05/06/2009 by David Slade.

Did you know you could be making money from the electricity generated by your renewable technology installation?

If you have installed, or are thinking about installing, a renewable technology which produces electricity, such as a Solar Electricity (PV) system, you may be able to get paid for the electricity it produces. The most common way to do this is to sign up to a buy back scheme with an energy supplier. There are two main tariffs available to do this:

• Export tariffs: You are only paid for the electricity that is exported back to the electricity network (you are not paid for any electricity you use).
• Generation tariffs: You are paid for all of the electricity that your system has generated even if you use it in your own home.

There are also some Set Price Tariffs available where a fixed amount is paid by the energy supplier based on the type or capacity of the installation.

Choosing the right tariff

The answers to the following questions should help you choose the right buy buy back tariff for your situation:

Do you expect to use most of the electricity you generate at home?

If the answer is yes, it is likely that a Generation Tariff is likely to be a better option for you as you will get paid for all the electricity you generate rather than just the electricity that is exported.

If you will be using a small amount of the electricity your system generates then an Export Tariff may be a better option for you.

Will you need to install a new meter?

• Total Generation Meter: Most tariffs will require you to have an Ofgem approved Total Generation Meter which should be installed with your system. Total Generation Meters give a running total of the electricity generated by the system in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
• Export Meter: Most export tariffs require you to have an export meter installed. Some companies will pay for the meter and its installation whereas others may charge you. It is important that you establish the costs before agreeing a contract.

Will it affect your import supply?

Most buy back tariffs are dependent on the customer getting their import supply from the same energy supplier, and some suppliers limit the choice of available import tariffs that can be used.

You should check tariffs are on offer from the supplier purchasing your electricity generation and how much your annual bill will be. You will want to take these costs into consideration alongside the export/generation tariff payment.

What else should you consider?

Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) are certificates given to registered generators of renewable electricity produced and sold within the UK. You will be entitled to one certificate for each megawatt hour (or 1,000 kilowatt hours kWh) of electricity you produce.

Some tariffs include a price for ROCs whereby the energy supplier acts as the ROC agent, claiming ROCs from Ofgem on behalf of the customer. However, there are other tariffs where the customer retains the ROC entitlement and must claim these themselves. For ROCs to be able to be claimed you must have a Total Generation Meter installed. Information on which tariffs include a payment for ROCs can be viewed by looking at the tariff details on our buy back tariff search tool.

Some suppliers include the payment for ROCs within the tariff, this means the ROCs are claimed by the energy company on the customers’ behalf. If the tariff does not include payment for ROCs then the customer can claim for them separately.

Posted in Set Price Tariffs, Total Generation Meter, Export Meter, Generation tariffs, Export tariffs, Renewable tariffs, Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC), Renewable energy | No Comments »

05/06/2009 by David Slade.

Generate electricity at home with small-scale wind turbines

Wind turbines harness the power of the wind and use it to generate electricity. Small systems known as “microwind” turbines can produce enough electricity for the lights and electrical appliances in a typical home.

40% of all the wind energy in Europe blows over the UK, making it an ideal country for microwind turbines.

How do wind turbines work?

Wind turbines use large blades to catch the wind. When the wind blows the blades are forced round, driving a turbine which generates electricity. The stronger the wind, the more electricity produced.

There are two types of domestic-sized microwind turbine:

• Mast mounted: these are free standing and are erected in a suitably exposed position.
• Roof mounted: these are smaller than mast mounted systems and can be installed on the roof of a home.

If your microwind system is connected to the National Grid then you can make money by selling any generated electricity to an electricity supply company.

If the turbine is not connected to the electricity grid then unused electricity can be stored in a battery for use when there is no wind.

In the UK we have 40% of Europe’s total wind energy

The benefits of wind electricity

• Harness a plentiful energy source: in the UK we have 40% of Europe’s total wind energy.
• Cut your carbon footprint: wind electricity is green, renewable energy and doesn’t release any harmful carbon dioxide or other pollutants.
• Cut your electricity bills: wind is free, so once you’ve paid for the initial installation your electricity costs will be reduced.
• Store electricity for a calm day: if your home isn’t connected to the National Grid you can store excess electricity in batteries and use it when there is no wind.

