Green Investment Bank to be privatised

Posted on by Posted in Renewable Energy

green-investment-bank

The government has hung a ‘for sale’ notice on the door of the Green Investment Bank in a bid to move it into the private sector.

The government and Green Investment Bank will together meet potential investors in the Green Investment Bank (GIB) and explore the scope for a transaction. The detail and timing of any transaction will depend on the outcome of these discussions.

It is reported that the government expects to raise more than £1bn by selling at least a majority stake in the bank.

Since its inception in 2012, GIB has committed £2bn and helped to finance 50 green infrastructure projects including helping to finance first-of-a-kind projects that use innovative technologies in waste management and offshore wind power.

Chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne said:

“In 2012 we set up the Green Investment Bank to support important investment in the UK’s green infrastructure and since then it’s gone from strength to strength.  That is why we can now begin exploring options for moving the bank into the private sector to enable it to access larger pools of capital and act more freely to invest in a broad range of green sectors.

“We want the Green Investment Bank to attract more investment and we will use the money we raise to pay down the national debt and deliver lasting economic security for working people.”

Business secretary Sajid Javid said:

“GIB has grown up. It’s time to let it go.”

Mr Javid said:

“The bank’s business model has proved so successful that it is already in profit less than three years after opening its doors. The public money the bank has invested has been supplemented by almost three times as much private capital. And the rate of return on its portfolio is already at 9%. It’s an incredible record of success in an incredibly short time. The bank, I think it’s right to say, has exceeded all expectations.”

He continued:

“The challenge now is to build on this success, to give GIB the room and resources it needs in order to keep growing. It is no secret that we have always planned to bring private capital into the GIB when the time is right. With the great progress that the bank has made, and its healthy portfolio of profitable investments, it’s clear that time is now.

“So, along with my counterparts in the Department for Energy & Climate Change and the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, we have decided to begin moving the Green Investment Bank into private ownership. The detail and timing will depend on the outcome of discussions, but our plan is now very clear: to sell at least a majority of the government’s shares to private investors during the lifetime of this Parliament.

“Now I’m sure some people will say this shows the Government is reneging on its environmental commitments, that we’re somehow throwing our green credentials into a coal-fired furnace. But such cynics could not be more wrong. The bank will still be green, it will still be profitable, it will still be a market-leader in financing environmentally sound infrastructure. But it will be free from limitations on where it can borrow money, and free from EU regulations on state aid. The bank will be able to access a much greater volume of capital and deploy it across a much wider array of green projects. And that means more money going into green innovations.”

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VIP Rugby World Cup final tickets up for grabs with Adey

Posted on by Posted in Heating

adey

Installers are in with a chance of winning VIP hospitality tickets to the Rugby World Cup final thanks to ADEY Professional Heating Solutions.

From June 1 until September 30, installers purchasing either a 500ml bottle of MC1+ Protector or MC3+ Cleaner will need to keep their eyes peeled for five golden tokens hidden beneath the caps. Each token wins two VIP hospitality tickets to the final, or alternatively, tickets to the semi-finals or quarter-finals.

To support the promotion further, a monthly prize draw will also take place until September, with a range of Rugby World Cup merchandise including an official 20 Nations rugby shirt and ADEY products on offer.

ADEY’s marketing director, Haimish Mead, said:

“The heating industry has a lot of rugby followers and the Rugby World Cup is the biggest sporting event of the year, attracting the best teams and players from all over the world. So, we’re delighted to be giving installers the chance of VIP hospitality tickets to the final itself and four of the other biggest matches at Twickenham in October.

“It’s a bit of fun, but with tickets for this amazing sporting spectacle proving difficult to get your hands on, we wanted to give installers a chance to go the finals and hopefully watch England repeat their 2003 success on home soil.”

If you’re lucky enough to spot a golden token when opening your next bottle of MC+ chemicals, call ADEY on: 01242 546717 to register your prize claim.

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DuPont Corian renews basin and sink collections

Posted on by Posted in Bathrooms and Kitchens

DuPont

As part of its ‘Endless Evolution’ programme, DuPont Corian has launched an improved and expanded range of ready-made basins, each characterised by a versatile, contemporary design and incorporating innovative technical features.

To launch the renewed shapes offer, DuPont Corian has created a large format publication entitled ‘Portraits of Life’ – designed present the many ways these basic basin shapes can be mounted and integrated into design solutions made from Corian in a variety of colours (including the new deep blacks, browns and greys).

The full range now includes a total of 40 models, which are divided into sink and basin ‘families’. The name of each family reflects its distinctive aesthetic.

Bathroom range (20 models): Purity (two models); Relax (three models); Refresh (two models); Energy (three models); Calm (four models); Peace (one model); Serenity (three models), and Care (two models for the healthcare market).

Kitchen range (20 models): Smooth (two models); Sweet (eight models); Spicy (five models), and Sparkling (five models).

