Pipe Center and Climate Center expand technical team to support market push on green technology

Pipe Center and Climate Center are expanding their central technical team to support expansion into new market sectors and the introduction of renewable technologies.

The enlarged technical team will provide a single point of contact for customers on major projects and tap the in-depth product experience available across Pipe Center and Climate Center and – where relevant – the wider Wolseley UK.

The technical team will support the accelerating roll-out of renewable products by Pipe Center and Climate Center, providing information on product specification and performance.

It will also provide specialist technical support for the growing FM market, to enable those responsible for the maintenance of buildings quickly to source replacement products – or suitable alternatives – to ensure facilities continue to operate efficiently.

“One of most important differentiators in the market – and highly valued by customers – is the quality of technical information and support. I am proud that the experience and knowledge we have at Pipe Center and Climate Center is second to none,” says Scott Craig, sales and marketing director.

“This latest expansion involves significant investment in people, resources and training to ensure that we are not only up with the curve, but ahead of it. We believe it is vital that customers have the knowledgeable support they need to win business and help their clients reduce energy and carbon, and adopt sustainable solutions.”

An important aspect will be to gather, distil and distribute throughout the business updates on new products and technology as soon as they become available, ensuring everyone is up to speed and able to keep customers informed.

Martyn Simpson, who heads the technical team, says: “It is an exciting time to be in the industry. There are constant advances in technology and new approaches emerging. We will act as a central clearing house, to bring order and clarity to ensure customers and our own teams are fully aware of developments – and how they can benefit.

“While new products may promise a lot, there are often pros and cons to be aware of. We will be doing our own evaluations and training branch staff on the issues and how best to help customers.”

The technical team will also monitor the rapidly changing legislative landscape, and keep track of developments in government policy and incentives.

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Article source: http://www.plumbingpark.co.uk/plumbing_hvac_article15680.html

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg met investors in New York in the run up to the flotation

Facebook has priced its shares ahead of one of the most eagerly-anticipated share flotations in recent stock market history.

The social network said on Thursday that it valued shares at $38 (£24) each, and that its shares would begin trading in New York on Friday.

At this price the eight-year-old firm would be worth $104bn (£66bn).

Demand is set to be high; earlier this week Facebook said it would be selling 25% more shares than planned.

But questions remain about the firm’s ability to generate profits and take advantage of mobile phone platforms.

There are also concerns that once the company has to answer to shareholders, there may be a greater emphasis on advertising to generate profits.

Limited say

Earlier this week, the company indicated the price would be between $34-$38 a share, with about 421 million shares up for sale.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis
Rory Cellan-Jones Technology correspondent

It was in 2004 that a Harvard student called Mark Zuckerberg started a social networking site in his college bedroom.

Eight years on, more than 900 million people use Facebook and its young founder – who still wears a hoodie to work – has convinced investors that his company is the most valuable technology business ever to have offered itself to investors.

Facebook’s revenue comes from advertising – and it’s now worth six times as much as the world’s biggest advertising business WPP.

When trading begins in New York, it’s expected that the shares will rise as small investors rush to get in on the act.

The real question though is whether in a year’s time Facebook will have started to deliver the huge growth in profits that shareholders will expect.

• Read more from Rory
• Can Facebook crack China?
• Facebook: Behind the likes and pokes
• Facebook feature growth timeline

This would represent one of the highest value share sales, or initial public offerings (IPOs) in US history.

By selling shares at that value, Facebook raised $16bn for itself.

However, the new shareholders will not have much of a say in how the company is run.

The shares on offer are A shares, which carry one vote per share, whereas the current owners’ shares are B shares, which carry 10 votes each.

They will control more than 96% of the votes after the public listing, with founder Mark Zuckerberg holding just under 56% of the voting power of the company.

Mr Zuckerberg, who owns about 25% of the company, stands to gain the most from taking Facebook public. Fellow founders Dustin Moskovitz and Eduardo Saverin will also become paper-billionares overnight, as will Napster founder and former employee Sean Parker.

US venture capital firm Accel Partners and Russian internet investment group Digital Sky Technologies also hold significant stakes in Facebook, while Microsoft and U2 frontman Bono also stand to make a huge profit on their investment in the company.

Revenue growth

The social networking site has transformed the way in which hundreds of millions of people around the world communicate. It is also transforming the way companies advertise to existing and potential customers.