Is wind electricity suitable for my home?

To tell if a microwind turbine is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider:

• Are there any large obstacles like buildings, trees or hills near your home? Microwind turbines work best in exposed locations, without turbulence caused by these type of obstacles
• Is your home is a windy area? To be effective you need an average windspeed of more than 6m/s.
• Is your home located away from the National Grid? Microwind systems are particularly suitable for use in remote locations where mains electricity is unavailable.
• Do you need planning permission? Microwind systems normally do require permission from your local authority, so check before you install a system.

Ideally, you should undertake a professional assessment of the local windspeed for a full year at the exact location where you plan to install a turbine.

To find out if a microwind generator is suitable for your home use our energy selector tool - coming soon.

Making the most of wind electricity

To make the electricity you produce go further:

• invest in energy efficient appliances
• use energy when the wind is blowing - do your laundry on a windy day to take advantage of the free electricity
• charge up your batteries whenever you have excess electricity

Costs and savings

Costs for a roof mounted microwind system start at about £1,500. Larger mast mounted systems cost between £11,000 and £19,000, including installation. These provide enough electricity for lighting and appliances in a typical home.

Savings: we’re currently monitoring a range of microwind systems to discover how much energy they save. At the moment there is not enough data from existing wind turbine installations to provide a figure.

Maintenance checks are necessary every few years, and a well-maintained turbine should last over 20 years. Battery storage life is typically between 6 and 10 years.

Posted in Wind energy | No Comments »

05/06/2009 by David Slade.

Heat water for your home with pipes buried in the garden

Ground source heat pumps use pipes buried in the garden to extract heat from the ground. This is usually used to warm water for radiators or underfloor heating systems. It can also be used to pre-heat water before it goes into a more conventional boiler.

Beneath the surface, the ground stays at a constant temperature, so a ground source heat pump can be used throughout the year - even in the middle of winter.

How does a ground source heat pump work?

A ground source heat pump circulates a mixture of water and antifreeze around a loop of pipe - called a ground loop - which is buried in the garden. When the liquid travels around the loop it absorbs heat from the ground - used to heat radiators, underfloor heating systems and even hot water.

The length of the ground loop depends on the size of your home and the amount of heat you need - longer loops can draw more heat from the ground.

Normally the loop is laid flat, or coiled in trenches about two metres deep, but if there is not enough space in your garden you can install a vertical loop to a depth of up to 100 metres.

The efficiency of a ground source heat pump is measured by a coefficient of performance (CoP) - the amount of heat it produces compared to the amount of electricity needed to run it. A typical CoP for a ground source heat pump is around 3.2.

Ground source heat pumps

The benefits of ground source heat pumps

• Reduce your CO₂ emissions: a typical ground source heat pump saves around 1.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year when replacing oil.

• Eliminate your fuel bills: ground source heat pumps run on electricity, so there’s no need to pay for gas, oil or solid fuels to heat your home.

• Cut down on wasted electricity: heating your home with a ground source heat pump is much more efficient than using electric radiators.

Is a ground source heat pump suitable for my home?

To tell if a ground source heat pump is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider:

• Is your garden suitable for a ground loop? It doesn’t have to be particularly large, but the ground needs to be suitable for digging a trench or a borehole and accessible to digging machinery.

• Is your home well insulated? Since ground source heat pumps produce a lower temperature heat than traditional boilers, it’s essential that your home is insulated and draught proofed well for the heating system to be effective. It could also make the system cheaper and smaller.

• What fuel will you be replacing? If you’re replacing an electric, oil, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) or coal heating system, a ground source heating system will pay for itself quite quickly. If you’re replacing a more efficient gas heating system, your savings will be smaller.

• What type of heating system do you want? Underfloor heating systems or warm air heating will work much better than radiator-based systems.