Mark Hill, country manager for DuPont Corian, UK & Ireland said:

“The beauty of DuPont Corian lies in its adaptability

“It is a versatile material, which can form organic or linear shapes and permits endless creative possibilities, allowing the freedom to design spaces tailored to personal tastes.

“In the kitchen and bathroom, the seamless construction and extensive colour palette of Corian enable the material to suit a variety of interior styles. The renewed and expanded offer that we have introduced will contribute significantly to the fascinating design possibilities of Corian, and to its ability to deliver long term beauty and functionality”.

Image shows Corian’s Mediterranean Summer (left) and Rustic Chic.

www.portraitsoflife.corian.com
www.endlessevolution.corian.com

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What Happens if We Run Out Of Water?

Posted on by Posted in Health and Safety

water

We drink it, we wash with it, and we use it to water our crops, hydrate our livestock, power electricity farms and rely on it for a multitude of other applications. At the moment the earth is awash with water however it’s alarmingly uncertain whether or not there is enough to sustain us in the future. So what happens if the Earth runs out of water? Let’s take a look…

The physical effects

For Earth as a planet, running out of water has some serious consequences. Already we can see them in examples such as California’s Imperial Valley, where rapid groundwater depletion has caused the ground to cave in by 100 feet in the past 100 years. Environmental scientists predict that as well as sinking terrain over extraction of groundwater could also lead to an increased risk of earthquakes due to the fact that the Earth’s crust is becoming lighter. The overly buoyant crust will then start to rise which will release pressure on fault lines, thus triggering the tectonic plate movements that cause earthquakes.  Furthermore, studies have also shown that every year groundwater pumping causes the Sierra Nevada Mountains to gain an extra few millimetres of height.

The social effects

For global citizens the effects of worldwide water depletion will be catastrophic. In 1995, World Bank Vice President Ismail Serageldin predicted that “The wars of the next century will be fought over water” and he was not wrong. Yes, the world has plenty to fight about at the moment but at the end of the day oil, gas, religion, politics and other subjects don’t mean the difference between life and death. Water on the other hand, does. Should the world run out of H20 the scramble to secure access to fresh, clean drinking water will be ruthless. Conflict is already starting to emerge in the USA where 35 states are fighting over water supplies.

Recycling wastewater

Already, NASA is pioneering ways that the world can recycle every drop of water we have, including waste. The concept is already used on space ships however it could also be a savvy solution to solving any water crises that could come to light. According to retired U.S. Air Force general Charles Wald, long term solutions to water shortages will  require “some space solution, no doubt about it.”

You can find out more about this by reading the following article: What is Recycled Wastewater?

Harvesting H20 from outer space

Thought wastewater recycling was extreme? NASA has also put forward proposals that involve firing rocket ships to icy comets, then bagging the body and transporting it back to Earth. Another plan is to use a next generation filtering system to harvest water from beneath the surface of Mars, then pump it back to Earth.

While there are some ‘out of this world’ solutions on the horizon none of them are ideal. The reality is that the planet needs to wise up on the water crisis and start to actively take steps towards preserving the precious resource, BEFORE it’s completely depleted.

To find out how much water we used carrying out daily activities read the following article: An Introduction to the Water Framework Directive.

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The Town and Country Collection from Mereway

Posted on by Posted in Bathrooms and Kitchens

country-collection-mereway

According to Mereway, the launch of its new Town and Country collection provides furniture for kitchens that will be equally at home in both town and country settings.

This new collection opens up new possibilities for designers to mix and match traditional styles with a contemporary twist, period colours with modern shapes with a host of textures and iconic pieces, to create an eclectic array of possibilities and designs which, says Mereway, have never been possible before.

Town and Country is all about choice says the company, and because it is designed and made in Britain, it is ideal for the home market.

A dedicated town dweller may opt for minimalist flat slab doors, textured finishes and modern wood grains that add drama. For a more traditional take in a city home, panelled doors are available in a range of colours that would look elegant in a town house setting. And, if a classic mantle to frame the cooking area and an open wine rack cupboard added to the design, the town house kitchen takes on a much warmer and traditional feel.

Mereway has invested heavily in the launch of Town and Country, increasing the marketing budget to support the launch and communicate the ‘it’s all about choice’ message.

To communicate the ‘it’s all about choice’ message, a new brochure features identical twins that love great design and have the same high standards. One is a city girl and the other prefers the countryside, and their own dream kitchens are used to illustrate the versatility and adaptability of the range in both settings.

Retailers have welcomed the new collection, says Mereway.

Jon White from Anderson Sinclair said:

“Town and Country gives us the tools to differentiate our businesses,”

“It is a fantastic product that opens up many different design possibilities, giving us a substantial competitive edge.”

The above image shows Gainsborough in Calico and Pumice with satin brushed nickel handle and knob.

www.merewaykitchens.co.uk

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