Thorn Lighting publishes whitepaper on NightTune technology

According to a news article published on the International Dark-Sky Association’s website, globally we spend at least $50 billion in energy costs each year to produce light that escapes into space. Not only does wasted light impact negatively on our dark skies, artificial light at night can have consequences for human wellbeing and wildlife. Thorn Lighting’s NightTune technology has been designed to limit these negative impacts of artificial light at night. It achieves this by adjusting colour temperatures and outputs depending on the time of night and surrounding environment. In this newly published whitepaper, the NightTune technology is explored in greater detail. This includes an insight into how the LEDs operate, and comparisons drawn between NightTune’s spectral distribution compared to other fixed 3000K dimmable solutions. The whitepaper also looks at research and studies from industry experts, academics and scientists and is available in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Download the whitepaper here.

Screwfix announces rollout of stores in France

Screwfix has opened its first store in France. The store openings follow the launch of its online French presence through Screwfix.fr. Since April 2021, Screwfix has seen a positive response from its customers, with strong traffic and conversion rates, with growing brand awareness across the country. The first Screwfix France store opened in Wattrelos in Lille on 31 October, with three to four more stores set to open by the end of January 2023, all in the Hauts-de-France region. A meaningful step up in store openings will follow next year. The store openings will create employment opportunities for local communities in the region. The vacancies will be available in a variety of areas such as retail management, service assistants and supervisor roles. To provide its customers with convenience and to support its network of stores, Screwfix opened its distribution centre located in Nanteuil-le-Haudouin (Oise), last May. Each Screwfix France store will offer around 10,000 products aimed at trade professionals with an additional 5,000 products available online - ranging from plumbing and electrical products to power tools and workwear. Customers will be able to click and collect from store in as little as 10 minutes. The store model will be based on success in the UK and Ireland, with product ranges adapted to the French market. John Mewett, Screwfix CEO, comments, “The creation of bricks and mortar stores in France is a major milestone for us and a direct result of the increasing demand from our customers for our extensive product range and the convenience of a store nearby - allowing busy tradespeople to get what they want when they need it. “We’re delighted to have opened our first store in France with more store openings planned by the end of January 2023. We look forward to welcoming customers to our new stores and providing employment opportunities for local communities across the region.” Screwfix has seen rapid expansion in the UK and Ireland over the past decade, growing from 215 stores and £518m in sales in 2011/12 to 842 stores today, with £2.3bn in sales in 2021/22.

Octopus Energy customers provide 108MW of grid flexibility

Octopus Energy has released the preliminary results from its first ever ‘Saving Session’, a new energy reduction scheme that allows households to get paid for shifting their energy usage out of peak times. Octopus invited all of its 1.4 million electric smart meter customers to join the revolutionary new scheme, which runs from November to March 2023. Over 400,000 customers have already joined the programme, which is still accepting new sign ups. Over 200,000 customers opted in to the first ever test session conducted between 5-6pm on 15 November. The average customer managed to reduce their energy usage by well over half (59%) of their regular usage during that time period. Together, the group managed to reduce the UK’s energy demand during the one hour period by 108MW, as much as a gas power station can generate in an hour and more than half of the 200MW flexibility requirement National Grid needed from all sources. This demonstrates that if just one other energy company delivered the same as Octopus, consumer demand could have met all National Grid’s needs for flexibility. If the program was scaled up to all electric smart meter customers in Great Britain, the resulting flexible energy load would be over 1GW, almost as much as powering up one of the UK’s major coal fired power stations (but without the emissions). Typical bill payers received well over £1 for just one hour’s shift (as well as saving on their energy costs), the top 5% of participants earned an average of £4.27. Alex Schoch, Head of Flexibility at Octopus Energy Group, comments, “Giving consumers the chance to grab a bargain is a win-win-win: cleaning up the grid, cutting costs and delivering greater energy security. “Just like the yellow label products priced to clear in a supermarket, it doesn’t need everyone to take part, but those who do get cheaper energy for themselves and drive down waste and reduce costs for everyone else too. “Octopus are proud to have pioneered this. Our huge investment in technology and customer relationships made this possible and we expect to see other companies follow suit.” During the session, Octopus Energy customers tweeted their support and shared the many different ways they were turning down their usage: Octopus Energy smart meter customers who are yet to take part can still sign up for the scheme here.