• Is the system intended for a new development? Combining the installation with other building work can reduce the cost of installing the system.

Costs and savings

Costs for installing a typical system suitable for a detached home range from about £6,000 to £12,000. Running costs (to produce heating and 50% of domestic hot water) are likely to be around £540 per year, but will depend on a number of factors - including the size of your home and how well insulated it is.

Savings can be considerable - up to 1.8 tonnes of CO2 and £750 if you’re replacing an oil-fired central heating system.

To reduce your home’s CO2 emissions further, consider installing solar electricity or some other form of renewable electricity generating system to power the compressor and pump.

Savings above assume ground source heat pump installed in a detached property and provides up to 50% of domestic hot water as well as 100% of space heating.

Air and water source heat pumps
These systems use similar principles to ground source heat pumps to extract heat from air or water instead of the ground.

Air source heat pumps can be fitted outside a house or in the roof space and generally perform better at slightly warmer air temperatures. Water source heat pumps can be used to provide heating in homes near to rivers, streams and lakes.

Posted in Ground source heat pumps | No Comments »

05/06/2009 by David Slade.

Use a stream or river to generate electricity

Hydroelectricity systems generate electricity from running water - usually a small stream. Small or “micro” hydroelectricity systems can produce enough electricity for lighting and electrical appliances in an average home.
Hydroelectricity systems are also called hydro power systems or just hydro systems.

How do hydro power systems work?

Hydro power systems use running water to turn a small turbine which generates electricity. The faster the water flows and the more water there is, the more electricity can be generated.

The amount of electricity a system actually generates depends on how efficiently it converts the power of the moving water into electrical power.

Hydro power systems convert potential energy stored in water held at height to kinetic energy

The benefits of hydro systems

• Cut your carbon footprint: hydroelectricity is green, renewable energy and doesn’t release any harmful carbon dioxide or other pollutants.
• Cut your electricity bills: hydroelectricity is free, so once you’ve paid for the initial installation you’ll reduce or even eliminate your electricity bills.
• A lower cost option: installing a hydro system can be expensive, but in many cases it’s less than the cost of getting a connection to the National Grid.
• Cheap heating and hot water: a hydro system may generate more electricity than you need for lighting your home and powering your electrical appliances - so you can use the excess to heat your home and your hot water too.

Is a hydro system suitable for my home?

To tell if a hydro system is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider:

• Is there a river or steam close to your home? You’ll need access to a fairly fast flowing water course, and the right to build around it

• Does the water flow vary significantly during the year? If so, the hydro system may not be able to supply you with all the electricity you need during dry months. If you’re not connected to the electricity grid, you’ll need a backup power system.

• Do you want to sell excess energy? Hydro systems can be connected to the National Grid if a suitable connection point is available. Any electricity you generate but don’t use can then be sold to electricity companies.

Costs and savings

Costs for installing a hydro system vary a lot, depending on the location and the amount of electricity it can generate. A typical 5kW scheme suitable for an average home might cost £20,000 - £25,000 including installation.

Savings depend on the amount of hydroelectricity that is used in place of electricity bought from another source. If the hydro system replaces electricity bought from the National Grid then typical savings could be substantial.

Maintenance costs vary but are usually low as hydro systems are very reliable.

Posted in Sustainability, Renewable power | No Comments »

05/06/2009 by David Slade.

How Sprinklers Work

All areas of the building to be protected are covered by a grid of pipes with sprinkler heads fitted into them at regular intervals. Water from a tank via pumps or from the service (town) main (if it can give enough flow) fill the pipes.

Each sprinkler head operates only when it reaches its predetermined operating temperature and will then spray water on to a fire. The hot gases from a fire are usually enough to make the thermal element in the head operate. Only the sprinklers in the immediate area of the fire open. The others remain closed. This ensures that no water is applied to areas where there is no fire and reduces the amount of water needed.

The sprinkler heads are spaced, generally on the ceiling, so that if one or more operate there is always sufficient flow of water. The flow is calculated so that there is always enough to control a fire taking into account the size and construction of the building and the goods stored in it or its use.

