http://www.linku2.co.ukLinkU2 UK business directory RSS Feed, which has business listings by category and location. Submit your website, products and services to our free business listing index and RSS.Copyright 2009 LinkU2.co.ukNew in 2010 - Energy Efficient replacement for skirting and radiators -As seen on Dragons Den ThermaSkirt® is the eco friendly heating solution. ThermaSkirt® is a new and innovative way of heating your room. ThermaSkirt® makes the most of a skirting board and radiator and turns it into effective, eco-friendly heating. Designed and manufactured in the UK, the system replaces your skirting boards and radiators in one. ThermaSkirt® will work with existing conventional boilers as well as renewables such as solar, ground source and air source heat pumps. ThermaSkirt® has been tested by BSRIA fully complies with BS-EN 442 & carries the CE mark and in a like for like test against radiators was shown to be at least 13% more energy efficient. With the correct boiler & control system, fuels savings of up to 25% are possible. In test, ThermaSkirt® was proven to be the most efficient form of heating, giving the best uniform heat distribution, with only a ±1°C variation, compared to a radiator with a massive 13°C variation. The effect of ThermaSkirt® is indistinguishable from under-floor heating in that it heats the room from all sides and at low level, and yet it is as simple to fit as a radiator. As it is as slim and discrete as a skirting board, it takes up no wall or floor space. Because it is above ground, it can be used with any floor construction or covering including timber and carpet and warms up the room quickly. more...http://heatandenergy.services.officelive.com/thermaskirt.aspx http://www.linku2.co.uk/click/d3d3LmhlYXRhbmRlbmVyZ3kub3Jnskirting boards radiators energy efficent replacement heating gas central underfloor heating west yorkshireA survey of dwellings has revealed that remedial works following air tightness testing have yielded energy savings of between 15% and 30%. Air tightness testing is the procedure to trace any unwanted drafts and uncontrolled airflow through the house. Too much air leakage leads to heat loss resulting in higher heating costs and C02 emissions. A home isn't a balloon, so when cold air comes in, warm air gets pushed out. A building with air infiltration points will be slower to heat and faster to cool. The warmer air becomes, the greater its ability to carry moisture. If warm air is allowed to escape from the building envelope through unintended channels it will cool in cavities and form condensation and can give rise to dampness, mould growth and degrade insulation. How can air tightness be achieved? A survey of dwellings has revealed that remedial works following air tightness testing have yielded energy savings of between 15% and 30%, this can sometimes be achieved for as little as a couple of pounds and a little attention to detail. Good levels of air tightness are best achieved by good design at building stage and are governed by the Code For Sustainable Homes (Housebuilders and Developers please visit our Commercial Services) rather than by retrospective works. However, you may have unwittingly committed breaches yourself to your homes permeability or been the victim of lazy, or tradesman unaware of the impact of breaches, for example, installed cheap down lighters or unsealed holes behind kitchen cupboards. Air Tightness Tests are sometimes referred to as an Air Pressure Test, Envelope Test or an Air Permeability Test. There are two types of air tightness tests: calibrated and uncalibrated. It is important that auditors use a calibrated door. This type of blower door has several gauges that measure the amount of air pulled out of the house by the fan. Uncalibrated blower doors can only locate leaks in homes. They provide no method for determining the overall tightness of a building. The calibrated blower door's data allow the auditor to quantify the amount of air leakage and the effectiveness of any air-sealing job. Good news! We can perform the test on your existing home and help you to reap the rewards of an air tight house. Every single house in the country that is 5 years or older will benefit from an air tightness review. Having great insulation in your cavity helps keep the thermal heat loss down, but combining that with an air tight house, you'll see immediate benefits. If you feel comfortable doing the small improvements that will reap huge rewards, great, we will highlight the areas on the day that need addressing. If you don't, we have a team of local builders available that can apply their skills to finish the job for you. Testing costs from as little as £50 can you afford not to invest considering the potential return? Contact info@heatandenergy.org today and start saving tomorrow!http://www.linku2.co.uk/click/d3d3LmhlYXRhbmRlbmVyZ3kub3Jnair tightness testing existing homes energy saving eficency draughtproofing reduce bills costsI recently wrote an article titled “Pay as you save –the smartest climate change ever aimed at home owners” following UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband announcement in December. The plan briefly is to trial “The Home Energy Pay As You Save scheme” which will give 500 UK households the opportunity to invest in energy