fee’, a school can benefit from Energy Group’s Goji Air indoor air management technology, any ongoing maintenance and spares, plus warrantees. Energys Group calculates that, on average, the cost of monthly payment will be 5p per child, per day – averaging at £17/per month over a 5-year agreement. ‘Paradigm shift’ “The Covid-19 Pandemic has led to a paradigm shift in attitudes towards indoor air quality,” says Kevin Cox, CEO at Energys Group. “Last Autumn, we saw two things happening in the school’s market. Our customers were already struggling to cope with the rising cost of energy in a volatile market, whist Covid safety concerns led to national guidance that ‘open windows’ meant ‘safer spaces’. Of course, the truth is, open windows do not necessarily result in ‘safer environments’. Plus, of course, it creates a massive additional demand for space heating – and this is something most schools and colleges can ill afford,” he says. The company says this combination of factors and challenges has resulted in significant interest from schools and colleges in new approaches to clean air management. However, the recent and rapid rise in energy prices means many schools are simply unable to afford to invest in the available technologies. The new CAaaS model offers an easy ‘win-win’ route to safer, cleaner air – and a more sustainable approach to heating-related energy in school buildings. Goji Air technology Energys Group offers best-in-class technologies as part of its technology portfolio. Its patented technology, sanitises and protects like no other air purifier on the market. It is trusted by a multitude of businesses and facilities around the world including hospitals, schools, transport operators, wellness clinics, residential care homes and in the hospitality industry. Goji Air is also the only medical grade air purification system with NCCO Technology, proven, in laboratory conditions, to minimise the transmission of airborne viruses like seasonal flu and Covid-19 by neutralising such viruses with 99.95% efficiency. Next steps Schools and colleges interested in applying for its £3.5m fund for Clean Air as a Service are urged to act quickly – as funds will be released on a first-come-first-served basis; and demand is expected to be high. The first stage in the process is to register with Energys Group to book FREE No-obligation Trial with a Goji Air Unit. To do so, schools can contact Energys Group on +44 (0)1403 786212 or find via the web.
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, has worked closely with Sheffield Stagecoach to upgrade the lighting for all platforms on the Sheffield Supertram, one of the UK’s busiest tramlines with traffic of 10.5 million passengers every year. The upgrade is a move from energy-intensive SON-T lamps to the new Philips TrueForce Core LED Road 40W lamps, which promise improved white light quality in customer-facing areas for increased safety and enhanced colour rendering for better visibility. In addition, with this replacement, it is estimated over 800,000 kWh energy will be saved each year by using the Trueforce LED lamps, as the lighting installed uses 80% less energy. After several months of extensive research into the right lighting solutions, Sheffield Stagecoach found the Philips TrueForce Core LED Road LED lamp 40W to be the perfect fit that meets all necessary specifications and objectives for upgrading the lighting. This replacement to the new SON lighting dramatically reduces the maintenance costs of lamps and the ageing electromagnetic gear system by reducing the need for frequent replacements and maintenance visits. The Philips TrueForce Core LED Road brings all the energy-efficiency and long-lifetime benefits of LED to HID replacement while providing instant saving with low initial investment, removing the need to replace existing fixtures. Philips TrueForce Core LED Road lamps are a tubular glass envelope LED retro-fit similar to that of SON-T lamps. They will fit in the existing luminaires and importantly work truly with the luminaire’s optic making sure that light is photometrically positioned. Signify was recommended as the lighting provider of choice by CEF Sheffield. ‘’For a long now, we have been looking for the best replacement that physically fits into the existing luminaires, taking away the need to replace them. We also needed to ensure the new lightbulbs meet all our objectives of enhanced safety, better visibility and being environmentally friendly. The Philips LED lighting solutions offer several benefits such as better colour rendering, enhanced CCTV visibility, increased traveller, staff safety, and improved visibility at the tram stops. In addition, the energy savings are impressive when compared with conventional light sources and long-lasting products. With instant restrike of the new LED lamps, this takes away the waiting period of HID cooldown in the case of power outages. We are sure we will reap several benefits for a long time to come.’’ Mark Tomkins, Infrastructure Electrical Co-ordinator, Stagecoach Supertram ‘’Our LED solution for the Sheffield tramline will encourage travellers to travel on the line worry-free due to the better visibility and safety. To add to this, the positive impact on the environment is another huge benefit for the Sheffield tramline as the upgrade to LED lighting helps reduce the tramline’s environmental impact. We are excited to be part of such an exciting project that ultimately leads to the citizen welfare and satisfaction.’’ Simon Greenwood, Sales Director Trade & Specification, Signify UK&I.
Leading engineering specialist, SES Engineering Services (SES), has announced its appointment to deliver an £84 million new development at the University of Glasgow. The Adam Smith Business School and Postgraduate Teaching Hub is the fourth major development to commence as part of the University’s Campus Development Plan. Appointed by Multiplex following a competitive tender, this latest project enables SES to draw on its recent experience gained on the University of Glasgow’s James McCune Smith Learning Hub which completed in early 2021 and was the first building to be delivered as part of the masterplan. Working again with main contractor and Programme Delivery Partner, Multiplex, SES will be providing a full MEP service, adopting the same strategy utilised when working on the Learning Hub including the production of a full BIM Level 2 model, which will essentially simplify building maintenance in the future. Once operational, the six-storey building, which has a gross internal floor area of 11,600m2, will provide specialised teaching, research and collaboration space for the University’s postgraduate taught student community, whilst delivering state-of-the-art premises for the world-leading business school.
