Cold snap research on heat pumps launched in South East

Dozens of homes across England are set to take part in an electric heating study that could hold the key to unlocking more capacity for low-carbon heating. Real-world consumer behaviour from UK Power Networks’ Neighbourhood Green project will be analysed to understand the exact amount of electricity capacity required to keep residents feeling comfortable, especially during the winter period across 2022/23. The trial will get valuable data on how homeowners with different types of low carbon heating like heat pumps, underfloor heating or panel heaters, are using their systems to keep warm. Engineers will compare real-life data from around 60 houses with a model of a ‘one in 20’ freezing winter, where demand for electricity would be unusually high. This insight will help UK Power Networks plan its interventions efficiently to secure ‘room’ on the network for more heat pumps in future. The grid operator is forecasting between 300,000 and 700,000 electric heat pumps operating on its network by 2028. At peak times, when most people are at home using electricity, the average home could consume 52% more energy with an electric car charger and heat pump. UK Power Networks is planning a £4.6 billion investment between 2023 and 2028. The company’s investment proposal covers a range of grid upgrades to make sure people can use low carbon technologies where and when they need, so nobody gets left behind in the transition to net zero. The project will make use of Energy System Catapult’s and PNDC’s new energy innovation test and evaluation facility - the Whole Energy Systems Accelerator (WESA) - to monitor energy use by homes with new technologies such as heat pumps and electric car chargers, and digitally map those onto simulated networks. Ian Cameron, Head of Customer Services and Innovation at UK Power Networks, says: “It’s our job to make sure that our customers are able to connect low carbon heating easily and quickly, whenever they choose to do so. Neighbourhood Green is helping us gain valuable insight so we can plan ahead to make sure they have that choice.” Richard Knight, Director for Strategy and Technology at research hub PNDC, comments: “Through WESA (the collaboration between PNDC’s real-world testing and demonstration facilities and the ESC’s Living Lab) we look forward to supporting UK Power Networks’ Neighbourhood Green project in assessing the operational flexibility potential of low carbon technology and accelerating consumer-facing energy innovation.” David Wyatt, WESA Technical Lead for Energy Systems Catapult, says: “We are very excited to be using our WESA facility, together with our collaborators at PNDC, to help UK Power Networks plan the future of their network in a net zero world. Whatever direction the UK takes to decarbonise, changes in electricity use patterns will be substantial, so it is important for electricity network operators to gain a preview of how real customers are likely to behave in decades to come.”

Toolstation offers customers micro-giving to boost fundraising for Macmillan

Toolstation has launched its collaboration with micro-donation charity Pennies, with customers able to add an optional donation onto their purchases, simply and discreetly when paying by card and contactless. Following a successful trial across Toolstation London branches, Pennies was rolled out to all of its estate of over 500 stores nationwide at the beginning of March. Raising more than £500,000 for Macmillan in 2021 Toolstation expects to far surpass this amount with its fundraising in 2022, with Pennies’ micro-donations included in this total. Toolstation’s Managing Director, James Mackenzie, says: “We are thrilled to be working with Pennies to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Our trials have shown that this can be an extremely successful and effective way of raising money for charity, without putting any pressure on our valued customers. “The pandemic has had a devastating impact on Macmillan’s efforts at a time when people living with cancer need our support more than ever, so we hope we can raise even more money for the vital work they do.” Pennies CEO Alison Hutchinson CBE says: “We are so happy to welcome Toolstation to the micro-donation movement, and we know their customers will make a huge difference to Macmillan’s team’s ability to provide vital medical advice, help people to navigate treatment and to cope with the wider impact of their cancer diagnosis and treatment. “Micro-donations have been accelerating over the last two years with record numbers of retailers starting to offer their customers the choice to give back. Even as we are starting to see household costs increasing, the UK public continues to demonstrate its generosity – just pennies at a time.” Since 2010, Pennies has enabled over 138 million micro-donations, raising over 34million pounds in much-needed additional income for charities in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The charity estimates that if every UK card holder donated just 35p once a week, it would raise £1bn in additional income for the UK charity sector. Alongside the partnership launch with Pennies, Toolstation has also launched a limited edition Stanley knife which will see £1 from every sale donated to Macmillan Cancer Support. The bright green knife (the colour of Macmillan) is on sale from April to June in stores and online for £5.99. As well as raising vital funds for Macmillan, the partnership aims to encourage more men to engage with the charity’s services. Nicki Gibson, Corporate Partnership Manager for Macmillan, says: “We are so grateful to our fundraisers, as Macmillan relies almost entirely on donations, and without the kindness and dedication of our supporters we would not be able to continue the work that we do. Thank you to Toolstation for raising £500,000 last year – the money raised goes a long way in providing the vital services that Macmillan funds. We look forward to continuing this partnership through 2022 which will help us do whatever it takes for people living with cancer.”