But Facebook’s 900 million users helped the company generate just $1bn in profit last year, and there are concerns about its ability to grow profits in the future.

For while it holds a depth of personal information advertisers dream about, Facebook only generates about $5 a year per user.

This has led a number of commentators to question the company’s valuation.

“Facebook will need to generate annual revenue of $30bn-$40bn in order to justify the likely valuation of the business,” said Victor Basta at Magister Advisors.

“This is a tenfold increase over the revenues that it currently generates. The question is ‘where from?’”.

The potential revenue from online advertising is huge.

“We know our industry is $1tn worldwide,” Martin Sorrell, chief executive of advertising giant WPP, told the BBC.

“We know internet advertising is currently 20% roughly [of the total]. We know people are spending almost a third of their time online in one way or another, so there’s a vast opportunity for Facebook.”

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Sir Martin Sorrell talks to Rory Cellan-Jones about the value of Facebook

Generating greater revenues from this potential market is the first key challenge facing the company, both in terms of its own business model and in the face of strong competition from the likes of Amazon, Apple and Google.

“We’re telling our investors to hold off,” Oliver Pursche, president of Gary Goldberg Financial Services, told the BBC.

“Number one, we don’t know what the guts and the balance sheet of the company looks like yet so that’s a big red flag for us. We want to understand the business before we tell people to invest.”

‘Knife edge’

Facebook has identified mobile devices, phones and tablet computers as key areas for revenue growth, but observers say this will not be easy.

“[Facebook is] the holy grail for advertisers. It holds the minutiae of everybody’s lives, the perfect concoction of information – age, sex and what you like,” technology analyst Ernest Doku told the BBC.

“[But] so many people are engaged for so long, it’s very difficult to lure them away to what you’re trying to sell them.”

The second big challenge is not alienating users while trying to maximise revenue.

“[The company] is balancing on a knife edge between servicing its users and pleasing its investors,” Mr Doku said.

“It has been able put the user experience first and foremost, but now investors are going to want [a return].”

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18105608#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

17 May 2012
| By Vern Pitt

Government looks at extending existing schemes to prevent plunge in insulation installations

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Article source: http://www.building.co.uk/sustainability/sustainability-news/ministers-plot-rescue-plan-to-bridge-green-deal-gap/5036749.article

Commercial air source heat pump contributes to BREEAM rating for retail store

A spacious new store in Sheffield will be heated by air source technology from Danfoss Heat Pumps UK, in a development which has been designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating.

A Danfoss AW05 commercial air source heat pump has been installed at the 1880m2 retail unit at 30 Chesterfield Road in Sheffield. The heat pump has an output of 105kW and supplies space heating to the extensive open-plan sales area via a 10km underfloor heating system, which is divided into 10 zones.

The project has been developed by Southport Golf Complex Ltd., and the air source heat pump was specified because the company’s Managing Director Keith Wainman was committed to the use of green technologies and wanted to create a showcase building to encourage other businesses to follow suit. The installation of the pump also provided a cost-effective method of meeting the building’s planning requirement to source 20 per cent of energy from renewable sources.

Keith Wainman, Managing Director of Southport Golf Complex, explains: “I believe it is very important for business premises to be designed in a way which helps tenants to reduce their carbon emissions and energy costs, such as air source technology. The efficiency of the heating system made this property extremely attractive to potential tenants and it was let very quickly.”

He adds: “After considering several tenders for the installation of the heating system we selected the one which included the Danfoss heat pump because it had sufficient output to heat the building from a single unit, whilst the other systems submitted required the use of several units. We have also worked with Danfoss Heat Pumps UK on the heating system for another commercial premises, where we had been impressed by their high level of technical expertise.”

The AW05’s compact external unit has been installed at the rear of the building and the buffer tank is situated within the underground car park to avoid any loss of sales space. Both units are enclosed within safety cages. The sleek, modern appearance of the units and the fact that they operate at a very low noise level make this model ideal for a retail development where it is important to give a good impression to customers.

The AW05 is one of an exciting new range of commercial air and ground source heat pumps launched by Danfoss Heat Pumps UK recently to meet the needs of clients with a larger than average requirement for space and water heating, and cooling.