Sprinkler heads can be placed in enclosed roof spaces and into floor ducts to protect areas where fires can start unnoticed. In a large warehouse sprinklers may be placed within the storage racks as well as the roof.

At the point where the water enters the sprinkler system there is a valve. This can be used to shut off the system for maintenance. For safety reasons it is kept locked open and only authorised persons should be able to close it. If a sprinkler head opens and water flows through the valve it lets water into another pipe that caused a mechanical gong to sound. In this way, the sprinkler system generates and alarm at the same time as controlling or extinguishing the fire. It’s worth noting that only sprinklers can do this with equipment which operates independently of an electrical supply.

Wet pipe

These are the most common systems and are used in buildings where there is no risk of freezing. They are quick to react because water is always in the pipes above the sprinkler heads.

Wet systems are required for multi-storey or high-rise buildings and for life safety.

Alternate

As the name suggest Alternate systems can have the pipes full of water for the summer and be drained down and filled with air (under pressure) for the winter. This is important for buildings that are not heated.

Dry pipe

The pipes are filled with air under pressure at all times and the water is held back by the control valve. When a sprinkler head opens, the drop in air pressure opens the valve and water flows into the pipework and onto the fire. Dry pipe systems are used where wet or alternate systems cannot be used.

Pre-action

Like dry pipe systems the pipes are filled with air but water is only let into the pipes when the detector operates (e.g. smoke detectors). Pre-action systems are used where it is not acceptable to have the pipes full of water unless there is a fire.

Deluge and recycling

These are not strictly sprinkler systems and are only used in special cases for industrial risks.

Sprinklers in Dwellings

Introduction

While sprinklers have been used for the protection of property such as mills, factories, warehouses and department stores for well over 130 years there is now a growing recognition of their effectiveness in improving levels of life safety in other types of buildings. The 2006 versions of Approved Document B of the Building Regulations (in England and Wales) and the Technical Handbooks of Scottish Building Standards both incorporate clear recognition of the value of sprinklers in improving levels of safety for occupants as well as in preventing the spread of fire. Other developments have demonstrated the value of sprinklers in providing additional levels of safety for fire fighters in large, complex structures or in buildings where the fire load is excessive. With the incorporation of the latest fast-response sprinkler heads there is clear evidence that, even in the compartment of origin of a fire, occupants of sprinklered buildings enjoy a significant additional measure of life safety.

Sprinklers for Life Safety

There also appears to be a growing consensus that sprinklers offer a highly cost-effective way of reducing the UK’s appalling fire death toll. It seems generally acknowledged that, while fire detection systems and smoke alarms probably save around 80 - 100 lives each year, this figure is unlikely to improve. It is also clear that when its is the most vulnerable members of our society who die - the very young, the very old, the disabled, the infirm and those who use drugs and alcohol unwisely - only sprinklers can actually prevent fire deaths.

In the case of social housing, care premises, homes in multiple occupation, hostels and similar properties there now clear arguments that sprinklers offer the best chance of preventing deaths should a fire occur.

Just What is the Extent of the Problem ?

In the UK each year there are around 45,000 fires in dwellings and while many of these involve damage which is little more serious than the need to repaint the kitchen it must be remembered that more than 500 people have died in fires in their home in the UK almost every year since 1945.

The introduction of smoke alarms in the late 1970s has, it is true, helped to reduce some of this appalling death toll but even the best estimates suggest that only around 30 lives are saved by such early warning devices.

No Place Like Home ?

It is only when one examines the details of these tragic fires that one can begin to understand why it is that only active systems like sprinklers can prevent domestic tragedies. A disproportionate number of the very young, the very old, the disabled and - it has to be said, those affected by drugs and alcohol - are the people whose deaths feature in this grim annual tally.