Siemens smart automation controllers for all types of buildings

After the launch of the PXC4 and PXC5 controllers for the optimised control of small and medium-sized buildings, Siemens has added the PXC7 to its Desigo portfolio to offer even more flexibility to building automation practitioners. This new addition allows professionals to program heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) applications for larger buildings. Thanks to its simplified integration capabilities, the Desigo PXC7 controller supports system integrators in providing a complete automation solution. The controller is natively equipped with cloud connectivity so users can execute maintenance tasks remotely, allowing for faster reaction and saving travel time and costs, as well as additional services over the building lifecycle. Desigo PXC7 brings the new standard communication protocol BACnet Secure Connect to the new line of PXC controllers, a crucial requirement to secure connected building automation systems and defend them against cyber attacks. The combination of compact hardware with the intuitive engineering software helps project managers to gain efficiency over the whole lifecycle, from engineering to operation. The Desigo engineering framework provides pre-configured libraries together with consistent and harmonised workflows to save training time and speed up project completion.

Research reveals the UK’s biggest van theft hotspots

New research has revealed the UK’s biggest hotspots for van theft, with some regions seeing the number of offences more than double year-on-year. The study, conducted by IronmongeryDirect, issued Freedom of Information requests to police forces to discover how many vans were stolen in 2020 and 2021. Cambridgeshire is the UK’s biggest hotspot for the crime, with a 103% increase in van theft over the last two years. The number of trade vehicles stolen rose from 68 in 2020 to 138 in 2021. Cumbria isn’t far behind, with offences doubling over that time period from 15 to 30 (100%). In fact, almost two in five (38%) police forces saw increases in van theft between 2020 and 2021. Over the two years, 14,919 vans were reported stolen across the UK, with an average of 466 per police force. However, as many crime reports fail to specify the type of vehicle, this figure could be even higher. Almost half (46%) of the total number of offences were in London. In 2020 and 2021, 6,839 incidents of van theft were reported to The Metropolitan Police Service. To help tradespeople protect themselves from van theft, IronmongeryDirect has partnered with Dan Powell, Motoring Expert at Desperate Seller, to offer security advice. Here are Dan’s top three tips: 1) Park in well-lit, highly trafficked areas “This can often be the most effective deterrent as it makes a discrete getaway extremely difficult. If it means paying a little more for parking or walking an extra few minutes to your destination, it's a lot less effort and costs less than the alternative.” 2) Secure your spare wheel “Spare wheels are often unscrewed and stolen without the van owner's knowledge. Once you've checked that you still have yours, make sure it's secured with a wheel lock. There are inexpensive products on the market that can save you the hassle of being caught out.” 3) Make sure you have insurance “Most importantly, it's always worth having adequate van insurance in case of theft or damage. Ensure the insurance policy includes tools and equipment left in the van overnight. Not all insurance products will provide this, and if you need to leave valuables in the vehicle, it's essential to make sure they are covered.” Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at IronmongeryDirect, says: “Sadly, van theft is a common problem across the UK and offences can have a devastating impact on tradespeople, both personally and professionally. “Our research has revealed which areas are seeing particularly large spikes in cases, but you need to be careful wherever you live, and that’s why we’re working with experts to share their top bits of advice on how to protect yourself.”