Kerry Dickinson, Commercial Projects Manager of Danfoss Heat Pumps UK, comments: “We have seen a huge level of interest in our new range of commercial heat pumps. As businesses seek new ways to reduce their carbon emissions, many commercial property owners are recognising that installing heat pump technology can help them to attract new clients.”

The AW05 is available with a heating capacity of 22kW – 105kW, and will operate even in the coldest winter weather, continuing to deliver a consistently comfortable indoor environment, via an integrated hydronic module, even when the outdoor temperature drops as low as -20C. The low height of the external unit at just 1330mm means it can be conveniently located outside most buildings, without causing sight restrictions.

The AW05 offers low noise levels as it is designed to minimise vibration in the compressors. The heat pump uses ozone-friendly refrigerants, as part of reducing environmental impact. The unit is also able to supply a continuous high temperature hot water supply up to 65oC.

The Sheffield retail unit has been constructed on the existing steel frame of a single storey 1970s building. The design included incorporating a high level of insulation and the installation of a mezzanine floor to allow for the creation of an underground car park.

The building is close to completion and shows an anticipated energy saving of 190,000kWh when compared to a gas boiler heating the space to the same temperature.

Danfoss Heat Pumps UK has extensive experience in the manufacture of heat pump systems for schools, community buildings, developers, local authorities, housing associations and self builders.

The company has a recommended network of approved installers throughout the UK, which it supports with system design, technical support and training. This enables it to offer customers in the light commercial sector an unbeatable value-proposition including top class products, backed up by excellence in customer service.

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Article source: http://www.plumbingpark.co.uk/plumbing_hvac_article15675.html

Clinton Cards lost £3.7m in the six months to the end of January

Retailer Clinton Cards, which is in administration, is to close almost half its stores across the UK, leading to the loss of 2,800 jobs.

Adminstrators Zolfo Cooper said that it has “regrettably” decided to close about 350 stores of its total of 784.

The closures include all of its Birthdays-branded stores.

“In the course of this work it has become clear that the business is burdened with an untenable retail estate,” it said.

Clinton Cards was placed in administration on 9 May.

Founded in 1968, it was the UK’s biggest card retailer and before its collapse employed more than 8,000 staff.

In March, Clinton Cards reported a loss of £3.7m for the six months to the end of January and said the outlook for 2012 was worse than previously thought.

It had loans of £35m to banks, which were then sold on its supplier, American Greetings.

While the banks had waived certain conditions for the loans, American Greetings had pressed for repayments that Clinton Cards could not meet.

Clinton Cards has been restructuring its business to try to turn around its fortunes, including closing a number of Clintons and Birthdays-branded UK stores.

Do you work for Clinton Cards? Are you worried about losing your job? Please get in touch using the form below.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18096654#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

16 May 2012
| By Iain Withers

More jobs go in first quarter of 2012

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Article source: http://www.building.co.uk/news/construction-workforce-shrinks-by-14000/5036783.article

Introducing Aqua 30 and the easy plumb kit from Aqualux

Aqualux, supplier of shower screens and enclosures enclosures offering a comprehensive portfolio of products, including shower trays, has launched a new AQUA collection that has been carefully developed following extensive research and analysis of feedback to discover what customers really want. As a result, the range is meticulously designed to meet the requirements of installers and merchants alike, as well as having high end user appeal.

For the householder, a new shower enclosure and tray should fulfil practical requirements such as being robust and watertight, but it must also appeal to the senses and enhance the bathroom by making it a luxurious space within the home. Aqualux keeps this focus in mind when designing new products, while at the same time asking what features installers most appreciate. The answer today is the same as it has always been – innovations that help make fitting easier and that will deliver an impressive end result. With the brand new AQUA 30 slimline shower tray and the groundbreaking Easy Plumb Kit with TOPLOK Technology™, installers can have both.

The sophisticated AQUA 30 is a range of low profile 30mm shower trays that can be fitted in one of three ways: direct to the floor, flush fit into the floor and in elevated ‘easy plumb’ form. Made from stone resin with a hard-wearing gelcoat surface, these contemporary style trays are available in square, rectangle or quadrant styles and come in eight different sizes.

Making the installation of this stylish product as smooth as it looks, Aqualux introduces what it believes is the most innovative fitting system yet devised – the Easy Plumb Kit with TOPLOK Technology™. This cutting edge installation solution combines unique ‘top adjust’ legs together with a specially designed PVC facia system that is set to completely transform the way in which shower trays are installed.

