Expert shares five tips for businesses to reduce their energy consumption

An expert has shared five ways that businesses can reduce their energy bills and become more sustainable by making just minor adjustments to their work environment. The average small and medium-sized UK business could reduce their bills by 18-25% if they implemented energy efficient measures, and with commercial energy not included in the price cap, many will be particularly invested in reducing their usage. However, new research by ElectricalDirect has found that the majority of UK businesses could be doing far more to cut back on their energy consumption, so it has partnered with Claire Watson, Managing Director at Airmatic, to share the ways that companies can save. Regularly maintain your lighting - 86% of businesses don’t Businesses waste energy and money by not regularly maintaining their office lighting, as without frequent checks, light levels can fall by almost a third over a couple of years. Regular maintenance can help reduce costs by up to 15%. Claire says, “Lighting maintenance can not only help to identify fixtures or bulbs that may be losing power or need replacing, but also keep fittings clear of dust, which can weigh them down and potentially cause damage over time. You can also check which lights may need upgrading to energy efficient bulbs.” Reduce the heating temperature in the office - 85% of businesses don’t UK businesses can also save money by reducing the heating temperature in the office, and a reduction of just 1°C can cut fuel consumption by 8%. Claire advises, “Even by lowering the thermostat by a degree or two can save plenty of money - potentially up to £200 a year - especially given the current price of energy. As we move towards the summer, this will become less of an issue, but next time you have to warm the place up, set it a degree lower.” Keep radiators clear of obstructions - 85% of businesses don’t If items are placed in front of a radiator, this will cost your business money and energy, with the heat generated mainly warming up the obstruction, rather than the room. Claire comments, “Radiators stuck behind any object, from desks and cabinets to sofas and curtains, are only going to cost you money. Unless you’re looking to only heat up these items, make sure your radiators are completely unobstructed, which will in turn heat up your space much faster.” Set the heating at a constant temperature - 85% of businesses don’t Keeping the temperature at a constant level will help reduce your office energy consumption, as repeatedly moving it up and down will only increase your bills. Claire says, “Keeping your heating at a constant temperature can also be a good way to save that many don’t consider, as the cost of trying to quickly heat up a cold room or cool down a room in the summer can end up being more costly. This is because your heating and air conditioning doesn't have to try to work overtime to counteract the temperature you’re trying to correct.” Make use of natural light from windows and skylights - 84% of UK businesses don’t Using natural light rather than switching the lights on and off on a sunny day can help save money and energy in the office. By reconfiguring your office space, you can make the most of the natural light that comes in by moving workspaces to naturally well-lit locations. Claire says, “Now that we’re finally in spring, the increase in natural light will be a lifesaver when it comes to cutting down your energy costs. If your premises has plenty of windows, you may have days where you don’t need the lights on at all, especially around midday. It’s worth periodically checking if the amount of natural light your space is getting throughout the day warrants the lights being on or off. “It’s thought that a good day-lighting design and setup could save you up to 75% if you’re able to greatly reduce the amount of lights switched on.” Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at ElectricalDirect, adds, “We hope these tips prove helpful and businesses can start making small changes to save both money and energy. “It’s important that companies of all sizes engage in these types of behaviour, but our research found that small businesses are far more likely to implement simple everyday changes than larger organisations, who instead invest in expensive measures, like solar panels. We know that small actions make a difference as they all add up, so we’d encourage all business owners to consider changes wherever possible, no matter how minor.”