Hanwha Techwin launches Wisenet X-series cameras with AI capabilities

Hanwha Techwin has launched a new NDAA compliant Wisenet X-series range of cameras with built-in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, at a price point which the company is confident will appeal to any organisation looking to add value to its business. The new product range, consisting of 28 cameras, expands the options available to operators looking to enhance their video surveillance with deep learning, helping them reduce false alarms and work more efficiently. AI capabilities on the edge support operators with detecting objects like people, faces, vehicles and licence plates, improve image quality, and provide valuable business intelligence. Video analytics that’s based on deep learning AI Utilising deep learning, cameras are better able to meet the needs of today’s operators. AI embedded in the X-series range is making video more manageable, notifying operators about events when needed, enabling them to find relevant events and objects quickly through forensic search, and assisting with wider business intelligence. Accurate object detection and classification enables operators to quickly identify people, faces, number plates, and vehicle types including cars, trucks, buses, and bicycles. This offers more situational awareness and context to an event. Irrelevant motions such as waving trees, moving shadows and animals are ignored, all of which would usually be the cause of false alarms with standard motion detection technology. Therefore, operators can better focus on responding to real incidents and emergencies. AI-based analytics aren’t just for security, either. They also bring a wealth of actionable data to operations, marketing and sales departments. With AI-based object detection, businesses can obtain highly accurate people counts, queue management data and heat maps showing detailed patterns of behaviour. Intrusion detection and loitering are also available in the range and is complemented by virtual channel support which allows operators to simultaneously record and monitor areas of a scene as well as the whole scene. Enhanced image quality Alongside this, WiseNRII noise reduction technology utilises AI to identify object movement and reduce blur in noisy, low light environments. Extreme WDR uses scene analysis technology to reduce motion artefacts providing clear images even in strong backlight conditions, while WiseIR adjusts the output of infrared illumination according to a camera’s zoom magnification. WiseStreamIII minimises bandwidth and storage, compressing all video except objects and areas of interest. This enables operators to focus on only the objects and areas that need their attention, with optimum image quality, at a minimised bandwidth and with lower storage requirements. Reinforced durability for a consistent performance The range offers dome, vandal dome, bullet, and box camera options with each device featuring metal outers and, in the case of dome cameras, highly resistant dome bubbles. This extends the lifetime of each camera and ensures images are not distorted by scratches on the lens. A gore valve enables water vapour to drain out one way to prevent moisture build-up and damage. Power redundancy is provided through a combination of POE and 12v DC power with the latter being the default power supply. This provides continuous surveillance in the event of power failure. X-core versus X-plus The new AI enhanced X-series range is divided into X-core and X-plus cameras with the X-plus range offering a modular magnetic design to simplify installation, support for up to 120fps for smooth motion capture, greater IR illumination distance, tilt angle and some additional features and mounts. The X-plus also comes with tele focal length so operators can zoom into a scene with a 29mm angle of view to see greater details. Uri Guterman, Head of Product & Marketing for Hanwha Techwin, says, “We’ve witnessed deep learning AI becoming increasingly vital to security as the amount of video they’ve had to manage has grown. I’m delighted that Hanwha Techwin Europe is bringing false alarm reduction, edge-based business intelligence, and AI-enhanced image quality to a broader range of cameras. These improve operator efficiency for both real-time event notification and post-event search. It also makes AI more affordable and accessible to organisations who might previously have been under the impression that the technology is too expensive to be deployed for anything other than high-end applications. This move heralds the future of video in security.”

Domus Ventilation welcomes Jessica Cook to the role of General Manager

Domus Ventilation is pleased to announce the appointment of Jessica Cook as General Manager. Jessica joined Domus Ventilation at the start of 2021 as Head of Marketing, but her wide ranging, in-depth experience of strategy, leadership, sales, operations and people management quickly paved the way to her new role as General Manager. Jessica’s experience spans over 15 years in UK manufacturing, with a well developed career in security and defence prior to entering the HVAC market. In her previous company, where she focussed on safety and survival equipment, she joined as the Sales Manager before moving into a marketing and events role. Prior to this, Jessica was employed as a Sales and then Risk Office Manager for seven years - a very analytical role balancing risk against growth. Although Jessica has been working in HVAC for less than two years, she has developed an ardour for the industry. “Ventilation is the silent hero; nobody really knows it’s there and all the qualities it brings until it’s not there” she comments.  “Indoor air quality is hugely important to me, particularly living through this pandemic and suffering personal tragedies. Educating the industry as to how important ventilation is, is close to my heart and I feel it’s something that needs a bigger voice. We are a part of something that is helping to build a better, cleaner, more sustainable future for generations to come. Times are changing and I am really proud to be part of this journey.” Jessica’s enthusiasm extends to Domus Ventilation and the people who work there: “The passion in this company astounds me. From the moment I set foot into the Domus office it just got under my skin. The people are brilliant, passionate, they really care and want to make a difference. The whole ethos is about being customer centric and what complete solutions we can offer to help take away pain points, and for our products to improve the lives and health of occupants. I have an enormous amount of drive to help this brilliant company progress even further, because it absolutely deserves it.” For Jessica, the next six months will see her immersed in the wider business, understanding all aspects of its operation, including the services it provides. Her aim is to improve upon these to become even more customer centric, building the right teams with the right tools and the right products to support customers’ needs and expectations. Her attitude is very much inclusive, using her positivity and seemingly unending energy to bring people together, strengthen teams and drive the company forward together. A very determined person, she has been described by colleagues as a ‘positive force of nature’ and ‘an iron fist in a silk glove’. “I am getting us ready to take on the future together” states Jessica.

