Baxi launches air source heat pump

As demand for low carbon heating technologies for new build homes grows in line with the 2025 Future Homes Standard, Baxi has introduced a new Baxi Assure Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) range for housebuilders and developers. The newly unveiled, Baxi Assure HP50 monobloc ASHP range, offers UK winter heating capacities ranging between 4kW and 13kW to suit the majority of homes. Designed specifically for use with the Baxi Assure ASHP Cylinder for excellent hot water performance, the new ASHP is suitable for standalone and hybrid heating and hot water solutions. It also offers an in-house design service for housebuilders and developers looking to introduce the Baxi Assure range of products into its projects, providing added support and ensuring correct specification. Training courses are available at Baxi facilities across the UK to provide specifiers, contractors and heating engineers with a thorough understanding of air source heat pumps, from its specification and design to installation and commissioning, for new build properties. Lee Caulfield, Head of Sales, Residential Specification at Baxi, says, “We are pleased to include this advanced heat pump solution within our extensive solution offering for housebuilders and developers. This sector of the market is leading the way with highly efficient homes, so it is vital that we can provide the new build market with the most innovative solutions, extensive training, expert design support and market-leading commissioning, servicing and maintenance service. “By partnering with Baxi, housebuilders and developers get access to the Baxi Assure complete home service, providing them with the best in efficient heating to meet net zero goals well into the future.”

New finishes for Knightsbridge’s 45W USB wall chargers

Knightsbridge has enhanced its range pioneering 45W USB charging solutions with the introduction of four additional decorative finishes in the company’s popular screwless format. At the time of its initial launch, Knightsbridge’s 45W USB sockets and modules were the fastest chargers available on the market and still remain at the top of the competitive tree. Now, beyond curved or square edge moulded sockets in white, these 230V 13A two-gang switched USB sockets come in anthracite, matt black, matt white and brushed chrome. The sockets offer up to 45W PD (Power Delivery) over a USB-C port and 18W QC (Quick Charge) over a USB-A port. This means that power-hungry devices like laptops can be charged from wall outlets with compatible cables using a 45W USB-C port and without the need for bulky adapters. QC devices, mainly android-based smartphones, can be charged at up to 18W, allowing for a quick charge of up to 50% in under 30min with compatible smartphones. Where multiple devices are being charged simultaneously, power is shared between both ports. It also offers 60W A-C and C-C cables, as well as a 100W certified USB-PD C-C cables, so that devices can maximise the power outputs available. The 45W USB wall charger range is completed three 50mm x 50mm Euro modules, in white, grey and black, which are compatible with a variety of modular and multimedia combination plates, allowing for more bespoke installations. The 50 x 50 modular inserts may be paired with a variety of modular and multimedia combination plates, allowing for a bespoke creation. All designs are available with dual earths for high integrity earthing, angled top-down terminals for quick installation, and are designed to accommodate 25-35mm back boxes, depending on wiring conditions. Finally, all 45W USB charger wiring accessories – whether 230V 13A two-gang switched USB sockets or 50mm Euro modules – are warrantied for two years. Click here for more latest news.

myenergi partners with cinch to further accelerate EV adoption

myenergi has announced a major partnership agreement with online car marketplace, cinch, that aims to bring EV home charging to the masses. The collaboration will see the two brands work closely together to provide cinch customers with exclusive discounts on the purchase and installation price of the entire myenergi zappi range. Available to purchase through the cinch website, drivers can expect to see savings of up to £280 on both tethered and untethered models. zappi is a smart charger with a difference. Grid-compatible as standard, it also has optional charging modes, capable of utilising 100% green energy generated by consumers’ own renewable power. This means that drivers can effectively charge their EVs at home for free – zero fossil fuels, zero reliance on the grid. Jordan Brompton, Co-Founder and CMO of myenergi, comments, "We’re delighted to be partnering with cinch. As two companies both committed to driving the future and accelerating the transition to electrification, it really is the perfect pairing. “With the transition to electrification accelerating at pace, ensuring sufficient charging infrastructure is key to making EV adoption smooth, simple and hassle-free. With around 80% of all charging taking place at home, it’s important to have a reliable charger, like zappi, that’s not just suitable for charging today, but fit for the future too.” Abhishek Sampat, Head of Electric Vehicles at Constellation Automotive Group, BCA, cinch, adds, “With the 2030 ban on selling new diesel and petrol cars looming, collaboration is key to help the UK lead the way in electrification. Our partnership with myenergi will help to further accelerate EV adoption and provide a cost-effective way for our customers to access the market’s best eco-smart charging tech. “Drivers can now buy a car, organise delivery, specify an eco-smart EV charger and coordinate installation in one place. This makes the whole process quick and seamless.” Click here for more latest news.