The TOPLOK Easy Plumb Kit has been developed in response to installers’ requests for shower solutions that are simpler, quicker and easier to assemble. Previously with tray installations where access is available only from the front, installers would have difficulty reaching beneath the tray board in order to adjust the rear legs to the correct height and the process would often involve lifting the tray out several times. Now, with the TOPLOK Easy Plumb Kit, the support board can be put in place and made level afterwards – simply by adjusting the legs from the top. This groundbreaking concept is made possible because of the patent-applied-for design of the tray legs, which incorporate a retractable turnkey. Inset within the top of each leg, the key extracts and can be rotated to increase or decrease its height. The key then slots back flush inside the leg, locking the set height ready for the shower tray to be placed on top. Not only does this design make shower installation much quicker and easier for the installer, the stability of the tray is also further improved as each leg location can be fixed to the floor prior to the board and tray being positioned on top.

The TOPLOK Easy Plumb Kit consists of an 18mm marine plywood pre-cut board, top adjust legs incorporating TOPLOK Technology™ and a specially designed clip-together facia system. The facia is made of PVC, which is far more robust than acrylic and therefore perfectly fits the contours of each Aqualux tray. This means that, unless desired for aesthetic purposes, a silicon seal is not required. With flexible ribs that allow excellent grip, the facia clips snugly and firmly into place, yet can easily be removed if access to the waste is required at a later stage. For ease of attachment, pre-drilled fixing holes are also provided.

A 90mm high flow waste with a matching low profile Aqualux branded dome waste cover is available for purchase alongside the AQUA 30. This is highly recommended as, unlike standard waste covers, the Aqualux dome has been designed to elegantly complement the smooth, sophisticated style of the tray, providing the perfect finish.

The TOPLOK Easy Plumb Kit and the high-flow waste with matching waste cover are both sold separately. As with all Aqualux products, the new ranges are fully tested to the current standards.

AQUA 30 and the TOPLOK Easy Plumb Kit are the first products available in the new AQUA collection. These are launching in April 2012, alongside the AQUA 4 range of 4mm shower enclosures and bath screens.

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Article source: http://www.plumbingpark.co.uk/plumbing_hvac_article15674.html

Facebook was founded in 2004 and now has 900 million users

Facebook has raised the price at which it hopes to sell its shares from $28-$35 to $34-$38, potentially putting its total value above $100bn (£62.2bn).

The company said strong demand had pushed up the price. Trading in the shares is expected to begin on Friday.

A valuation at this level would make it worth more than the US corporate giants Disney, Ford and Kraft Foods.

The eight-year-old social network has 900 million users worldwide and made a profit of $1bn last year.

If investors buy the shares at the mid-point of $36, Facebook would raise $12.1bn through its planned sale of 337.4 million shares.

Despite the strong interest, a Facebook team is continuing to tour the US with an investor road show, a move undertaken by companies to drum up demand ahead of a sale of new shares.

Facebook is set to list on the Nasdaq and its value will rival Amazon’s current worth of $100bn.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

The Facebook IPO is a bet on the shape of our digital future”

End Quote

Rory Cellan-Jones Technology correspondent

• Read more from Rory

Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg will remain in control of the company even after the flotation, controlling more than 57.3% of the voting power through shares he holds and through voting agreements with other shareholders.

The intense interest in the share issue comes despite doubts about the company’s ability to make steady profits from social networking.

Although Facebook makes money, profits are currently just 1% of the market value implied by the forthcoming flotation.

Last month, Facebook reported its first drop in revenue between quarters for two years.

It has sought to allay those concerns, pointing to mobile as an area for growth that the company will invest heavily in.

Facebook is in the process of buying the fast-growing mobile phone photo sharing app Instagram for $1bn, its largest purchase ever.

The BBC’s technology correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones, says it is unclear how the company can make money from mobile apps.

Small shareholders

Many private investors are unlikely to be able to buy as many shares as they want.

Major stock market listings of private companies generally have only a small allocation of shares for private investors of up to 20%.

Individuals hoping to buy ahead of open trading must register with a broker, if they do not already have one, and put in a formal request.

The brokers themselves have to wait to see how many shares they will be allocated from one of the leading investment companies underwriting the issue.

In the US, online broker Fidelity, which will be getting its shares from one of the underwriters, Deutsche Bank, says customers should have $500,000 (£312,000) in their accounts and have made 36 trades in the past year to be eligible.