Movie makers help boost net zero

London locations favoured by the TV and movie industry will be among the first sites in the capital to get permanent electricity connections as part of the UK’s Green Recovery programme. Currently, film crews working at three sites across Battersea and St James Park, have to plug in petrol and diesel generators to supply energy where they need it, but they are now finalising connections to the electricity mains which reduce their CO2 emissions. UK Power Networks is delivering £66 million of ‘Green Recovery’ investment over 86 sites, to deliver low carbon energy projects that will help achieve the Government’s Ten Point Plan towards net zero by 2050. Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, says: “With demand for content higher than ever and the sheer popularity of London as a filming destination, our industry faces a growing imperative to be more sustainable. Innovations such as this grid project will reduce emissions and noise pollution whilst continuing to make world-class content on location. “It is vital that across the board, we continue to highlight environmental challenges, exchange learning, and work together toward supporting infrastructure changes and solutions. I would like to thank all partners involved, whose proactive support has been invaluable.” The clock is ticking on net zero, so 86 projects are being fast-tracked by the electricity firm, including Electric Vehicle charging hubs at motorway service stations, fleets of electric buses, community energy schemes and heat pumps. Adam Lakey, leading the projects at UK Power Networks, says: “This project is about providing the opportunity to help businesses decarbonise their activities. As we all strive to meet the Government’s targets for a net zero economy, it is vital that we all reduce our emissions and push towards a cleaner environment.”

CTEK expands UK E&F team for EV charging solutions

CTEK has expanded its UK Energy & Facilities (E&F) team to bring local focus and unrivalled expertise to the provision of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions - including training, maintenance, sales, marketing and technical support - for installers, wholesalers and other customers throughout the UK. CTEK has also partnered with West Midlands-based Rotronics Battery Management Solutions, whose team is providing a warehousing facility, processing orders, configuring CTEK’s Chargestorm Connected 2 EV chargers to customers’ specifications and managing UK distribution. This dedicated UK fulfilment operation will enable CTEK to fulfil orders quickly and efficiently, to meet growing demand from UK customers. CTEK’s EV charging team has expanded with four new sales managers - Ian Beattie and Adrian Hopkinson covering electrical wholesale customers and installers; Mohammed Shi Hub and Nathan Courts covering property owners, charge point and car park operators - along with Kaya Ferdinand, covering large charge point operators. CTEK also recently expanded its Aftermarket team with the appointment of Mark Poole. CTEK’s dedicated Skillbase team - comprising Viktors Nikolajevs, Tony Zeal and Sean Reed - provides external and in-house training on CTEK’s EV products and solutions. Technical support and expertise is provided by CTEK’s Jack Baker, working closely with CTEK’s support alliances and partnerships manager, Stewart Allen. Marketing activities are led by Katharine Parker. Cecilia Routledge, Global Director Energy & Facilities for CTEK says: ”We are delighted to have expanded our UK team to provide unrivalled expertise, training, sales and technical support in the field of EV technology, and to be partnering with Rotronics to ensure that we can meet growing customer demand for EV solutions quickly and efficiently. ”The UK is a core market for us, and our 12-strong UK team is here to support property owners, installers, wholesalers and other customers with the development of robust, reliable EV charging installations, which is a vital component in the development of sustainable transport to meet the UK’s environmental goals, as we head along the ’Road to Zero’. ”Central to CTEK’s proposal is that we don’t just sell wall boxes - we are focused on working with installers to develop complete, future-proofed EV solutions including software applications, load balancing and remote, online system management. Our team is here to work with installers right through the process. This includes helping to scope and plan the project based on customers’ needs and expectations, advice on the Government grants available, choosing the right charger, integration with customers’ existing systems and equipment, assistance during the commissioning process and full technical after sales support."