One other group also features in the list of the most vulnerable and that is those who live in shared accommodation - sometimes known as ‘homes in multiple occupation’ or HMO’s. One calculation suggests that someone living in an HMO is eight times more likely to die in a fire than someone living in a single family dwelling. Some local authorities are now suggesting the landlords who let rooms in HMO’s which are three or more storeys in height should fit sprinklers. In Scotland, legislation introduced in 2005 now requires all new care and residential homes to be fitted with sprinkler protection and in some areas, sheltered housing is also being so protected.

So sprinklers, unlike smoke detectors which can only warn of the need for evacuation, can actually save those who cannot help themselves.

Benefits for Designers and Builders

One of the most often ignored benefits of sprinklers is the additional flexibility which this equipment provide to designers and builders. In unconventional or unusual buildings including sprinklers in a specification will often enable Building Regulations compliance to be achieved in a very cost- effective manner. Where changes of use are being anticipated, utilising sprinklers is often the only way in which means of escape requirements can be provided. In other situations, the freedom architects seek to implement a stylish or unorthodox design can only be accomplished using sprinklers.

Sprinklers have also been used as a compensating feature in developments where the Building Regulations cannot be complied with in respect of means of escape or access for the fire brigade. Some projects have even reported that providing sprinklers has resulted in a cost saving where the building authority has permitted trade-offs in respect of means of escape facilities.

Standards for Installation

Sprinklers can be installed using any one of a number of accepted standards. Systems in commercial and industrial premises (including offices, shops, hotels and placed of public assembly should be designed and installed in accordance with BS EN 12845 2004 Fixed fire fighting systems. Automatic sprinkler systems. Design, installation and maintenance While this standard can be used for any installation it will usually be simpler and more cost-effective to refer to BS 9251:2005 Sprinkler systems for residential and domestic occupancies. Code of practice. (For more information on the application of BS 9251, refer to BAFSA Technical Guidance Document No 1.

Types of Systems

While there are a range of different types of sprinkler systems used in a range of premises it is considered that only wet systems should be specified in domestic premises. These systems are the simplest, easiest to maintain and are also the most cost effective. Pipework can be in copper, steel or in CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) which is approved for the purpose. Depending on adequacy of water pressure and flow it is sometimes possible for the sprinkler system to be connected (subject the approval of the water authority) directly to the cold water main where it enters the dwelling. Where tanks and pumps are necessary because the flow or pressure are inadequate these can be sourced from a range of companies who manufacture approved and certificated equipment.

System Design and Installation

While there is nothing mysterious about sprinkler systems the high reliability and effectiveness of these systems has come about over the years by strict adherence to the sprinkler rules and design standards. It would be wise to select a contractor who is not only capable and competent but who also has an established track record and who can offer proof of compliance with an established quality assurance system.

For example, all Installer members of the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association can provide documentary proof of compliance with international quality assurance standards and all also hold an approval (Registration or Certification) from a third party certification service which itself is accredited by a Government-approved body, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

Most BAFSA Installer members have been in business for more than ten years and some for more than thirty - all can provide objective proof of their competence. BAFSA itself was founded in 1974.

Conclusions

Finally a few facts:

1. There have been no multiple fire deaths in the UK as a result of a fire in a dwelling with a working sprinkler system.
2. US experience shows than 98% of all fires in sprinklered dwellings are extinguished with only one sprinkler head operating. The same data suggests there is a 57% reduction in the likelihood of death for those in the room of origin.
3. Only the sprinkler heads in the immediate vicinity of the fire actually operate.
4. Sprinkler heads can be completely concealed.
5. Sprinkler systems do not need pumps or tanks if mains pressure is adequate.
6. Sprinklered buildings prevent fire fighter deaths.
7. Sprinklers do not ‘false alarm’ - they will only operate if there is an actual fire.
8. For a small additional cost, an alarm switch can be built-in to the system to call the fire and rescue service automatically should the sprinklers operate.
9. Maintenance costs for sprinklers are very low.
10. Sprinklers save lives - and property - and are the only devices which can detect a fire, sound the alarm, call the fire and rescue service and extinguish or control the fire.
11. Finally, despite many preconceptions and misinformation, sprinklers are not difficult, unsightly or expensive to install in homes or dwellings of any size.
12. Since the UK started to take the idea of sprinklered homes seriously in the late 1990’s, it has been estimated that 25 lives have already been saved by the systems.