Other companies’ account requirements are a bit less onerous, but still require customers to have made a number of trades and have a substantial sum of money in their accounts.

Even if a customer meets the requirements, there is no guarantee they will get any shares.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18070141#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

15 May 2012
| By Vern Pitt

Tory chair of energy committee fears long delay in selling Horizon Nuclear Power after hearing evidence from energy firms

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Renewable energy : Luxury Lincolnshire holiday home chooses Danfoss ground heat pump

A luxury holiday lettings company has chosen renewable energy from a Danfoss ground source heat pump for a barn conversion in rural Lincolnshire.

The heat pump has been installed at Ings Barn near Wainfleet, a stunning five-bedroom countryside retreat, which is the result of a high quality renovation of a group of disused farm buildings.

The conversion was carried out by property owner Debbie Ward, who decided on a ground source heat pump to provide a low carbon heating solution.

Debbie Ward explains: As soon as I saw the property I knew it had great potential. This was always going to be a long term project and I wanted the conversion to be cost effective and have minimal impact on the environment, so a heat pump was the obvious chioce, combined with the eight solar panels and the wood burner. All of our electicity is purchased from a green supplier with only the wood burner creating any carbon emissions.”

She continues: “Another benefit of installing the ground source heat pump is that Ings Barn is proving to be extremely popular with environmentally conscious holidaymakers, who want to take a break somewhere with low carbon emissions.”

Debbie appointed renewable specialists 4Ward Heating, based in Lincoln, who installed a Danfoss 12 kW DHP-H Opti Pro heat pump to provide space heating and hot water for the property.

Chris Dale, Director of Danfoss Heat Pumps UK says: “Our DHP-H Opti-Pro ground source heat pump is an excellent investment for this spacious barn conversion, where it provides reliable, cost effective space and water heating. Ground source heat pumps offer a high level of system efficiency and operate continuously, which means a holiday property such as Ings Barn can be kept at a comfortable temperature all year long, whilst minimising its carbon footprint.”

The heat pump is complemented by eight solar thermal flat plate collectors on the roof and a wood burner with a built-in boiler. All three systems heat water which is stored in an 800 litre buffer tank and then distributed to the underfloor heating system.

During the summer months, when there is less demand for space heating, some of the water from the buffer tank is automatically redirected to a heating system for the swimming pool. This means that the swimming pool can be kept at a comfortable 29°C throughout the summer without incurring additional energy costs.

The ground source heat pump also supplies hot water for the property that can accommodate up to ten people and has three bathrooms and a hot tub. Because there is likely to be a significant demand for hot water when the property is in full use, 4Ward heating installed a 200 litre Danfoss DWH water storage tank in addition to the DHP-H Opti Pro’s integrated 180 litre tank. The pump and tanks were installed in a dedicated plant room within the building.

Trenches were dug in land adjacent to the holiday let, in which 660 metres of ground loops were laid one metre below the surface.

Andy Ward, owner of 4Ward Heating, explains: “This was a really exciting project to work on and just shows how heat pumps provide a great solution for both domestic and commercial projects. Because of its location off the gas grid, heat pumps were the ideal energy source, especially as there was land nearby for trenching. It also means that the swimming pool can be heated more cost effectively than with conventional methods, so that guests can really reap the benefits.”

The Opti Pro’s intelligent control system uses speed controlled circulation pumps to ensure that its performance is always adjusted to the prevailing temperature conditions. This ensures that the minimum amount of electricity is required to run the pump and also means that property owners can simply ‘set and forget’ the controls, as the heat pump automatically maintains the required internal temperature in the most energy efficient manner. This is ideal for a holiday let, keeping the property warm and welcoming for each set of guests whilst minimising energy consumption.

Ings Barn is located in Thorpe St Peter, which is five miles from the Lincolnshire coast and close to the Gibralter Point Nature Reserve. It can be rented through www.holidaylettings.co.uk.

4ward Heating can be contacted on 01522 595164/07885 485039 or alternatively visit the website at www.4wardheating.co.uk.

For more details about heat pumps, visit the Danfoss Heat Pumps website at www.uk.heatpumps.danfoss.com or telephone 0114 270 3900.

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Article source: http://www.plumbingpark.co.uk/plumbing_hvac_article15670.html