efficiency and microgeneration technologies in their homes with no upfront cost. Householders will make repayments spread over a long enough period so that repayments are lower than their predicted energy bill savings, meaning financial and carbon savings are made from day one. Though I had some disappointment that so few homes are to be involved, I congratulated Mr Miliband and expressed that in my opinion this is one of the smartest ideas of the 21st Century and if successful has the potential to put a real dent in energy consumption and costs and potentially this was enough to win my vote at the next general election! However, the details are still a little scarce, but I am further disappointed to learn that British Gas are to be involved. This will simply add to fears of where the responsibility of the loan will reside – the building or the homeowner, will you be tied to British Gas for energy supply etc. Why allow one of the utility companies to be involved at all – the vast majority want independence from these organisations and would opt for off grid power generation as soon as it’s a viable option. www.heatandenergy.org The manufacturers and suppliers of these technologies need to re-align their thinking slightly, and perhaps reinvent themselves as energy providers as opposed to distributors. Wouldn’t it be better to pay them your monthly household budget for clean and renewable energy. Alternatively, create a lease/purchase scheme, lots of people cars, this would eradicate fears of purchasing inferior or inefficient equipment and so drive micro –generation to mainstream markets. Here’s a thought, instead of bailing out the irresponsible banks, V.A.T. reductions and scrapage schemes, why not provide the manufacturers of micro-generation technologies interest free loans to create such a leasing schemes. Consider the positives of such a scheme, job creation would be huge, manufacturing jobs (could this re-invent British manufacturing?), builders, ground workers, plumbers, gas fitters, surveyors etc. Not to mention that every householder would benefit financially long term and cut co2 emissions..... WOW! http://www.linku2.co.uk/click/d3d3LmhlYXRhbmRlbmVyZ3kub3Jnclimate change, renewable energy, pay as you saveTime for change We’ve all grown up taking water for granted. Turn on the tap and there’s water, flush the wc, take a bath, put on the dishwasher, turn on a hosepipe. We use water without really thinking about it. We’ve never had to change our ways – until now. We’re at the tipping point of needing to take a more active role in reducing the amount of water we use, otherwise we will ultimately suffer higher water bills. Only 1% or the earth water is available for drinking. Governments are setting water and energy conservation targets, with many businesses already paying excessively high water bills caused by lack of regulation from water companies, billing errors, water leaks. Domestic customers not on meters metres fail to recognise the cost of their water usage and need to understand that when you heat water you are also using gas and/or electricity, hence reducing your water consumption will in turn reduce your fuel costs, and if this isn’t a wakeup call be aware of plans for every home to be fitted with water meters. We are more aware of our environment than ever. It’s only a matter of time before water conservation goes the same way as recycling of household waste. Both are modern-day issues: recycling came around because we needed to reduce the pressure of ever-growing consumerism and wastage. In the same way, changes in weather patterns and the effects of global warming have had such a dramatic effect on the UK’s water supply that scarcity and cost are becoming increasingly important issues for all of us. In the home: How can I save water? It’s easy, water-saving doesn’t require drastic measures, huge expense or big shifts in the way you do things, start at the beginning with small steps, learn and understand how much water some water-saving products will save (and how much extra money you’ll have in your pocket), then adopt even more water-saving measures. Reduce your water usage by 9 litres a day, you can do this simply by saving the cold water that runs as your shower warms up, with a Pop-Up Bucket - and then use the water on the plants. A new product to market is Hydrasave – a clever inexpensive device that automatically diverts the cold water we typically waste waiting for hot water to reach the taps to a water butt. Reduce your water usage by around 12 litres a day by installing a cheap water dams in your toilet cistern. Reduce your water usage by 30 litres a day can be achieved by installing aerating tap fixtures and low flow showerheads (these can also improve your shower’s performance effectively turning a low pressured system in to a power shower, Don’t believe me? Check out this video http://heatandenergy.com/WaterSavingProducts.) not to mention the reduces costs to heat the water For Businesses: It stands to reason that if they above measures will work in your home then they can make a dramatic savings in your business, but you have the opportunity to do so much more... An Effective Water Management Plan Can * Reduce Water Usage by as much as 80% * Increase Available Hot Water * Reduce Water Heating Costs by