Sustainability Live – incorporating Nemex and Energy Recovery - a UK exhibition for innovative energy management and sustainability returns to the NEC Birmingham from 21 to 23 April 2015.
This year’s show is a must attend for electrical contractors, engineers, project managers and consultants, showcasing more than 160 participating organisations, including technology launches and solutions from the industry’s leading suppliers.

Powerstar, the voltage optimisation brand will be showcasing the recently launched pioneering energy storage system Powerstar Virtue on stand L20 at Sustainability Live at the NEC from 21–23 April 2015.

The hydronic controls markets in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom are amongst the most developed in the world, collectively worth some € 2bn. Germany accounts for one third of the market value of these five important country markets, closely followed by the UK. The less developed Italian market is about half as big again, whilst France, whose nuclear power infrastructure means that there is a much smaller market for hydronic controls, accounts for just over one tenth of the market. Poland, with the smallest population of the countries studied and whose market is considerably less mature is only fractionally smaller than that of France. Control valves make up the lion’s share of the market by value, followed by radiator valves but these ratios are reversed when assessed by volume of units sold. By contrast, controllers and room thermostats account for only approximately 20% of the market value.

Manufacturers have been advised to implement energy conservation measures now to ensure mandatory compliance with the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) deadline of the 5 December 2015.

The UK Committee on Climate Change has specifically identified heat-pump technology as part of their low-carbon strategy to replace gas boilers in buildings.[1]  However, new research suggests that if the UK is to meet its climate and energy goals then the current vocational education and training is inadequate and ill-prepared to do so.

This lack of skills and installer capacity could jeopardise the adoption of the designated replacement technology: heat pumps in buildings.

Bsria is backing a four-month feasibility study to develop a prototype UK scheme which has the potential to deliver the energy performance specified in client briefs. The concept embraces the ‘design for performance’ approach pioneered in Australia, where very energy efficient new office buildings are routinely achieved and verified by investment-grade energy ratings, using its NABERS scheme.

Bsria is supporting a government consultation which is seeking input from the building industry to help develop and support future policies for heat in non-domestic buildings. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) identifies that non-domestic buildings in the UK currently account for 12 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. To meet the UK’s 2050 carbon reduction target, this will likely mean eliminating nearly all emissions from heating buildings and a substantial proportion from heating for industrial processes.

Beama has pledged full support for the review of the market frameworks and associated policy for a smart flexible energy systems, stating that the consultation is a good step in the right direction to establishing a value proposition for all parties involved in delivering the market for flexibility, including the end consumer.

From Smart Buildings to Cognitive Buildings is the guiding theme of the EnOcean Alliance Open House Event 2017 (24 April, IBM South Bank, London). The organisation is actively supporting the further development of EnOcean energy harvesting wireless standard for energy-efficient building solutions.

BG Energy Solutions managing director Gareth Barber has confirmed that his company has agreed terms with Virtual Power Solutions (VPS) for the exclusive UK partnership for Kisense energy.