UK electricians reach semi-final of Screwfix Top Tradesperson award

Two electricians, James Cheeseman, from Chelmsford, and Ryan Donnelly, from Glasgow, have reached the semi-finals of Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2023. James, 41, who owns JSC Electrical and Smart Home, has been working in the trade for 17 years. Working across Essex, his business focuses on smart home technology installations. He is passionate about delivering the best possible solution for his customers and the highest possible standards of workmanship. Ryan, 33, who owns RSD Electrical, has been working in the trade for 11 years. He has established RSD Electrical as an environmentally conscious business by minimising waste and recycling where possible, using sustainable products, and expanding the business into electric vehicle charging and renewable technologies, such as solar. They will now compete against 25 other top tradespeople from across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, who were selected from over 1,000 applications, for the chance to be shortlisted as a top 10 finalist. The top 10 will participate in a one-day final event at Screwfix Live, on 22 September, where a panel of esteemed industry experts will interview the finalists before deciding on who is this year’s champion. The overall winner will be crowned Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2023, and take home the ultimate trade bundle of tools, tech, and training worth £20,000. James comments, “I’m thrilled to get through to the semi-finals of Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2023, particularly knowing how many incredible tradespeople I would have been up against. I hope to impress the judges with my passion for smart home technology. There’s often a belief that this sort of technology is just for fun, but it can be incredibly functional too. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is installing smart home solutions for elderly customers, to help them switch on the light or close blinds – that side of my work is really important to me.” Ryan adds, “Reaching the national final in September and winning this award would be life changing for me. It would allow me to follow my dream and see my business continue to grow. I have been self-employed for just over a year, so I hope to impress the judges with my commitment to providing excellent customer service, growing my client base and establishing an environmentally conscious company.” Now in the 14th year of the prestigious award, James and Ryan aim to join the Top Tradesperson Hall of Fame, alongside reigning champion, Toby Peacock, who won the competition last year. Toby, an electrician from Cambridge, has shown himself to be a true ambassador for the trade, launching his podcast, ‘Tearoom Talks’, which focuses on improving mental health in the trade. Jack Wallace, Marketing Director at Screwfix, says, “We know there are many exceptional tradespeople out there who show passion and dedication day in, day out. When choosing our champion of the trade, we look for inspirational tradespeople that go above and beyond for their customers, as well as acting as an ambassador for the industry to encourage the next generation of tradespeople. Through this national award, we hope to recognise the fantastic work of tradespeople who are invaluable to our economy and the communities they serve. “A huge congratulations to all our semi-finalists – I wish them the best of luck and look forward to meeting our finalists in September!”

Scolmore adds 25A RCBO to Elucian protective devices range

Scolmore has expanded its Elucian consumer unit range to provide electricians with the broadest possible range of units and protective devices to cater for all installation requirements. New to the range is a 25A rated RCBO, which joins the extensive protective devices line-up. An RCBO protects against a residual current or earth leakage when there is a break in a circuit through poor electrical wiring or an incident, such as drilling through a cable. An RCBO also protects against an overcurrent in the form of an overload when too many devices are in use in the circuit, drawing an amount of power which exceeds the capacity of the breaker, or a short circuit which occurs when there is a short between the line and neutral conductors. The Elucian RCBOs are compact single module devices that allow for additional space above to make it easier to install and terminate outgoing circuits. These devices are Type A rated offering a resilience when DC current is present. The RCBO protective devices range comprises: Type A Single Pole B Curve – 6A, 10A, 16A, 20A, (new 25A), 32A and 40A Type A 2 Module Double Pole B Curve – 45A, 50A and 63A Type A Single Pole C Curve Type A Double Pole C Curve The full range of Elucian by Click consumer units and protective devices can be viewed on the website. The brochure can be downloaded from the website, as well as from the Scolmore Group app Click here for more latest news.