up to 80% * Reduce Plant & Machinery Running Costs * Reduce Maintenance Costs * Meet Government Environmental Targets Implement a water management plan which will guarantee continued saving and reduction in water costs Obtain Full Staff/Tenant Support. This is essential for any plan to be successful and ongoing. Without adequate time and financial commitment savings will be minimal. Active support from staff and tenants is key to success and with this in mind keep plans simple and your targets achievable. Staff responsibilities within the plan need to be clearly defined enabling them to take ownership of their elements, Team work is the key. Draft a Water Policy Statement that is simple, understandable and to the point. An example: This Association is committed to developing and maintaining a comprehensive water saving programme. This will increase efficiency, cut costs and enable us to make a positive contribution towards meeting our water and energy conservation targets at the same time enhancing the environments Identify the true cost of water Do you know how much your business spends on water per annum or how much is water costing you? Check your water bills for the last 3 years and note the annual consumption and cost. Has your water bill increased over the last 3 years, if so Why? Understand your water usage, does your water usage follow trends or is it constant, are there seasonal variations? Identify unexplained increases in usage has your bill unexpectedly increased? you may be throwing thousands down the drain without realizing. Consider associated costs such as energy requirements and chemical treatment. How much does it cost to heat up 1m sq water to 70c Start to read your water meters on a regular basis. Identify Water Use Carry out a water use survey to determine how, where and why water is being used. Cistern Volumes can be measured, Basins can be gauged by disconnecting u bend and measuring timed flow into a bucket. Showers can be measured in a graduated bucket over 30 seconds Calculation of an accurate water balance requires realistic estimates of operating hours. Talk to staff about patterns of use as they will have a very accurate idea. Once the survey is complete you should have a water balance which lists and quantifies individual items of water use. Compare this figure with the amount of metered water for the building 10% discrepancy for unaccounted water should be expected. Any more than 10% means something has been missed or more seriously you have a leak. Re-Assess Your Water Use This step will help focus your actions for improving water efficiency. Do I really need to use as much water in this area? Do your showers need to use 30 litres per minute or will 8 litres suffice. Problem Areas will become very obvious and will enable you to prioritise easily. Encourage Staff/Tenant input and involvement. Switch off running taps and report leaks drips and water wastage. Identify and Evaluate Water Efficiency Measures (WEMs) Find products that can achieve your aim, do not sacrifice performance for saving, Low cost WEMs are often the most cost effective so locate and repair any leaks as a priority. Fit smaller water meters (Where appropriate) lowering standing charge bills and renegotiate the tariff. High users can attract larger discounts. Research water saving products and their effectiveness. Water saving showers can bring usage as low as 8 litres per minute and still give an effective pleasant shower. Tap controls can reduce flow from 25 litres per minute to only 6 litres per minute, consider tap aerators, push button time control taps, electronic time, control taps, and push button retro fits to existing taps. Cistern Dams and other measure can reduce usage by as much as 5 litres per flush, PIR urinal controls can be set to only flush the cistern when the unit has been used rather than on a regular basis throughout the day and night. Cheap and cheerful flow restrictors can be easily and cheaply fitted to pipe work to significantly reduce flow to high use areas. By educating staff/tenants in water conservation you can manage and identify problems quickly and effectively making sure repairs are carried out promptly i.e. dripping taps Implement Your Plan and Monitor Results Commit your water management plan to paper. Written plans are not set in stone but used as a benchmark to be referred to on a regular basis. Set targets make them achievable, realistic and review them regularly. Nominate staff for specific responsibilities within the plan so that they can be encouraged and guided. Lack of goal and an established time frame means that focus will be eroded and the plan will slip and eventually fail. Identify and prioritise actions so that you can initiate the most cost effective WEMs as soon as possible then use the extra savings to finance more expensive WEMs. Review the plan on a regular basis to keep up to date with estate changes, usage, occupancy numbers this helps retain focus keeping the plan fresh and viable, If not reviewed on a regular basis plans will stagnate and fail It is your responsibility to drive it forward and not become complacent. For more ideas or assistance visit www.heatandenergy.org http://www.linku2.co.uk/click/d3d3LmhlYXRhbmRlbmVyZ3kub3Jnwater saving efficiency energy environmental consultancy