The rise of the eco-friendly tradesperson

As we move into a more eco-friendly society, tradespeople have had to adapt their services to meet the changing needs of consumers who are wanting to be more sustainable. Recent research carried out by Ultra LEDs found that 57% of UK homeowners want to be more eco-friendly. This has led to tradespeople adapting their services to meet their customers' needs. It also revealed that more than four in five (80%) tradespeople agreed they could recycle more of their work waste, but don't due to their lack of knowledge around rules and regulations. In addition, 28% of traders say they would like more support from local authorities and 24% say they are actively trying new ways to reduce waste. Furthermore, one in five (20%) try to reuse any materials leftover from jobs, and 16% donate spare parts to charity. The energy crisis has also made 73% of Brits worry about the energy performance of their home. This has led to more homeowners making the switch to LED lights and more tradespeople being called out on jobs to fit them. From 2030, the government plans to ban all new sales of conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans. This shift has also led to more customers wanting electric vehicles to avoid increasing fuel prices and a 28% increase in jobs for electricians to fit charging points. However, the research revealed that 35% of tradespeople found it difficult to move to electric vehicles due to the cost and lack of charging points. Despite this, the registration of commercial electric vehicles in the UK grew by 21% in January, as more tradespeople look to adapt. This increase reflects the growing interest in the zero-emission van within trade spaces too. Online searches have also grown 50% year on year. Ultralec, which will provide electric vehicle charging boxes for professional installers and tradespeople across the UK, aims to make the transition much easier too by installing more charge points. The research has also shown which five industries are the most sustainable: Architecture and construction Consumer packaged goods Energy, process and utility Pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical services Transportation and mobility Discussing the results, Matthew Shaw, Head of Sales at Ultra LEDs says: “These insights are a confirmation of the direction and shift from consumers and professionals into a more sustainable way of living. Tradespeople have found it difficult to go green as quickly as they may like due to costs, availability of materials and having to use their own vehicles to get to jobs. However, it’s clear that there’s a real willingness to be as eco-friendly as possible. “These numbers point to a clear opportunity to start looking at more sustainable practices and ways to be greener on the job. Contributing to a greener future is one of our top priorities, meeting the needs of tradespeople and consumers alike in their pursuit of an eco-friendlier lifestyle through great products.”

Sevadis is now compatible with Fuuse, providing revenue for installers

Sevadis has joined forces with Fuuse to offer a full turnkey solution for commercial customers and fleets, whilst supporting the growth of UK installers. Both OCPP (open charge point protocol) compliant, the two announce the compatibility between their hardware and software. The Fuuse back-office system enables Sevadis to extend its simple, straightforward and seamless EV charging experience to all parties, from the driver, to the operator and the installer. Installers will benefit from recurring revenues with Fuuse’s white labelled solution, plus features like remote click-to-fix maintenance and comprehensive charging insights, providing additional service opportunities. Through the integration, businesses can also enjoy an end-to-end service from project conception to completion and beyond, with full control and visibility over their charging network. Craig Slater, Managing Director of Sevadis says: “Installers play an often-overseen, pivotal role in the EV revolution, which is why we’re partnering with Fuuse to encourage current and next generation charge point installers to grow their businesses whilst pushing the EV rollout forward. “Our entire range of EV charging points are OCPP compliant, so to collaborate with Fuuse provides both parties as well as our customers with significant opportunities as the demand for EV charging increases over time. "Fuuse is an exciting platform to watch, and we’re delighted to be offering the opportunity for our customers to benefit from the complete flexibility the system facilitates, including public billing and intelligent insights, as well as upcoming innovations on fleet smart charging, dynamic load balancing, reservations and true charger status alerts with occupancy sensors.” Michael Gibson, CEO of Fuuse comments: “Sevadis echoes our own belief that the installer community is integral to pushing the EV rollout forward. We’re delighted to be working together to give installers and their customers a comprehensive solution that caters for the emerging challenges and opportunities EV charging presents across sectors. Together we’ll be helping businesses transition their own fleets: balancing their entire fleets’ charging needs with those of the grid and their site(s) as a whole. In addition, we’ll be responding to the increasing demand for public infrastructure needs from local authorities, destinations and retailers.” Sevadis’ customers can manage their entire EV network with Fuuse, regardless of the number of chargers or sites. Businesses can manage payments and tariffs, opening hours and driver access whilst monitoring the status and performance of their chargers. Meanwhile, installers can manage and monitor their entire EV charging empire, whilst providing customers with a seamless charging experience.