Pioneering solar car port launched at council HQ

Northumberland County Council is celebrating the launch of its new solar car port array - one of its kind in the UK. The project which includes a covered parking area with a canopy made from photovoltaic (PV) panels, has been designed and built by UK Power Networks Services and will help provide clean energy to the council’s headquarters at County Hall in Morpeth. The 40 year old staff car park has undergone major refurbishment work, providing a timely opportunity for the council to upgrade its energy provision, so that it is ready for the future. The investment is part-funded by the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 with match-funding from the council, which it plans to recoup through energy savings.  It is anticipated the new solar energy infrastructure will save between £100,000 and £150,000 on energy costs each year, which can be invested in council services. As well as this, it is estimated over 250 tonnes of carbon emissions will be saved each year assisting the council to meet its target of cutting its own emissions in half by 2025.  Councillor Glen Sanderson, Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Change, says, “This is a historical moment for Northumberland County Council and one we should be very proud of. “It’s great to see this initiative finally come to fruition which will save a massive amount on council energy supply spending and will also reduce the need for us to rely on fossil fuels to power our main building. “I want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in making this happen. It is a real example of using innovative technologies to move us towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.” The new solar energy infrastructure is one of the largest car port array installations in the UK and features 800kW solar panels, while also providing weather protection for electric vehicles. Additionally, there is a 400kW battery energy storage system with smart controls to optimise energy use, carbon emissions and costs throughout the day. Energy from the solar panels will be used to power the main building, provide electricity to electric vehicle (EV) charge points for fleet and staff vehicles and also stored to help optimise costs and carbon efficiency. As well as this, 120 EV charge points have been installed in the staff car park, including 100 fast chargers and 20 rapid chargers including some dedicated for accessible parking bays. This will make it easier for staff with EVs to charge their cars with no reduction in the number of staff parking spaces for combustion engine vehicles. Additional rapid charge and overnight charging options are also now in place for the council’s fleet vehicles. David Mitchell, Director of UK Power Networks Services, says, “We are delighted to be delivering such a pivotal project for Northumberland County Council to assist in their objective of reducing carbon emissions in half by 2025. This solar energy infrastructure is one of the largest solar car port installations in the UK and will change the way the council’s fleet operate to reduce cost and improve carbon efficiency.”

JTL promotes newly revised electrical apprenticeship standard

JTL is supporting a transformative change to the Installation and Maintenance Electrician standard in England, effective from 4 September 2023, in its latest learner recruitment campaign, ‘Your Future, Our Planet’. The updated Installation and Maintenance Electrician apprenticeship standard has been designed to provide learners with comprehensive knowledge in installing and connecting an extensive range of eco-friendly technologies. With a focus on the future, this change brings environmental responsibility to the forefront of learners’ journeys. The newly revised standard encompasses training on a spectrum of sustainable and energy efficient technologies, including renewable energy systems, energy efficient lighting, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, energy storage systems, smart building technologies, energy conservation techniques and digital skills. Electricians armed with the latest green skills will be able to proficiently install and connect low carbon technologies that are all integral components of a sustainable future. The change to the standard has been acknowledged in JTL’s latest learner recruitment campaign, which kicked off on 14 August. The recognition of this revised standard exemplifies JTL’s commitment to crafting a workforce equipped with future-proofed skills, primed to usher in a new era of eco-conscious electrical expertise. The campaign is targeting individuals aged 16 and above across England and Wales to choose a sustainable trade that empowers them to make a lasting effect on both their future and the planet. The four-week initiative also seeks to reach guiding influencers of these individuals, such as parents, guardians and career advisors. ‘Your Future, Our Planet’ aims to bridge the existing skills gap by educating the future generations of electricians to consider the impact that their industry can have on climate change and to provide the correct resources to allow them to support the nation's transition to a net zero future through the development of green skills. Chris Claydon, Chief Executive, JTL, says, “At a time when environmental concerns dominate global conversations, these enhancements align with the largescale efforts to address climate change and promote sustainable practices. Recent changes to the apprenticeship mean we're nurturing a skilled workforce capable of championing the adoption and maintenance of clean, efficient technologies. “Our latest learner recruitment campaign, 'Your Future, Our Planet', has been designed to captivate the aspirations of young individuals and recent school leavers, whilst taking environmental impact into consideration. This campaign allows the learners’ journeys to align seamlessly with the newly revised standard, along with the UK's ambitious goal of transitioning to a net zero society.” Click here for more latest news.

