Heating and Ventilation News
20 July 2011
View all stories from this issue.
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"Renewable energy revolution" scheme announced
Community Energy Plus (CEP), a Cornish-based charity, has announced a plan to allow local residents and community groups to access Feed-in Tariff funding. -
‘Definitive agreement’ in AO Smith-Lochinvar deal
AO Smith has announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Lochinvar Corporation in a deal worth $418 million (£257 million). -
£120 million opportunity for subcontractors
Council-owned contractor City Building (Glasgow) is seeking subcontractors for a framework offering up to £120 million worth of work across Glasgow. -
£3m social housing heating scheme launched
A £3 million scheme has been launched to help install eco-heaters in the homes of social housing tenants. -
APHC CEO calls for 5% VAT rate
APHC’s CEO, John Thompson, has called for the industry to maintain pressure on Government over its calls for a 5 per cent VAT rate on all energy efficiency building and improvement projects -
Apollo and Keepmoat unveil plan for joint venture
Apollo and Keepmoat are set to merge in a bid to become a £1 billion market leading social housing and regeneration contractor. -
Apprenticeship plea to contractors
A cross-industry task force is urging contractors to take on more apprentices after ‘alarming’ research showed a huge drop in young people working in the construction industry. -
Asbestos failings highlighted by HSE
Four companies last week faced fines or convictions over asbestos handling from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). -
Asbestos warning for HVAC operatives
Acting Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering Kevin Wellman warns plumbers and heating engineers to know their responsibilities when it comes to dealing with asbestos. -
Balfour Beatty tops contractor league ahead of results
Figures compiled by construction information specialist Glenigan suggest that Balfour Beatty is holding its share of UK markets. -
Banned advert sparks row between ACS and Calor Gas
An Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) inquiry into allegations of misleading advertising has sparked a row between Calor Gas and ACS Renewable Solutions. -
Bouygues makes Australian push
Bouygues is establishing a new construction arm in Australia with senior UK director Ian Gunter set to lead the Sydney-based office from September. -
Breyer Group wins £18.5m solar panel housing deal
Housing association Peabody has appointed building contractor Breyer Group to provide £18.5 million worth of solar panels on London housing stock. -
BSF action may not be over
The majority of the six councils that appealed against the government’s decision to cancel their Building Schools for the Future schemes may continue to fight their case despite winning back their costs. -
BSS Industrial continues to support SkillPIPE competition
BSS Industrial has announced its support of SkillPIPE industry competition for the third year running. -
Built environment research increased
Increased profits by the BRE Group have resulted in increased funding for research by the BRE Trust, it was recently announced. -
Byles: PfS staff exodus risk to school procurement
As the government launched a £2 billion school building programme, former Partnerships for Schools chief executive Tim Byles has warned of the “very real risk” of a damaging exodus of skilled procurement staff. -
Challenges for building control regulators
Building control officers and associated regulators have a challenging task. Required to understand the intricate ins and outs of numerous legislations as well as the practicalities of real-world construction projects, they are also expected to have expert knowledge of some highly technical areas of engineering. -
Comprehensive support service launch
Baxi Commercial has announced the introduction of heateam Commercial Service to provide support services for a wide range of equipment. -
Concerns voiced over CSCS chairman
The ConstructionSkills Certification Scheme has been thrown into disarray following the failed ousting of chairman Trevor Walker. -
Construction Act plans slammed by all sectors as supply chain loses out
Government amendments to the payment provisions in the Construction Act have angered all quarters of the industry, with large and small contractors arguing they have been let down. -
Construction sector steadies but long road ahead
The number of administrations in the construction sector fell 16 per cent from 101 to 85 in the second quarter of the year -
Crofton wins CIBSE award
Consultant engineer operation Crofton was awarded the Employer of the Year prize recently. -
Department of Energy and Climate Change supports Installer Live
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is supporting this year’s InstallerLive (NEC, Birmingham, 16-19 October 2011), -
Dog rescue centre has green pedigree
A cutting-edge £5.25 million redevelopment of the Dogs Trust Shrewsbury has been opened. -
EIC secures state-of-the-art project
EIC has won a £2.1 million contract to install mechanical services within a £14m, 17,652 sq m project for aerospace contractor Moog. -
Existing stock offers major opportunities
With government-led tax incentives, refurbishment of our building stock could be a growing source of work in years to come. -
Firms urged to explore new sectors to survive downturn
Contractors should look to non-traditional ‘niche’ areas to counteract the forecast fall in construction activity, economists have said. -
Full list for £81m academy maintenance funding package revealed
The government has released details of an £81.5m funding package for maintenance across the UK’s academies, alongside its launch of a new £2bn school building programme. -
How hotels can make room for energy efficiency
Energy efficiency in hotels is complex, time-consuming and often stressful - too many choices, too few hours to test products and continued pressure on capital budgets. -
HSS Hire Service Group release first half results
HSS Hire Service Group has announced 2011 first half year revenue of £89.5m and EBITDA of £19.5m -
HVCA elects 2011/12 president
Bob Shelley has been elected president of the HVCA for 2011/12, taking over the role from Martin Burton, who continues to serve as immediate past president. -
HWA Vented Group appoint new chairman
The Hot Water Association (HWA), the leading body in domestic hot water storage, has announced a change in chairman of its Vented Group. -
Industry cool on RHI announcement
Leading figures in the HVAC industry have given a mixed reception to the long-awaited Renewable Heat Incentive. -
Industry responds to RHI and RHPP
With Climate Changer Minister Greg Barker heralding the Renewable Heat Incentive as “a new era in home heating”, industry suppliers have responded to the launch of the scheme, which includes the Renewable Heat Premium Payment initiative. -
Installer challenge announced
The Geberit Challenge, open to installers working in teams of two, has been announced and will take place in November in Glasgow, Birmingham and London. -
Interserve takes long view
Construction and support services firm Interserve believes public sector markets will open up for new work, despite spending cuts. -
Jewson buys Build Center
Wolseley UK has announced today that it has agreed to sell its Build Center operation to Jewson. -
Jobs and profit reductions for WSP
Weaknesses in the public sector has meant 400 job cuts and profit before tax diving by nearly half for WSP, the design and engineering consultancy. -
Kier seals £28m BSF deals as deadline nears for councils
Kier Eastern has signed three Building Schools for the Future contracts collectively worth £28m with Cambridgeshire Learning and Community Partnerships. -
Latest Mears acquisition shows growing service focus
Mears has announced the £7.4 million acquisition of the Supported Living division of Choices Care Community Services, a company currently in administration. -
London Underground £100m building services tender
Tender for London Underground repair and maintence services of building installations -
LPG: the rural fuel of choice for the future?