Standards

To make sure a sprinkler installation will work it must be properly designed and installed. There are presently two independently accredited organisations which undertake the certification of sprinkler installers.

Firstly, LPCB/BRE Certification Ltd undertakes third party verification of industrial and commercial sprinkler systems installers to a standard known as LPS 1048. The same organisation certifies residential and domestic installers using a second standard, LPS 1301. Both these standards also call up the relevant British Standards and in the case of systems being installed to BS EN 12845, the LPC Sprinkler Rules and their Technical Bulletins. The LPC rules are obtainable from the FPA.

Secondly, Bodycote warrington also run two schemes for sprinkler installers under their Certifire brand. One of the these is for companies installing domestic and residential systems, the other for companies working on commercial and industrial sprinkler systems.

Both organisations permit their listed companies to issue certificates of conformity to the owners of sprinklered buildings.

These certificates are proof to building control departments, the fire and rescue service, local authorities and insurers that such systems meet the appropriate standards and have been installed correctly.

Generally in the United Kingdom, spinkler systems are designed to BS EN12845 and BS 9251, there are times where specific insurers or customers require systems to be designed and installed to comply with other international standards, sush as NFPA (National Fire Protection Association - US based rules) or Factory Mutual (FM Global - insurance company).

Legislation

Approved documents accompanying the Building Regulations in England and Wales make specific reference to the use of sprinklers (Regulations for Scotland and Northern Ireland differ slightly).

For life safety, new residential blocks over 30m high must be fitted with sprinklers to meet Approved Document B standards. Similarly an uncompartmented area in a shop or self storage building over 2000 square metres now requires sprinkler protection. There are corresponding regulations applying to large single storey buildings for industrial or storage use where the largest permitted unsprinklered compartment is 20,000 square metres.

When sprinklers are installed there may be significant benefits in respect of compliance with Approved Document B of the Building Regulations 2000 (as amended). For example: the installation of sprinklers can allow buildings to be built closer together (half the spacing is required) to adjoining premises. This is a major benefit where site space is limited. Other requirements in Approved Document B regarding travel distances for escape may also be able to be extended and certain requirements in respect of access for the fire service may be relaxed. There may also be the possibility for savings in construction and building cost by relaxation of certain passive fire protection measures and the freedom to allow ‘open plan’ design in three-storey dwellings and apartments.

In retail premises, sprinklers can be taken into account when calculating fire growth and smoke volume. This is turn allows the approval of longer distances of travel to exits.

The guidance issued to interpret the Building Regulations now recognises the use of sprinklers for life safety and it is clear that future legislation will call for the increased use of sprinklers. For existing buildings the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which replaced most existing fire legislation in England and Wales requires employers and others (the Responsible Person in the Order) to consider whether the duties imposed by the Order could be better discharged by fitting fixed fire suppression systems. The guidance documents published in support of the legislation recognize this. For example, residential care homes fitted with sprinkler protection can adopt a policy of delayed evacuation in the event of a fire alarm and the usual requirements to fit self-closers to all bedroom doors may be relaxed.

Scotland

From 1 May 2005 all new care homes, sheltered housing and high rise residential accommodation above 18 metres high have had to be fitted with sprinklers. In addition, sprinklers are required in all covered shopping centres. Reference should be made to: http://www.sbsa.gov.uk/new/tbooks.htm for copies of the relevant guidance documents.

Wales

The Welsh Assembly is, at the time of writing, considering a Legislative Competence Order which if enacted would require the installation of sprinklers in a wide range of new dwellings. This is expected to be enacted by summer 2009.

Posted in Sprinklers, Fire protection | 2 Comments »

05/06/2009 by David Slade.