National tour sparks discussions for the electrical community

The team from Hager has reached the midway mark of its epic tour across the UK. HagerGang On Tour has seen the Hager UK team cover the entire nation - from north to south and east to west - connecting, collaborating and celebrating with local communities of electrical wholesalers, installers and contractors. The tour, which commenced on 17 July, has been ongoing for the past four weeks. Its fully branded merch store has been travelling to each of the 40 wholesalers, with the Hager team being available to offer valuable technical and sales support, as well as gifting free merchandise along the way. A spokesperson from Hager UK, says, “HagerGang On Tour has been a fantastic and unique opportunity for us to connect face-to-face and develop our already well-established relationships with our loyal community of over 20,000 contractors nationwide. “At each location, we’ve been met by professionals who regularly use Hager products and those that are curious about our latest solutions. We’re only halfway through but we’ve already had so many interesting and insightful one-to-one conversations with our customers, with an abundance of feedback and positive reviews.” Throughout the summer, the Hager UK merch store will be visiting 40 different wholesalers in 40 different locations, with the tour concluding on 6 September. In exchange for any Hager products purchased at a nominated wholesaler, customers qualify for free HagerGang merchandise, such as limited-edition t-shirts, sunglasses and Hager’s highly sought-after blue screwdrivers. “All of our products are solely designed with installers in mind, and so having ample chance to discuss in-person and provide demos of our latest products, such as AFDDs, has been incredibly valuable. Not only can we ensure installers are using them exactly as intended, but we can better understand what our community needs and how we can continue to provide the very best service.” Darren Wolvey, Project Director at Ample Power, explains, “At Ample Power, we’re proud to fit Hager products. Assured in the knowledge that in the event of a breakdown for any customer across the UK, we can promptly purchase it from local stockists, saving both costs for our client and our engineers’ time. While we regularly engage with Hager UK on social media, the HagerGang On Tour was a great opportunity to connect with the team face-to-face and receive additional support.” Click here for more latest news.

Prolectric unveils savings calculator to switch from diesel to solar

Prolectric has unveiled an innovative new savings calculator to help companies fast-track and achieve their environmental and sustainability objectives by making the switch from diesel to solar. Serving a wide range of industries from construction, housebuilding, and rail to major infrastructure, its new savings calculator has been specifically designed to calculate the potential carbon, diesel and cost savings, that could be realised when switching from diesel powered systems to Prolectric’s solar and hybrid power solutions. Rachel Preen, Managing Director, Prolectric, comments, “Our range of environmentally friendly, advanced performance products have been designed as direct like-for-like diesel replacements, making them a simple switch. The environmental case is clear, but our new savings calculator provides a simple yet highly effective tool to support businesses to see the full benefits and build a commercial case to switch to solar. Since launching our first solar lighting tower in 2017, we estimate to have saved our clients 26 million kg of CO2 and reduced diesel usage by more than 10 million litres – that’s probably saved our customers more than £9 million.” “We are committed to providing practical and commercially viable ways for businesses to stop using polluting fossil fuels to reduce carbon emissions. Our new tool offers another level of granularity for customers during the critical specification and procurement stages, with quick access to understandable data, so they can make informed decisions which in turn will help them achieve their net zero goals and save money.” Click here for more latest news.

Installers can save £100 on the latest smart EV charger this August

For a limited time, Indra Approved installers can save £100 on Indra’s newest home charger, the Smart LUX.    With a profile of just 78mm, the Smart LUX is the slimmest charger on the market, and despite its compact size, is designed for easy installation. It contains easy-to-fit connectors and has ample space within the unit to enable, fast, simple and safe fitting of all components.  Available in four elegant colours, the Smart LUX appeals to EV customers seeking a minimalist home aesthetic as well as for installations in narrow driveways or in locations where space is limited.  Developed and engineered by Indra’s team of experts, the Smart LUX has been designed to withstand whatever life throws at it, and is the only EV charger with an IP67 rating for water and dust protection. It also features IK10 impact rating, meaning it’s built to resist the bumps and knocks from a typical family environment. In addition, the Smart LUX comes with leading a five-year warranty.  In addition, installers can get Indra’s best-selling Smart PRO charger for less this August. For a limited time, the charger will be available for a new low price of £475.   Packed with smart features and functionality, the Smart LUX enables your customers to take advantage of the lowest-cost electricity from their supplier and free power from their rooftop solar without buying an add-on kit. And with all the latest safety features squeezed into the charger, you can say goodbye to extra boxes, fuses and cables cluttering your install and your customer’s house.   To take advantage of these offers, simply head to the Replenishh website and log in to your installer account. No discount code is needed and the reduced prices will be shown automatically. Alternatively, contact Indra’s sales team at sales@indra.co.uk.  Click here for more latest news.