Solar-powered electric cars for Northumberland County Council

As part of its ambition to cut carbon emissions in half by 2025, Northumberland County Council has appointed UK Power Networks Services to design and build a £3 million infrastructure upgrade to its main staff car park in Morpeth, including 120 new electric vehicle charge points. This includes an 800kW solar photovoltaic (PV) carport array - a combination of solar panels connected to form a large installation, which provides weather protection for electric vehicles and generates power - along with a 400kW battery storage system with smart controls to make energy use more efficient. The technology will work together as an integrated system to provide clean energy. Energy from the solar panels will be used to power the EV charge points for fleet/staff vehicles, or stored for later to maximise cost and carbon efficiency. In total, it could save about 250 tonnes of carbon emissions per year. Philip Heathcote, Head of Markets at UK Power Networks Services, says, “This project’s benefits speak for themselves. By being innovative and using technology smartly, we can transform the way we use energy and reduce emissions quickly. “We’re committed to deploying innovative energy technologies right across the UK to drive down carbon emissions and help organisations like Northumberland County Council achieve their sustainability ambitions.” Planning permission was granted in February 2023, with preparatory and refurbishment work starting in August 2022. The project 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 from its investment in the system through energy savings. Parts of the car park will also remain open during the upgrade, with around two thirds of the parking spaces available at any one time. Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council and portfolio holder for climate change, says, “I am so pleased to see these important works begin to get underway. We are on a journey to reduce carbon emissions across the county, and this is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through adopting innovative ways to produce cleaner energy. “We are a huge employer in the region and finding ways to sustain our energy usage is high on our list of priorities. “I’m pleased to have UK Power Networks Services on board to help us begin to future-proof our estate and help us in our mission to make Northumberland a carbon neutral county by 2030.” Cabinet members have also recently approved the installation of 75 new on-street EV charge points per year at key locations in the county. This follows a pilot of on-street charging points which have been installed over the past year.

Solar manufacturer urges installers to take up PV training

GoodWe is calling on both non-PV installers and existing solar contractors to invest in training, with interest in solar predicted to soar as a result of the as the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) increase. Although the current EPG has been announced to stay at £2,500 for a further three months before increasing to £3,000 in July, solar is already seeing unprecedented levels of interest from homeowners and landlords. One energy firm, Good Energy, found that solar installations doubled to over 130,000 in 2022. Now, GoodWe is urging tradespeople to start skilling up in solar today to meet this growing demand and is launching a series of training sessions to help tradespeople add PV to their services. The free-to-attend training sessions are part of the company’s GoodWe PLUS+ Installer Programme. Hosted online by a GoodWe technical specialist, the series is run in three separate parts, and is designed to help installers from design and installation, through to commissioning and aftermarket servicing. The programme consists of the following modules: Portfolio and application - 9 May 2023. Commissioning and monitoring - 11 May 2023 Troubleshooting and service - 16 May 2023 Eugene Lucarelli, Marketing Manager for GoodWe UK, says, “Over the past year, we have seen the solar industry skyrocket. Rising energy prices have pushed people to look at future-proofing their energy supply and protect themselves from volatile, expensive grid costs. “It represents a great opportunity for tradespeople like electricians and roofers, who may already have a slight connection with solar, to really step into the industry and add PV to their portfolio. We’re here to enable this through our easy-to-access training seminars in May, hosted by one of our leading technical representatives. “The webinars themselves help break down everything an installer would need to know about solar solutions. It’s also a great refresher course for existing solar installers, and by going through the training sessions, you can become an accredited GoodWe PLUS+ installer and unlock other benefits from us too, including additional warranty on our residential inverters.” As well as training installers on the core elements of a solar system solution - inverters and batteries - delegates can also learn about complementary products, such as EV chargers. These products are becoming increasingly popular and are a requisite for certain new builds under Part S of the Building Regulations - Infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles. Accredited GoodWe PLUS+ installers will benefit from an extended 10-year warranty on GoodWe’s range of string inverters for residential applications. Once training has been completed, all installers need to do is register for an installer code for GoodWe’s monitoring solution, SEMS, install an inverter and then connect the inverter to SEMS.