Marine Current Turbines Ltd’s ‘tidal current turbines’ concept

Marine Current Turbines Ltd’s SeaGen turbine

Electricity generation from tidal stream has the big advantage that the output can be reliably predicted even though the strength of the tidal stream varies throughout the day. Various designs are being developed including propeller blades driving a generator (an underwater wind turbine), aerilon shaped wings that move up and down, and sets of sails turning on a conveyor.

Posted in Tidal renewable energy, Renewable energy, Sustainability | No Comments »

05/06/2009 by David Slade.

Westwave: Pelamis Wave Power’s wave energy converters

Westwave: Artists impression

Introduction

The energy contained in ocean waves is a huge potential source of renewable energy, and the UK has wave power levels that are among the highest in the world. Wave energy is a concentrated form of solar energy. Ocean waves are created by the interaction of the wind with the surface of the sea. They travel great distances without significant losses and so act as an efficient energy transport mechanism across thousands of kilometres. The energy can be captured by various devices, which produce enough movement either of air or water to drive generators that converts the energy into electricity.

Posted in Wave | No Comments »

05/06/2009 by David Slade.

Introduction

Biomass is feted to play one of the most important roles in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, meeting the UK’s transport needs and providing the greatest contribution to Kyoto targets.

PPS 22 defines biomass as “the biodegradable fraction of products, wastes and residues from agriculture (including plant and animal substances), forestry and related industries, as well as the biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste.”

Some examples of biomass use in the UK include:

• Power stations taking advantage of locally available biomass feedstocks such as straw, wood and chicken litter
• Farm slurry, sewage sludge and food waste being anaerobically digested to produce biogas for heat and electricity production
• Landfill gas being captured for power generation
• Housing developments and town regeneration projects making use of communal woodchip boilers
• Individual homes installing automated wood pellet and log boilers to provide most, if not all, of their space and hot water needs
• Waste vegetable oil and virgin rape oil undergoing trans-esterification for biodiesel production
• Bioethanol being produced from biomass by the hydrolysis and sugar fermentation processes, and then used as a renewable petrol substitute.

Posted in Biomass | No Comments »

05/06/2009 by David Slade.

The upper floors of the tower were being refurbished at the time

In what is the largest penalty under the legislation to date, Shell International Ltd has been fined £300,000 and ordered to pay £45,000 costs after pleading guilty to breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order at its UK headquarters in central London.

Sentencing took place at the Inner London Crown Court yesterday after the company pleaded guilty to three breaches of the Fire Safety Order.

The London Fire Brigade prosecuted the company following two small fires in the space of three weeks at the Shell Centre on London’s South Bank. A subsequent inspection on 12 January 2007 found extensive breaches including blocked escape routes and fire exits, defective fire doors and excessive fire loading. The fire loading had been dramatically increased because of refurbishments taking place in the upper floors.

The London Fire Brigade served a prohibition notice which restricted the use of the Shell Tower and basement levels. Under the notice, only people working to remedy the fire safety deficiencies were allowed to enter those parts of the building. A further inspection was carried out on 15 January 2007 – all the fire safety failings were remedied and the prohibition notice was lifted.

It was also discovered that Shell’s fire risk assessment had not been reviewed or updated since March 2003. For around three and a half years since then, according to London Fire Brigade, the condition of the general fire precautions in the building had deteriorated.

“Shell failed to respond properly to their risk assessment for three and a half years and had it not been for the fires which led to the inspection, it could have been considerably longer,” said assistant commissioner Steve Turek. “Had Shell acted upon the findings of the 2003 risk assessment at the time, they would have avoided putting their staff at risk.”

The first fire was on 19 December 2006 at 2.25am. Four fire engines and around 20 firefighters attended the blaze. The second fire, on 5 January 2007, was started by cutting equipment setting fire to insulation material. Around 40 people left the building before the London Fire Brigade arrived.

London fire commissioner, Ron Dobson, added: “This conviction shows that major companies are not exempt from prosecution and must take their responsibilities under the RRO seriously.”