The Heat Pump Federation and its members welcome the Chancellor’s decision to reduce VAT to zero rate on energy savings materials, including heat pumps. Bean Beanland, the HPF’s Director of Growth & External Affairs said: “We, in concert with others in the sector, have long argued that the tax regime in the UK has favoured the burning of fossil fuels, so this is a particularly welcome measure. We also understand that all materials and services are included. This level of simplicity is essential for the installer community, many of which are micro-businesses that struggle with overly complex tax rules.” “Setting the intervention for five years gives future visibility which will encourage investment in both skills and capacity, by the whole sector in the UK. When taken in conjunction with the new Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which also starts on 1st April, domestic scale heat pumps are going to be that much more affordable for both homeowners and landlords. “ “Capital costs are only one half of the equation, operational costs for heat pumps do still have to be addressed through the rebalancing of taxation on electricity and fossil fuels that reflects the relative carbon and other emissions. But for today, the VAT outcome is to be celebrated and the Government commended for the message that this sends to consumers and to the industry alike.” For interviews/information, please contact Bean Beanland: 07393 399685 / bean.beanland@hpf.org.uk / www.hpf.org.uk
Keeping the store lights on is the first rule of retail, but with increasing energy costs, many high-street names are seeking ways to reduce consumption without hitting the off switch. Whilst many retailers already recognise the benefit of installing LEDs, some aren’t aware of the further significant savings to be made through lighting controls, as Ben Brunton, Lighting Controls Specialist at Prime Light explains. Efficientlighting is one of the easiest ways to reduce outgoings for retailers and the savings are palpable as, unlike heating, it’s so easy to measure. Whether you are looking to capitalise on the efficiencies of installing a brand-new system or have an existing lighting infrastructure that would benefit from the easy addition of a hybrid control solution, there’s an option for everyone to secure some dramatic results. The major saving for many retailers comes out of hours. We’re currently working with a large UK retailer that is installing lighting controls into an existing LED infrastructure across their estate. By dropping the lighting output overnight, they not only create an improved working environment for employees, but they’ll also save 80% of lighting energy costs for 12 hours every day, recouping the cost of the control product within six months. However, it’s not just in the hours of darkness that savings can be made. Generally, retail units are over-lit, so in the day you can also drop the lighting output to 70% with no detrimental impact to the retail environment or risk of breaching lux output requirements. And as they are integrated into the existing in-house building management system, lighting controls work seamlessly in-store. There’s no need for any manual adjustments or risk of the lights going down in a late-night opening. The other real bonus of lighting controls is the instant impact that can be achieved. Not only can solutions be added to existing infrastructure so there’s little disruption in-store, but the systems can also be immediately commissioned by the contractor, meaning no delay in realising the benefits of a hefty commissioning bill. With an average energy saving of 40% across an estate, lighting controls are unquestionably one of the best ways for retailers to reduce energy costs beyond LEDs. To find out more about lighting control products and what solution would work for you, please visit www.primelight.co.uk or contact Ben Brunton at bb@primelight.co.uk.
Building specifiers and contractors are advised to put healthy design principles first when adapting existing structures according to REHAU, following cautions from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) about overheating buildings. The CCC’s latest analysis of the Government’s heat and Building Strategy has noted that current overheating policy is only applicable to new buildings, and does not take existing structures into account. With this in mind, polymer supplier REHAU is highlighting concerns around sustainability and occupant wellbeing currently affecting the construction industry. This warning follows findings demonstrated in the company’s ‘Designing Healthy’ series of guides, in which 500 respondents in M&E and architectural roles, are surveyed on pressing issues. In ‘Designing Healthy Apartments,’ for example, 97% of respondents said leaving high-quality buildings for future generations was a medium-to-high priority, yet 44% believed well-being is ‘value-engineered’ out of building design during a project. Steve Richmond, Head of Marketing and Technical for REHAU Building Solutions comments: “The CCC’s latest analysis puts a concern in the spotlight that we’ve been highlighting for years – overheating in our existing building stock. As climate change continues, we suggest this issue needs to be addressed in comprehensive fashion. “One key way of doing this is to adopt healthy design practices. For example, making improvements to current structures to become more energy efficient may not be enough, as this in turn raises the chances of excessive indoor temperatures during warmer months. Instead, good planning, design and construction from the offset is essential to avoid this, yet as our own surveys suggest, these priorities are often overlooked in favour of cost as a project progresses.” Providing buildings that are warm in winter yet avoid overheating issues that can lead to health hazards in the summer is a key issue highlighted in REHAU’s Design Healthy series. Long-lasting M&E solutions are identified as a possible solution to this, with almost 70% of survey respondents in the company’s ‘Designing Healthy Schools and Universities’ report saying that the lifespan of the components needs to increase. Steve concludes: “The issues raised in the CCC’s latest analysis echo what we have seen when we have taken soundings across the industry. Though we are huge advocates of improving the energy efficiency of the nation’s existing building stock, this must be done in a considerate way that avoids overheating. M&E solutions must sit at industry’s response to this pressing and ever-growing concern.” To find out more about REHAU’s ‘Designing Healthy’ series, visit: www.rehau.uk/designinghealthy