The Screwfix Foundation celebrates 10 years

The Screwfix Foundation is thrilled to celebrate its 10th Birthday with Screwfix’s customers and colleagues. To celebrate its 10th birthday, Screwfix’s colleagues will get directly involved in fundraising raffles and events in stores, its business centre and its head office, supported by The Screwfix Foundation charity champions across the UK. After recognising the need to give back to the local community, The Screwfix Foundation was set up 10 years ago with a commitment to supporting charities and not-for-profit organisations whose facilities needed fixing, repairing, maintaining, and improving. Thanks to the generosity of Screwfix’s customers and colleagues, in the last 10 years The Screwfix Foundation has been able to raise a staggering £11 million. The funds have supported over 2,400 local registered charities and not-for-profit-organisations across the UK with grants of up to £5,000. Screwfix customers’ and colleagues’ generous donations have also enabled The Screwfix Foundation to donate funds to its charity partner, Macmillan Cancer Support. To date, over £620,000 has been donated towards the Macmillan Grant Scheme which provides home improvements for those affected by cancer. In 2022, the funding supported applications from 420 households for home improvements that make a big difference to the wellbeing of those living with cancer, such as shower and bathroom adaptations, new flooring, decoration, or installing stairlifts, and fully funded almost all of the grants made by Macmillan Cancer Support for home improvements. Also, through Screwfix’s partnership with micro-donation charity Pennies, The Screwfix Foundation has received more than £32.5 million micro-donations from customers rounding up their orders on Screwfix.com, raising over £4.9 million. If these donations were real pennies laid end to end, they would reach 1/4 of the way around the Earth. John Mewett, Screwfix CEO and Trustee of The Screwfix Foundation says, “This year marks an incredible milestone for The Screwfix Foundation. I am proud of how many community projects The Screwfix Foundation has been able to fund in the last 10 years. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Screwfix's customers and colleagues. I would like to say a big thank you to those who have kindly donated their time and money to enable the Foundation to support so many charities and not-for-profit organisations across the UK.” Becky Ettinger, Head of Corporate Partnerships of Macmillan Cancer Support says, “We are very grateful to The Screwfix Foundation for its incredible support. Since we started working together in 2013, it has helped Macmillan to provide emergency grants to over 1,000 people living with cancer in the UK. These grants provide vital support for people and their families, who already face increased costs as a result of a cancer diagnosis. We look forward to continuing our work together, to support many more people with cancer to live life as fully as they can.” Alison Hutchinson CBE, CEO of Pennies comments, “Congratulations to our valued partner Screwfix on reaching the 10th anniversary with The Screwfix Foundation. We would like to especially thank their generous customers who have donated millions of micro-donations when shopping on the Screwfix app or online. Pennies has been supporting Screwfix to collect donations for the Foundation since it was launched in 2013. At that time, customers made around 3,600 donations a week - today, customers are donating more than 25 times that every week, giving their digital pennies a real purpose and making a huge difference to community projects across the UK.”

Scolmore launches bumper new wiring accessories catalogue

Scolmore has launched what it says is its biggest and most comprehensive wiring accessories catalogue to date. Issue 14 brings together all products in the Click range into one, easy to access reference guide. It includes the very latest additions - a matt black finish for the Deco and Deco Plus ranges, as well as the new Definity Complete range, which aims to simplify the ordering process with inserts and cover plates now supplied and packaged as one unit with one product code. Available to download from the Scolmore website, the new catalogue provides wholesalers, contractors and specifiers with a valuable, in-depth resource to help them locate the right products and solutions for a variety of projects. The catalogue is rich in product and technical information and features every product from each range that Click covers and incorporates all the latest additions that have been developed to meet the growing demand in the marketplace. Issue 14 is divided into 16 individual sections which covers the Click Smart+ smart home products range, the Elucian consumer units and protective devices range, plus individual wiring accessories ranges - Deco+, Deco, Define, Definity, Definity Complete, Mode, Polar, Part M, Curva and Essentials - along with sections for GridPro, Minigrid, New Media and Flow Connector products. Scolmore’s Group Marketing Manager, Katie Plumstead, comments, “We are continually adding to our portfolio to introduce new and innovative products that contractors are seeking, to help them with quicker and easier installation. We know from our wholesaler customers and the contractors we engage with that, as well as the ability to browse the product range on our website, there is a demand for a hard copy version that they can flick through when away from their screens.”

Armorduct to unveil upgraded trunking system

Armorduct will showcase its portfolio of standard and bespoke cable management systems on stand number M35 at the Railtex Show 2023 at NEC Birmingham in May, with a spotlight on its upgraded IP4X trunking system. This year’s Railtex will provide contractors with the opportunity to see and sample Armorduct’s UK-manufactured portflio, including systems approved by London Underground (LUL) and Transport for London (TfL). These include the newly enhanced IP4X cable trunking, as well as a comprehensive range of solutions to solve installation, maintenance and corrosion challenges for rail industry cable containment. The improved trunking system is designed specifically with railway applications in mind, offering features such as individual tamper-proof fixings for multiple compartments, with each lid on a chain fixing for inspection and safety purposes. The range is supported by an expert in-house project engineering team that boasts 25 years of experience in partnering with customers to develop bespoke solutions for challenging onsite installations. James Wood, National Business Development and Rail Manager for Armorduct, says, “We’re exhibiting at Railtex at an exciting time in our company’s history because we’re now introducing a dedicated focus on the industry to build on our long history of supporting rail projects. Our business is growing rapidly, and this is underpinned by our unwavering commitment to the close collaborative approach we adopt with our clients, which results in exceptional project outcomes. This allows us to consistently deliver the most suitable solutions through our specialist and evolving range of products. “As the UK’s most prestigious railway industry trade event, Railtex provides the ideal platform for us to showcase the innovative work we’ve been doing for the rail industry and how this helps contractors. We are looking forward to meeting visitors to our stand, demonstrating how product excellence and collaboration can help them to cost-effectively meet their cable management systems requirements.” The Armorduct team can be found at stand number M35 at the Railtex Show, which takes place from 9-11 May 2023 at the NEC in Birmingham.

