15 minute read
Pumps & Heating
GREAT, “OLD FASHIONED” SERVICE …….
Pump Technology Ltd., founded in 1992, is recognized as one of the UK’s leading independent pumps and pumping system specialists focusing on drainage, wastewater and sewage applications.
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A true “One Stop Pump Shop” for specifiers and engineers, the company boasts a long serving, experienced team who will be able to discuss just about any pump solution requirement with customers. Ultimate pumping performance and reliability is reliant on correct pump selection and Pump Technology pride themselves on their, right-first-time, ethos. The team say they believe that their main tool is the telephone and, when it comes to understanding an application and having confidence in any purchase, talking always wins!
Avoiding the hassle of wrongly specified items, returns and confusion over missing accessories all contribute to being able to keep prices competitively low
Pump Technology say that this is what makes them a true market leader. They are recommended by the leading manufactures such as KSB, Lowara, Ebara, Dab, Flygt, Jung Pumpen, Saniflo etc. for the selection and supply of their equipment and hold possibly the largest and most varied stock of pumps in the UK. Orders placed before 3.30pm will be packed for next working day delivery with options for am and weekend shipping. Customers close enough to the warehouse in Aldermaston, Berkshire can always call in. Customers are learning that one call will identify a broken pump for replacement, ideally like for like, or if that model is superseded an equivalent for pumping performance and fit.
For new applications, typically pumping stations for basements, house extensions, garden rooms, warehouse, offices, public houses, local flooding solutions, emergency onsite pumps, the team will be happy to discuss and recommend suitable and always cost-effective solutions.
Additionally, the Pump Technology engineers will be happy to provide training for all of their products in their online showroom. This includes being able to remotely show customers the products they want to order and explaining about future applications or product solutions, exactly how they work and are maintained.
Current popular products include the MiniMatic below ground pumping station for house extensions and garden rooms. This consists of a 60L below ground tank with a single free-standing submersible sewage pump, high level alarm and cover with full installation and maintenance details.
Also, particularly at this time of year, the Floodbox, which is a “Self-contained”, emergency flood package for areas such as patios, warehouse floors, door-ways etc. is proving popular with house and business owners
More Information: Pump Technology Ltd 0118 9821 555 www.pumptechnology.co.uk
UK MEDIA BIAS IN ENERGY TRANSITION
Turbulent times produce added information which turns out to be not wholly true but more of a disguised agenda. We are all aware of the use and misuse of ‘Fake’ news and all of its companions. But we need to unite in our efforts to achieve decarbonisation as soon as it is pragmatic and realistic. UK consumers – plus contractors, consultants and all big commercial sites - should be aware that a strong international preference towards hydrogen is evident by the sheer level of international investment and that it is under reported by mainstream media outlets.
Multiple major economies, distribution hubs and global companies are working towards future green hydrogen usage with grey and blue hydrogen being used as decarbonizing stepping stones.
However, according to various UK mainline media outlets, heat pumps are the only viable tool of decarbonisation. Although heat pumps will undeniably play a vital role in cutting harmful emissions, alternative avenues towards climate conscious energy usage are being overlooked by UK mainstream media outlets.
Instead of truly reporting on all feasible alternatives, mainstream media prefers to push decarbonizing technology that appears to be more financially compatible with their respective socio-economic audiences. the subject is often treated with disparagement. A lack of manufacturing capacity, safety issues and consumer cost are the three main motivations behind this limited reportage. If this is the case what is being done to amend these concerns within the emerging hydrogen industry?
At present there are three prominent variations of hydrogen that are being manufactured: grey, blue and green. This colour scheme correlates to production methods which themselves infer to the amount of carbon releases for each are responsible.
96% of currently globally produced hydrogen is generated through fossil fuels. The easiest form of hydrogen to manufacture is grey hydrogen which is produced via a process called SMR – steam methane reforming. Heat and pressure are applied in natural gas which then converts its methane properties into hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
Blue hydrogen occurs when carbon collected during steam reforming is stored underground. This process is called carbon capture and storage (CCUS). In a generous light this variation of hydrogen can be labelled “carbon neutral” however a more accurate description would be “low carbon” as up to 10% - 20% of carbon, can be potentially released into the atmosphere.
Recent technological advancements in this area are responsible for CCUS potentially entering a new era. New hydrogen manufacturing plants will employ alternative technology Autothermal Reforming (ATR) which allows for capture of up to 96% - 97% of all emissions.
Carbon capture and storage is an area the UK government is keen to accelerate. Blue hydrogen projects that require funding can access government provided finances through the £240 million NetZero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF). Additionally, a Carbon Capture Storage Infrastructure Fund (CIF) was first announced during the Budget, March 2020. Allocation of £1 billion of state funding for the CIF was confirmed at the November 2020 spending review.
Major international companies such as Shell are currently involved in multiple CCUS endeavours more notably in Canada, Norway and Australia. Shell is a partner in the Australian Gorgon Liquefied Natural Gas Project. Once completed this will be the biggest CCUS operation in the world and will be capable of capturing up to four million tonnes of CO2 a year.