Liberty begins £5.4 million contract with Sovereign Housing Association

Liberty will provide Sovereign Housing Association residents across the South West and Thames Valley with confidence in their electrical equipment for the next six years. The business has secured the multi-million-pound contract to deliver Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) testing and remedial works to 5,500 properties including homes, offices, and commercial buildings. “The tender was split into four lots, and we were pleased to be successful in securing all four,” says Chris Gilmore, Liberty’s Regional Director for the South West and Wales. “We’ll be looking after homes and properties from Exeter and Gloucester in the west to Christchurch, Poole and the Isle of Wight on the south coast and up to Berkshire, Oxford and Reading in the Thames Valley. “It builds on the success of our existing electrical contracts in this vast geographical area and is testament to Liberty’s reputation for being smart and straightforward to work with.” Peter Bailey, Assistant Director for Compliance Services from Sovereign Housing Association says, “Liberty offers value for money, but more than that, we know they have respect and trust as their core values and that fits with our approach as a leading not-for-profit landlord. Our emphasis is on providing a great service to our customers by constantly investing in the communities we serve, and we are confident that Liberty will enhance our ability to achieve this.” The contract, which is worth £900,000 per annum for six years will involve a rolling programme of EICR testing to ensure certificates are valid for five years. An inspection will also take place at each change of tenancy.

Parliamentary reception success! ESR celebrates 10-year anniversary

On 16 November, the Electrical Safety Roundtable (ESR) hosted a parliamentary reception to shine a spotlight on ‘Enhancing the Standards of Electrical Safety in the UK’ and to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The reception brought together a multitude of stakeholders from across the industry and political sphere and provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress made to enhance electrical safety standards. Guests heard from Lord Foster of Bath who provided an overview of his Domestic Premises (Electrical Safety Certificate) Bill and influential electrical safety campaigner Louise Adamson, who captivated the room with her speech, urging the industry to act to prevent fatalities resulting from unsafe electrical installations and unsafe working practices. Sponsored by Mark Fletcher MP, the event provided an opportunity to reflect on the contribution to enhancing electrical safety standards made by the roundtable over the past 10 years and to highlight their recent initiatives, such as the newly launched Electrical Safety Roundtable Above and Beyond Awards, created to showcase best practice and inspire change. Commenting on the reception, Chairman of NAPIT, Frank Bertie says, “It was a pleasure to sponsor this event, and fantastic to see so many influential industry stakeholders gathered together, united by the desire to enhance electrical safety standards. As we heard today, electricity has the potential to drastically change lives, and we will continue with our mission to enhance standards and enact positive change.” Simon Wood, Industry Director for Installations at Megger says, “Megger have been proud members and supporters of the ESR from the start as, for the first time, it provided a platform allowing all stakeholders within our industry the opportunity to work to a common agenda - electrical safety.” Carl Traynor, Regional Specification Manager at Aico comments, “Aico were delighted to be a sponsor of ESR’s Parliamentary Reception, with the opportunity to celebrate the organisation’s 10-year anniversary, as well as the research, policy solutions and guidance they have provided for the electrical industry over the last decade to improve electrical safety. As a business, Aico has made a commitment to share best practice and create safer homes, so to be able to support other organisations with the same agenda is extremely important to us.” The reception was sponsored by Megger, NAPIT Trade Association, Aico, believe housing, Eland Cables, Blue Flame Certification, phs Compliance, Kewtech, c2c and IASME consortium.

Gripple achieves top 10 shortlisting in manufacturing awards

Gripple is celebrating its shortlisting in a record 10 categories at this year’s TMMX Awards (The Manufacturer MX Awards) in partnership with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. The company, which won the Leadership and Strategy MX Award in 2021, is excited to be shortlisted alongside many other manufacturing companies for the following awards: Achieving Customer Value Product Innovation and Design Leadership and Strategy Operational Excellence People and Skills Smart Factory Supply Chain Excellence Sustainable Manufacturing International Trade Young Manufacturer of the Year Gripple has been visited by TMMX judges over the last couple of weeks, with them gathering evidence of their award entries in action. Gordon Macrae, Special Projects Manager at Gripple, explains, “The TMMX Awards are one of the most prestigious manufacturing awards in the country, so the fact that we have been shortlisted in 10 awards is testament to the expertise of our people. As these awards involve the judges visiting our premises and challenging our applications, there is a lot of learning which arises from us having to analyse our processes and performance. We use this to feed back to continually improve our operations.” He adds, “The awards are also an opportunity to showcase the passion for excellence across our company, which is driven by Gripple being an employee-owned business.” The winners will be announced at The Manufacturer MX Awards ceremony and gala dinner taking place on 17 November at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool.