Make it Visible taskforce tackles wellbeing in construction

More than 150 people from across the construction industry have volunteered to help a national drive to stop suicide and improve the welfare and wellbeing of the workforce. The Make It Visible initiative was officially launched earlier this year and has seen contractors, clients, and professional bodies come together to try to tackle the industry’s poor record on mental health. ONS data shows that people working in construction are three times more likely to take their own lives than those in other industries. Every working day, two construction workers are lost to suicide in the UK and Ireland. Co-ordinated by the heads of Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity and Mates in Mind, the initiative aims to set a deliverable and measurable plan of action for wellbeing that can reach the boots on the ground. It is also designed to bring together the many different mental health schemes already in existence in construction to make a more coherent cross-company approach. The issues that the initiative will be prioritising are: drawing up an industry-wide wellbeing code of practice, issuing industry-wide advice, supporting the on-site wellbeing champions already in place and helping to develop people skills training for supervisors and managers. Obtaining government funding for wellbeing training and initiatives and ensuring mental health provision forms part of procurement are also among its priority issues. The 150 volunteers, part of the Make It Visible taskforce, will help develop the plans from their initial outlines. Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, says, “There are a lot of wellbeing strategies and there is some fantastic best practice, but it can be very difficult getting the industry to work together. “We have a moral responsibility to improve the welfare of our workforce and it’s great to see that with so many people on board the industry really does want to get behind this. “We want to leave egos, brands and intellectual property aside so that we can work together and change this moment into a movement to make wellbeing support visible in sight, on every site!”

Lack of publicity contributed to boiler upgrade scheme failure

New data discovered by The Eco Experts reveals a major lack of publicity contributed to the government’s failed Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Google Trends search data highlights a clear consumer interest in ‘air source heat pumps’ over the last 12 months, but minimal searches for the ‘boiler upgrade scheme’ or ‘heat pump grant’. This lack of public awareness around the scheme has resulted in thousands of UK households missing out on a £5,000 government grant, the potential for reduced energy bill costs, and an upgraded eco-friendly boiler. On average, they could have saved 50% of the cost of an average air source heat pump. According to Google Trends data collated by The Eco Experts, there was keen public interest around ‘air source heat pumps’ in 2022, with UK searches for the term hitting peak popularity of 100 from 11-17 December 2022. Yet interest around the ‘boiler upgrade scheme’ during the same year was significantly low, with searches for the scheme peaking at a mere 15 from 3-9 April 2022. The term ‘heat pump grant’ also experienced a low search volume in 2022. Its highest search score reached just 28 from the 27 March to 2 April. In 2022, search popularity for the ‘boiler upgrade scheme’ and ‘heat pump grant’ reached their highest scores before the government scheme had even launched, yet searches for ‘air source heat pumps’ peaked several months later. This data clearly shows that searches for the scheme never reached the search volumes that air source heat pumps did. With the UK cost-of-living-crisis leaving nearly 40% of people with no money at the end of the month, coupled with the threat of rising energy bills in April, UK homeowners are now in urgent need of financial support in regards to their energy usage. An air source heat pump will typically save £6,700 over its lifetime compared to a gas boiler. The UK Government launched its Boiler Upgrade Scheme in May 2022 to help households cut the cost of their energy bills, while encouraging sustainable living to help Britain achieve its net zero ambitions. But during the first five months of its launch, the scheme fulfilled just 33% of the heat pump installations it needed to reach its overall target. Data from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme even shows that the number of heat pump installations has decreased since the scheme began. The Eco Experts writer and researcher Josh Jackman comments, “The government has failed the public and the planet by refusing to publicise its own Boiler Upgrade Scheme in a year when consumer interest around air source heat pumps has reached peak popularity. This new data highlights the government’s two-faced approach to its climate targets: introduce a grant to tick a box, then neglect it completely. “After ending the plug-in grant and Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive in 2022, this deliberate abandonment of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme takes the government’s record on providing UK households with energy saving and affordable technology to a new low”. To equip UK homeowners with the tools to assess whether air source heat pumps could help to reduce their energy bills costs, The Eco Experts has launched an Air Source Heat Pump Cost Calculator. In line with the government scheme, this tool instantly provides homeowners with the total average cost for a heat pump installation, and how much of their carbon footprint could be reduced. The Eco Experts writer and researcher Josh Jackman shares five tips for homeowners looking to install an air source heat pump: You can get a heat pump from Octopus for as little as £2,500 with a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, and British Gas has promised to match any price. Air source heat pumps typically last 20 years, so don’t worry about replacing them after a decade - unlike gas boilers. You only need to get your heat pump professionally serviced every two or three years. The average home will need to replace one-third of its radiators with ones that are 2.5 times bigger. Consider also getting extra insulation and underfloor heating to take full advantage of your new heat pump.

