B&ES and BCIA join forces

Posted on by Posted in Plumbing Industry News

roderick_pettrigrewThe Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) has joined forces with the Service & Facilities Group of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) to develop a pan-industry conference.

The title of the one-day event is 10-80-10 – The Building Services Summit, and relates to the life cycle of a building, which comprises ten per cent construction, 80% running costs and ten per cent disposal.

The focus will be on ensuring that building engineering services operate as effectively and efficiently as possible during the whole life of a building.

Terry Sharp, chairman of the BCIA Marketing Working Group said:

Much emphasis is placed on the capital cost of non-residential buildings, while lifetime costs – including energy use, maintenance and refurbishment – represent around 80% of the total, yet are too often overlooked

Simon Carter, vice chairman of the B&ES Service & Facilities Group, added:

Our Association represents the engineers and contractors who deal with the installation, commissioning and maintenance of building services on a daily basis.

As such, we are able to provide expert advice and guidance to building owners and managers on reducing energy bills and getting the most from the equipment they have invested in.

BCIA president Steve Harrison stressed that

working with other organisations is the best way for us to demonstrate that it is by co-operation and holistic thinking that optimum energy efficiency can be achieved

Roderick Pettigrew, chief executive of B&ES, said:

The commercial pressures inherent in the construction process too often encourage all parties to take a short-term view

The aim of this conference is to make the whole procurement chain aware of whole-life costing – including energy costs – and so provide clients with best value


10-80-10 – The Building Services Summit will take place at the Barbican Centre, London EC2, on Thursday November 27, 2104.

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Pink initiative raises funds

Posted on by Posted in Heating, Plumbing Industry News

pinkredstoneAn installer from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, has kicked off the new year by running his very own charity initiative – inspired by a pink Worcester Greenstar CDi boiler.

Paul Bennett, of Redstone Plumbing & Heating, is donating £25 from every boiler he installs this spring to Breast Cancer Awareness, after losing his mother to the disease recently.

With the support of Worcester’s technical sales manager, Dave Stimson, Paul has been able to make the pink Worcester boiler the ambassador for his campaign, which he hopes will raise much needed cash for this incredible charity.

Paul said:

Because of the experience of my mother, breast cancer research is very close to my heart. If people don’t have to go through what we went through because of research into the disease, that would be fantastic.

Martyn Bridges, director of marketing and technical support at Worcester, Bosch Group, said:

Everyone at Worcester is extremely supportive of Paul’s commitment to what is without question a worthwhile cause. We are always keen to support installers with in every way we can, and were only too happy to hear that Paul had decided to make a pink Greenstar CDi boiler the symbol of his campaign. We wish Paul all the best with his fundraising.

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Julia: The key to convincing consumers

Posted on by Posted in Plumbing Industry News

juliaTV star, Julia Bradbury, opened Plumb Center’s Practical Installer Arena at Ecobuild 2014, saying the UK can lead the world by building a genuinely low carbon economy. 

Julia, presenter of BBC 1’s Countryfile, said:

The nation’s army of more than 120,000 installers is the key to convincing consumers that energy efficient technologies don’t have to cost the earth, but could save a fortune.

Plumb Center is supporting installers every step of the way through its UK-wide network of more than 500 branches

Ecobuild is vital because it’s the largest sustainability trade show in the world. This is where everybody comes and if you’re not here, you’re not going to know what’s going on.

Practical Installer is a ‘working’ showcase, which shows installers and homeowners the benefits of solar, biomass, heat pumps and water efficiency.

This year, 19 of the industry’s suppliers have joined Plumb Center to demonstrate the latest technologies, so visitors can see them working live and talk to Microgeneration Certification Scheme accredited installers for advice and information.

Plumb Center’s renewables director, Simon Allan, said:

“It’s great to welcome Julia Bradbury to Practical Installer. We know from her work that she’s passionate about our finite natural resources.

“Installers are the key to winning hearts and minds, and we’re determined to give them the tools through our expertise and training, so they can help deliver a more energy efficient nation.”

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Government must slash refurb VAT

Posted on by Posted in Home improvement

brianberryA VAT reduction on housing renovation and repair could boost the UK economy by more than £15 billion from 2015 to 2020, according to a new independent research report by Experian.

The reduction could also create more than 95,000 jobs and save 240,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from thousands of homes.

The report is backed by more than 60 charities, trade associations, business groups and financial institutions that are united in calling on all three main political parties to commit to this VAT reduction in their 2015 General Election manifestos.

Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said:

A VAT reduction on housing renovation and repair work will empower homeowners to contribute to growth, jobs and greener homes without placing a burden on the Treasury. There is no other proposal that will help the UK achieve so many of its economic, environmental and social aims with so little cost to the public purse. 

This research shows that the wider benefits of a VAT reduction on housing renovation and repair would stimulate more than £15 billion of wider economic activity, which completely overshadows any direct losses to Treasury coffers due to a drop in the percentage charged for VAT.

Brian added:

It is a myth that EU law prevents the UK government from reducing VAT on housing renovation and repair. This research report clearly shows that almost half of EU member states are currently enjoying the economic, environmental and social benefits that this VAT reduction can bring. Why should the UK not follow suit?

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Government must slash refurb VAT

Posted on by Posted in Bathrooms and Kitchens

A VAT reduction on housing renovation and repair could boost the UK economy by more than £15 billion from 2015 to 2020, according to a new independent research report by Experian.

The reduction could also create more than 95,000 jobs and save 240,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from thousands of homes.

The report is backed by more than 60 charities, trade associations, business groups and financial institutions that are united in calling on all three main political parties to commit to this VAT reduction in their 2015 General Election manifestos.

Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “A VAT reduction on housing renovation and repair work will empower homeowners to contribute to growth, jobs and greener homes without placing a burden on the Treasury. There is no other proposal that will help the UK achieve so many of its economic, environmental and social aims with so little cost to the public purse.

“This research shows that the wider benefits of a VAT reduction on housing renovation and repair would stimulate more than £15 billion of wider economic activity, which completely overshadows any direct losses to Treasury coffers due to a drop in the percentage charged for VAT.”

Brian added: “It is a myth that EU law prevents the UK government from reducing VAT on housing renovation and repair. This research report clearly shows that almost half of EU member states are currently enjoying the economic, environmental and social benefits that this VAT reduction can bring. Why should the UK not follow suit?”

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