In response to the conviction, a Shell spokesperson said: “We are sorry for the shortcomings but must emphasise there were no injuries to people. We put things right immediately and have also had an independent review of our fire safety plans and condition of the building. Shell Centre is safe and we are complying fully with the law.”

Posted in Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order | No Comments »

05/06/2009 by David Slade.

MPs were divided on the progress of sprinklers in schools

A number of MPs have called for a tougher approach to sprinkler systems being fitted in schools after hearing that in spite of the government’s presumption that all new and refurbished schools should be fitted with them, implementation of the policy is varied and inconsistent.

The comments were made last month during a Westminster Hall debate, a non-binding, consensual forum for MPs.

Ian McCartney MP, who secured the debate, said that in spite of the schools’ minister’s previous comments which virtually gave an instruction to local authorities to install sprinklers, this was not happening across the board. “We have already built hundreds of millions of pounds’ worth of new schools in the programme, and perhaps only one or two have been fitted with a sprinkler system.”

Mr McCartney urged the government to find a way to regulate so that no local authority is able to sign a contract, unless it precisely and clearly includes an instruction that sprinkler systems be fitted in all refurbished and new build schools.

While welcoming the increased emphasis on sprinklers in the schools’ fire safety document, Building Bulletin 100, the shadow minister for schools, Nick Gibb, said other measures were also needed. These included good security, better education programmes and a stronger sense of discipline in pupils.

Replying to the debate, schools’ minister Jim Knight pointed to a slight reduction since 2003 in the number of arson attacks and fires in schools. He said that the current version of the risk analysis tool in Building Bulletin 100 is more heavily weighted towards sprinklers, as the vast majority of schools will now be assessed as ‘average’ or ‘high’ risk. “The [government’s] position is now that sprinklers should always be installed in all new schools, except the very few schools if any that are assessed to be of ‘low’ risk and for which there is also no whole-life cost benefit.”

He said although it was difficult to judge impact of the new guidance as it was only introduced in 2007, the early indications were that whereas previously less than 10% of new schools had sprinklers installed, as many as 75% may now have them. “I would like to see the figure higher still, but it is clear that some progress is being made,” he added.

Posted in Fire protection, Education | No Comments »

05/06/2009 by David Slade.

Leading debt collector LPL, which has more than 200 construction firms on its books, said there has been a 32 per cent rise in builders calling upon its services in the last two months.

Contractors are increasingly calling on the services of debt collectors with businesses refusing to pay contractors for work not properly costed and agreed.

The number of debt collection instructions LPL received from construction firms totalled 6,516 over the last two months compared with 4,937 for the first three months of the year.

LPL said the average debt totalled £12,500 adding up to an average of £80 million outstanding.

LPL warned contractors to get their paperwork in order, or risk never recovering the money.

Managing director Stephen Lewis said: “Businesses are feeling the pinch and are delaying payment on the grounds that work has not been properly costed and agreed.

“Extra work that has been carried out on a simple ‘OK go ahead’ basis is coming back to haunt them when the invoice is presented. And sometimes contractors only have themselves to blame.

“If the paperwork is in order, however, the chances of recovery – either with or without litigation – are dramatically improved.”

Posted in Construction, General | No Comments »

05/06/2009 by David Slade.

Hometrack released research on house prices in May, finding prices remained static in May after almost two years of falls. (01 June)According to the latest figures from Land Registry, annual house prices in England and Wales fell by 16.2 per cent in April, taking the average house price to £152,898. This mirrors the annual house price fall in March. Monthly house prices fell by 0.3% in April compared to a fall in March of 0.4 per cent (Press Release). (01 June)

Posted in Housing, Buildings | No Comments »

05/06/2009 by David Slade.

The UK construction sector contracted at its slowest rate in more than a year according to the latest Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply/Markit Construction Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for construction which registered a reading of 45.9 in May up from 38.1 in April. With any reading below 50 indicating contraction, the industry has now been in decline for 15 months

(The Times). (02 June)

Posted in General | No Comments »