NG Bailey appoints Jonathan Stockton to Chief Operating Officer

NG Bailey has appointed Jonathan Stockton to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer (COO). Clare Salmon, previously Group Financial Controller, has been promoted to Group Finance Director. As COO, Jonathan will oversee and optimise the group’s operational capabilities and administration, alongside developing and implementing key business strategies. Jonathan will also continue as a Group Board Director. Jonathan has played a key role alongside Chief Executive David Hurcomb and the NG Bailey board in driving the group’s growth agenda, which included several successful acquisitions within the services business. David Hurcomb, CEO at NG Bailey, says, “It is pleasing to see Jonathan move up into this newly created and strategic role. He has been an important part of the senior team since joining in 2016, and has contributed much to ensure the continued success of the business. “As a business, we are committed to recognising and rewarding our own talent and Clare’s promotion is testament to that. It also shows our succession plans are working and that colleagues can thrive and succeed in their careers with us. “Moving forward, we have exciting plans across the group, including a continued commitment to the net zero agenda and making a positive impact in everything we do. Both Jonathan and Clare’s wealth of experience across the business will ensure we remain at the forefront of the industry.” Jonathan says, “NG Bailey continues to be a leader within its field, and I am excited about the opportunity this role presents to deliver important work that further enhances our position and supports our people - the lifeblood of the business. “I look forward to developing further in this new role and making a positive contribution to our ongoing success.”

Baxi supports house design platform with prefabricated heating solutions

Baxi has supplied a new range of prefabricated understairs heating solutions to Travis Perkins’ WholeHouse, a platform that allows smaller regional housebuilders and developers across the UK to plan and design a complete, bespoke digital model of a house before beginning construction. Based on the BIM process, the new platform ensures detailed and accurate design, plans and material pricing of developments from the first day. From start to finish, the process can be completed in under an hour, saving weeks of work. Baxi has supplied over 160 tried-and-tested configurations using its specialist heating range so that WholeHouse users can select the most suitable, fully compliant low carbon heating solution for their properties. By including Baxi Assure’s ASHP, the platform is future-proofed to comply with the Future Homes Standard set to come into effect from 2025. For projects built before 2025 that are more suited to a gas boiler, units are available with the latest and most efficient Baxi Assure combi boilers. Controls and accessories are also available to ensure optimal efficiency in line with latest Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) regulations. The prefabricated understairs unit provides a quick and easy way to install the system into each property that improves its carbon footprint by reducing waste. WholeHouse platform users can also access Baxi’s design and engineering expertise throughout the project, from initial installation training to final commissioning, to help ensure best performance from the appropriate system. Nick Platt, Commercial and Marketing Director at Baxi, says, “The WholeHouse platform is a powerful tool for small to medium sized housebuilders, who are under mounting pressure to build new homes quickly while adhering to sustainability requirements. Regional developers using the platform will get access to the very best in efficient heating technologies, and expert support to give them the confidence that their chosen design is fully optimised for the new home.” Lee Jackson, Director of WholeHouse, says, “We are delighted to be working with Baxi and take great pride in supporting our customers with new value-added services that help them to navigate an increasingly complex construction landscape with new legislation and decarbonisation targets. “WholeHouse will do just that, and help SME housebuilders, who are the lifeblood of regional property markets, to build better, more sustainable homes quickly and safely, whilst retaining control over the creative design elements and saving time and money.” The first two homes built through WholeHouse and using Baxi’s air source heat pumps and prefabricated understairs units will be ready by September.