NAPIT supports SPARKS Learner of the Year 2023

The SPARKS Learner of the Year 2023 search has begun and once again NAPIT will be providing its technical expertise and continued support of the competition. Members of NAPIT’s Technical Team will be head judges for the competition and have assisted in the creation of the assessments for the learners, as well as donating prizes to all contestants and finalists. All participants will be given free NAPIT Foundation membership and a £5 voucher to NAPIT Direct, with the finalists receiving digital copies of NAPIT’s EICR Codebreakers, On-site Solutions and Guide to Initial Verification and Periodic Inspection, and Testing of Electrical Installations publications. The winner of the competition will receive all of the above, plus a goodie bag containing a lock-out kit, calibration card, a testing adapter and a £40 NAPIT training voucher. The competition is split in to three rounds: Round one: all regional competitors will complete an online written test to compete against each other to secure their place in round two. Round two: the top two scorers from each region will complete a series of practical scenario-based exercises and take part in a professional discussion video call. The video call will be with a member of the SPARKS team, a NAPIT judge and representatives from sponsors of the competition. Round three - the final: the winner of each regional heat will complete a live practical test in May. Each finalist will compete in their own college with a technical expert from NAPIT judging their work for a chance to be crowned SPARKS Learner of the Year 2023. NAPIT’s Chief Technical Officer, Frank Bertie says, “We’re proud to be supporting the competition again, it’s great to see everyone involved. Each year we’re blown away by the level of talent the students display, we’re excited to see what they bring to this year’s competition”. During January and February, NAPIT will be travelling across six regions of England and Wales in search of the best up-and-coming industry talent.

Networks trialling motorsport inspired technology to cut generator emissions

Three cleaner fuels are to be trialled in mobile electricity generators used to power homes, in a move towards cleaner air and transition to net zero emissions. UK Power Networks will use lower emission fuels to replace diesel in generators. The industry-first project will see homes and businesses in Kent use the alternative fuel in generators used to power them during essential network maintenance and repairs. Britain’s first hybrid glycerine generator will be tested in the ‘Cleaner Engines’ innovation project based on cutting-edge technology used in electric motorsport to avoid recharging electric race cars using diesel. The trial will also compare the reliability, performance and emissions of hybrid generators fuelled by Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). To reduce engine noise and improve air quality, the cleaner fuel engines also have batteries which can charge during the day so they can run quietly at night. The glycerine and HVO generators will also use solar panels to charge the battery. Portable generators are used to keep power flowing when undertaking repairs on the networks as well as after severe storms, when they help get the power back on for customers quickly, while engineers repair damaged cables. Residents will be able to spot the new low emission trial generators, supplied by Aquafuel Research Ltd and Energy Solutions (UK) Ltd, by their distinctive green colour. The HVO and glycerine generators are expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 87% and the LPG by approximately 42%. Ian Cameron, Head of Customer Service and Innovation at UK Power Networks says, “We are designing and testing new types of generators to find out which produce the greatest reduction in emissions and help us lower our carbon footprint. “This project includes collaboration to help electricity network operators across Britain learn how to reduce reliance on diesel, understand safe storage and handling procedures needed for large-scale use and support the drive to achieve a better environment.” Early estimates show that replacing 50 diesel-fuelled generators with a mixture of alternative-fuelled hybrid generators could save 251 tonnes of CO2e every year, equivalent to about 289 London-New York return flights, plus hundreds of thousands in fuel costs and reduced maintenance over a five-year period. The first alternative fuel generators using HVO have been used to supply electricity to a customer’s home while repairs were carried out to their electricity supply cable. The trial will continue until February 2023 when results and customer feedback will be published.

Millions to use electric heaters as they worry about their energy bills

New research released by Electrical Safety First during its annual Electrical Fire Safety Week campaign reveals a drastic change in how households will heat their homes, as energy bills have skyrocketed in the last year. A new survey of more than 3,000 nationally representative adults across the UK has shown 42% of respondents are either definitely using or considering using an electric heater to heat a single room in their home, due to concerns over the cost of central heating. The latest figure represents an 8% increase, year-on-year, in those planning to use electric heaters this winter to heat a single room in their home, the equivalent of 4.3 million people. Although electric heaters are not inherently dangerous, they can and do cause devastating fires if they are not used with care, with fan heaters posing a greater risk in the home. Further findings show how, for many, this change in behaviour will be new, with over one in three (37%) of those who plan to use an electric heater this winter having not done so before, as financial pressures continue to impact more homes. This new research on likely electric heater use reflects an overwhelming trend of increased worry and concern about the cost of energy, with 90% of those surveyed this year saying they were concerned about the cost of heating their home this winter - up from 78% last year. Shopping for electric heaters has also been popular in the last year, with more than one in five (22%) of respondents concerned about the rising energy costs purchasing one in the last year - the majority of those having done so from an online marketplace (45%). Electrical Safety First warns shoppers to purchase directly from reputable retailers. Devastating fires The charity is urging households to be extra careful this winter, given the likely increase in their use of electrical heaters and electric blankets, due to the cost-of-living crisis. Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive of Electrical Safety First, comments, “Heating your home should never come at the expense of your own safety. While portable heaters can be useful to heat a small space, they can pose a real risk to your home and your life if mistakes are made when using them. With the significant number of people set to turn to these appliances this winter, it’s vital we use them safely. “We are reminding people that it is crucial you stay safe as you stay warm - if mistakes are made it could pose a risk to household safety. With more heaters likely to be used this winter there is increased likelihood of misuse, so it is imperative that people are careful when using them to avoid a devastating outcome.” The latest research is released as the charity launches a new campaign video to mark Electrical Fire Safety Week, with members of the Fire and Rescue Services recounting devastating fires they have attended, caused by electric heaters. Ben Turner, Safety Manager in Operation and Community Risks at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service recounts, “We were called to a house fire we later discovered was caused by an electrical heater. Whilst tackling the fire the breathing apparatus team discovered the gentleman, still in his armchair. The fire had started by the heater being too close to the fabric of the armchair, which has ignited and engulfed it in flames. Nothing prepares you for that.” Staying safe The public are being urged to use heaters safely this winter, as the cost-of-living bites, and follow Electrical Safety First’s advice on safe use: Put your heater on a level surface, well away from anything or anyone that could knock it over. Make sure your heater is at least well away from combustible materials, such as paper, furniture or curtains. Never use it to dry your clothes! Never leave your heater unattended for long periods whilst in use, or while you are asleep. Never power a heater from an extension lead - they can easily be overloaded and cause fires Regularly inspect your heater for damage and deterioration. If it isn’t in good condition, don’t use it! Make sure you buy from manufacturers or retailers that you know and trust. Avoid second-hand heaters but if you do then ask them what safety checks are carried out. Register your appliance and ensure you check your heater has not been recalled. Ensure you have a working smoke alarm on every floor in your home and test it regularly - it could save your life.