Shell’s Quest project in Canada is a fully operational CCUS facility. The governments of Alberta and Canada have invested $745 million and $120 million respectively. Shell hopes that the positive results yielded from this project will further encourage other CCUS technology to be implemented internationally.
Green hydrogen is 100% carbon neutral and therefore the preferred fuel of the future. Green hydrogen is produced when renewable resources like wind, hydro or solar power are
Pumps & Heating 21 Rinnai’s Chris Goggin looks at some of the reasons why the UK media is favouring some energy vectors over others in the current era of transition to Decarbonisation and NetZero
used to power an electrolyzer that sits in a huge drum of water. This process is called electrolysis, which extrapolates hydrogen from oxygen atoms in water. The only excess substance remaining is water zapped of its hydrogen content.
Because no fossil fuels are used in the creation of green hydrogen, carbon neutrality is completely feasible. Individual sectors such as transport and home heating are aware of green hydrogen’s climate credentials and are keen to begin utilizing the alternative fuel source.
What is holding back green hydrogen usage then? Producing green hydrogen is dependent on earth’s natural resources. Some seasons yield more positive results than others. Then there is cost. At present green hydrogen is not cost competitive with grey hydrogen which is easier to manufacture. Six percent of global natural gas consumption can be traced to grey hydrogen production.
Next generation electrolyzers are being designed with greater capacity for efficiency and the cost of renewables are declining. In coming years, with further advancements in these areas green hydrogen will become commercially abundant and viable.
In making this possible an EU funding spree hopes to create a European value chain in green hydrogen electrolyzers. Multiple funding projects will be cleared as part of the one billion Euros European Green Deal. It is believed that 25 – 30 million Euros will substantiate each individual project. Every venture must demonstrate a sizable energy and decarbonizing contribution to either the industrial, transport or domestic heating sector.
Advancing electrolyzer and ATR - CCUS technology will see the cost of blue and green hydrogen decrease, whilst manufacturing capacity and demand will increase. Grey hydrogen production and therefore any need for fossil fuel consumption will gradually shrivel away.
Aspects of health and safety are another issue which restricts hydrogen’s appeal in UK media outlets.
Hydrogen has been undergoing testing and re-testing for many years for commercial opportunities to become apparent. FutureGrid is a project set up to create a demonstrative gas transmission network which allows for a wide range of safety tests to be carried out and analysed.
Once constructed, FutureGrid’s transmission network will be capable of facilitating a range of tests on 20% hydrogen gas blends to 100% pure hydrogen. Analysis will focus on gas behaviour and interaction within the constructed infrastructure.
All testing will be adjudicated by the Health and Safety Executive who will decide on the feasibility of domestic and commercial hydrogen consumption. Construction will potentially begin on the £10 million project in 2021 with tests being carried out later in 2022.
A vast amount of funding and proactive thought is being placed into the advancement of hydrogen. Work is underway on producing next generation electrolyzers and CCUS technology that will help push hydrogen to the forefront of international energy options. Updated technology will assist in increasing manufacturing capacity whilst driving bulk prices of blue and green hydrogen down.
Major UK media outlets however fail to deliver this information and instead focus on either alarmist editorials designed to shock, or present only one technological decarbonizing option.
The entire world has set its sights on future hydrogen usage. Why we hear next to nothing is due to media bias that stems from potential advertising revenue aimed at a target demographic.
UK end users need to know that hydrogen is a global target not a conceptual ambition. In the coming years multiple decarbonizing technology options will be available. The only reason this isn’t widely reported is down to current personalized media agendas held by mainstream media outlets.
For more information on the RINNAI product range visit
www.rinnaiuk.com
LEADING supplier of innovative building products PermaRoof, part of PermaGroup, has introduced its brand-new PermaRoof 500 liquid coating system, as part of its ongoing goal to provide permanent solutions to age old problems.
Manufactured in the UK, the PermaRoof 500 system waterproofs a wide range of surfaces – including roofs, gutters, under green roofs, balconies, and more – with the addition of an anti-slip option that removes the risk of slipping in wet weather.
The system is made up of a polyurethane liquid membrane, producing a highly elastomeric waterproofing solution, with an ETA certification for a 25-year life expectancy, providing peace of mind when it comes to product longevity.
Sunny Lotay, national commercial manager at PermaRoof Commercial,
developer-update.co.uk
said: “We’re thrilled to finally be able to launch our new PermaRoof 500 system. Every roofing project is different, which means a more adaptable solution is required and that’s where PermaRoof 500 comes in. It’s highly resistant to punctures, making it perfect for all types of flat roofing, and can be applied to those harder-to-reach areas of a roof with relative ease. “The best part is that you don’t lose any of the key benefits you’d find in other roofing systems. You’re still getting high resistance to extreme temperatures, good vapour transmission, and rapid resistance to rain within 30 minutes of application, all from a single step.” While the product is easy to install, PermaRoof Commercial provides a list of Permaroof Registered installers (PRI’s) through its website for those seeking additional support, which pairs customers up with local contractors, ensuring a successful installation by a certified professional. Adrian Buttress, managing director of PermaGroup, said: “We pride ourselves in finding solutions and providing the best quality products we can, and the PermaRoof 500 is no exception. We are excited to be able to offer this new product as a part of our ever-expanding range. Our industry is always adapting and advancing, and products like this allow us to keep up with this change by offering new and exciting ways to provide our customer base with what they need.”