Making the right choice about how we heat our homes can save us hundreds of pounds a year and at the heart of that decision is our boiler and what fuels it. -
Major housebuilders expected to see double-digit profits in 2012
Housebuilders’ profit margins are expected to return to double digits next year, analysts said last week, providing hopes of improved trading for domestic service suppliers. -
Major schools contract awarded
Morgan Sindall has been awarded three school-building contracts worth £65 million by Hull City Council. -
Make going green a financial no-brainer
The fanfare that usually accompanies green policy initiatives by the government is beginning to sound a little muted. It seems that the economic realties of dealing with the deficit are eclipsing important but less politically pressing sustainability initiatives. -
Mears wins £20m Peterborough solar panel deal
Mears has won a £20 million contract to install photovoltaic panels to more than 3,500 houses in Peterborough, in what is believed to be the largest deal of its kind. -
Mitie on takeover trail
Mitie says it has significant potential for future growth in overseas markets after it completed the purchase of Service Management International last month. -
Modular specialist goes into administration
Insolvency firm FRP Advisory has been called in as administrator to Yorkshire firm Britspace Modular Buildings. -
MPs say PFI alternatives should be considered
The government should consider alternatives to the “extremely inefficient” Private Finance Initiative funding model for public building projects, according to a committee of MPs. -
New employment framework for M&E operatives
The HVCA has begun discussions with major building engineering services contractors on an improved employment framework for those involved in mechanical, electrical and plumbing operatives. -
New manufacturing facility opens
Hyco Manufacturing has relocated to its new, purpose-built headquarters in Wakefield Europort, Castleford. -
New schools projects may face procurement issues
Partnerships set up by contractors and councils specifically to build schools could face obstacles to winning work under the government’s centrally procured £2 billion programme. -
NICEIC announces 1000th MCS sign-up
Regulatory body NICEIC has announced that over 1,000 companies have now signed up for MCS accreditation making it the leading award body for the certification -
PFI project needs further consideration, say MPs
MPs have recommended that the government give further consideration before going ahead with a £470 million hospital building project, which has selected its final two bidders. -
Pressure mounts on energy suppliers to compensate consumers
The Energy and Climate Change Committee has stepped up the pressure on energy suppliers to compensate consumers that have been mis-sold gas and electricity deals. -
Renewable Heat Incentive launched
The long-awaited launch of the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive became a reality on 1 August, following the recent confirmation of details by DECC. -
Second fine in a month for BG
British Gas has been fined £2.5 million by its regulator over a breach of customer complaint handling regulations. -
Shifting sands of service providers
The collapse of the Kinetics Group will no doubt be greeted with rueful acceptance by many in the industry as proof that economies emerging from recession are frequently the time when companies that have battled to survive the worst conditions go under. -
SME job losses raise fears over industry’s recovery
Small and medium-sized firms’ workloads and employment levels have fallen for the 14th quarter in a row. -
Social housing finance move
Billions of pounds of investment is expected to flow into the social housing sector as the top 20 associations push to raise finance on the bond markets in the next three years. -
Social housing repair contract opportunity
Contractors are needed for a 10-year social housing repair and maintenance contract worth up to £60 million. -
Soler & Palau Ltd appoints Technical Director
Soler & Palau Ltd has appointed Ian Davis as Technical Director -
Take a closer look at NOx emissions
NOx emissions are the latest regulatory hurdle for boilers that installers must understand. The following information provides a brief guide on this subject. -
Tender: University of Cambridge chiller maintenance
Details of a tender for the provision of Maintenance Service of Chillers to the University of Cambridge has been released -
Top contractors gear up for first carbon bill under efficiency scheme
Contractors are already accruing costs for their carbon emissions under the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme. -
V&A contract includes energy management
London’s Victoria & Albert Museum has contracted Cofely to supply maintenance, fabric works and energy management services. -
Vaillant UK Training Head passes away
Ross Tuckey, Head of UK Training for Vaillant Group, has passed away -
Willmott Dixon to build £10m Passivhaus scheme
The London Borough of Camden has appointed Willmott Dixon to build a 53-home, £10 million scheme to Passivhaus standards. -
Wind turbines profits for hereditary landowners
Generous subsidies are encouraging hereditary landowners to build turbines up to 410ft tall on their land.