Short courses are no substitute for proper electrical training

The head of Scotland’s largest trade body has warned against the rising trend of ‘six-week wonders’ who are trying to enter the electrical industry after taking just a short course in basic skills. In a hard-hitting interview, SELECT Managing Director, Alan Wilson, dismissed the spread of fast-track courses and said people with inadequate training and experience pose a safety risk to both the electrical sector and consumers. He also insisted there was no substitute for a proper apprenticeship - and warned that people with ‘pound signs in their eyes’ faced being taken advantage of by rogue trainers offering worthless short courses. Alan says, “We all know how safety-critical the construction industry is, and the last thing I want is for anyone to spend money on a pie-in-the-sky idea that after six weeks of training they can trot out and start rewiring homes or installing solar PV and battery storage. It just doesn’t happen. “You can’t become a doctor or a nurse in six weeks - experience and training are vital. Even after a four-year apprenticeship and a final assessment, most employers say electricians need two to three years’ experience on top of that. To imagine you can do in six weeks what real electricians are doing in six or seven years just doesn’t add up. “We all know how dangerous electricity can be if things aren’t done properly, so proper training is key. The last thing anyone wants to do is put themselves, or any customer they carry out work for, at risk.” Alan, who has helped spearhead the long-running campaign for the professional recognition of electricians, spoke out in conversation with Thomas Nagy and Bradley Jones on The Electrical Show on Fix Radio, the national station aimed at the building sector. He said that the industry already has faster routes to entry for people with transferrable skills but said that, in general, adult apprenticeship schemes were still the best option for securing a recognised qualification for older people wanting a change in career. Alan says, “It is a contentious topic and a response to it depends on who is doing the course. Through the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB), we operate a crediting electrical competence (CEC) scheme which considers an individual’s experience and qualifications, and sometimes they’re only required to do updates on existing knowledge as appropriate. “But if someone doesn’t have the qualifications to start with it becomes a much bigger issue. If someone is serving or cooking meals in a restaurant one week and then decides to do a six-week course to become an electrician the next, that’s just a pipe dream that will end badly for them and anyone they end up working for. “There are opportunities for people who, for instance, have had services training or have a technical background but no formal qualifications and who could do shorter courses to become qualified. “But we must be very, very careful about people who just want to pick up a tool bag because they can see the pound signs in their eyes. Six-week wonders are not what the industry or the public wants.” He adds, “The electrical industry isn’t a closed shop, but people must get into it in the right way. So yes, you might have to do an adult apprenticeship for two or three years, but that’s going to give you a career for 10, 20 or even 30 years thereafter.” Alan pointed to the Rogue Trainers campaign launched by The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP), which highlights the issue of those who make outlandish claims to persuade people to spend money on worthless courses. He comments, “The section on TESP’s website is brilliant and is designed to help people avoid being ‘suckered in’ and spending their money on courses which will get them nowhere. “People who have been made redundant are often looking to retrain in a new occupation, and TESP gives great tips on the sales techniques and warning signs to avoid.” Alan also stressed the importance of SELECT’s ongoing campaign for the regulation of the electrical industry in Scotland which, if successful, will make it unlawful for anyone to offer electrical services unless they are properly qualified. He concludes, “We are committed to ensuring that people are properly trained and qualified in this industry because we have heard too many stories about the consequences of poor workmanship and poor installations.”