Toupret, the professional’s choice for quality fillers, has today announced an exclusive partnership with Fix Media - the parent company of the popular Fix Radio that attracts 85,000 weekly tradespeople.
The brand, which is already well established in the painting and decorating sector, is on a mission to put the best products into the hands of all trades people, wherever they use them. The partnership with Fix will help Toupret to fill a gap in the building and construction market with its top quality, fast working range of products for jointing and skimming plasterboard, encouraging them to try its Joint, Skim and Fill range for themselves.
Fix Radio is the perfect partner to help Toupret reach tradespeople in the building & construction sector with over 85,000 listeners per week across DAB, online, and a dedicated app.
Seeing is believing, and so the unique partnership will also reach builders at merchants and on building sites as part of a nationwide roadshow. The Toupret tour will run across the UK from April to July 2022, spending mornings devoted to builders’ merchants and afternoons at local jobsites.
The tour is supported by a huge £10,000 competition prize fund, with opportunities to win a grand prize £4,000 premium garden entertaining package and lots of Toupret merchandise giveaways on the day. The event day format will also include handing out scrumptious snacks on site, along with the expert team providing information on the Joint, Skim & Fill products, proving that it’s the top-tier product to the get job done, and product handouts available to encourage builders to make the switch to Toupret, for better, faster results every time.
Mark Squire, managing director at Toupret UK, said of the partnership, “What Carlsberg is to beer, Toupret is to fillers. We know how good they are and the purpose of the Fix Radio sponsorship and roadshow is to get Toupret’s class-leading product range into the hands of builders up and down the country so that they know it too. We know our fillers are the best on the market and we want to make their on-site jobs as easy as possible. In total, Toupret and Fix Radio are aiming to have over 4,000 face-to-face conversations – all part of our mission to change hearts and minds in the building and construction sector”. Tony Dibbin (from 7am to 10am) five days a week as part of an eight-month schedule, including multiple daily spot advertising slots for Toupret Joint, Skim & Fill seven days a week.
Clive Holland, host of the Clive Holland Show on Fix Radio, said, “Fix Radio has partnered with Toupret’s Joint, Skim and Fill range to create a series of roadshows near you. Our joint roadshow team will be visiting builder’s merchants between April and July. As well as the chance to win £10,000 worth of prizes, tradespeople will get the opportunity to learn how the latest Toupret products can make life easier on-site.” Toupret’s trusted Joint, Skim & Fill products will also be promoted on Fix Radio’s website, and on their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter profiles – which have an impressive total following of 615,000.
The Toupret Joint, Skim and Fill collection is specially formulated to joint, skim and fill with one coat, no shrinkage, no need to spot prime and easy sanding, allowing builders to get a great result first time, every time, so they can move on to the next job quicker.
Toupret knows that tradespeople work to tight timelines, that’s why the Quick Dry products dry in three hours, giving precision, and polish when painting needs to be done quickly. Toupret’s Ready To Use products can be applied straight from the tub. The range is also supported with Patch & Repair products that come with excellent adhesion for snagging jobs.
CREATING THE PERFECT BATHROOM AMBIENCE
With detail Lighting
Aplace of sanctuary and tranquillity — the bathroom should exude a feeling of comfort and relaxation. Lighting plays a vital role in achieving the right ambience in a room, and nowhere is this more important than in the bathroom. Used every day, bathrooms need to work from an aesthetic and practical point of view; they are multi-functional spaces that require multiple lighting types.
Experts in LED lighting, Detail Lighting’s expertise and vast product range is guaranteed to help deliver extraordinary bathroom schemes — from achieving the right ambience in a master ensuite to finding practical solutions for cloakrooms. To achieve a spa-like environment, consider integrating hidden lowlevel lighting in the floor behind a freestanding bath, across the shower tray and opt for LED strip lighting in all the different nooks and niches. For the ultimate relaxing ambience, opting for uplights that bounce light off the ceiling will create a calming and glare-free atmosphere, ideal for a luxurious master ensuite.
From the best practical lighting solutions for everyday use, to ambient solutions for the ultimate relaxing space, Detail Lighting will help you create a bathroom lighting scheme that suits your style and your needs.
Established in 2000, Detail Lighting offers beautiful, functional lighting design that separates projects from the ordinary. Supplying the commercial, hospitality and residential sector, Detail Lighting combines unparalleled expertise with a comprehensive portfolio of stylish, technical and well-designed products to deliver the very best in LED lighting solutions.
“From a practical point of view, it’s wise to opt for low-level lighting in the bathroom, ideally on a movement sensor, as this means you won’t be blinded by bright overhead lights at night time. If you’re able to, incorporate Bluetooth control lighting into your bathroom, this allows you to easily control the light level or set the ‘scene’ depending on whether it’s the kids’ bath time or you’re in pampering mode.”
- Piero De Marchis, Director, Detail Lighting
