Energy suppliers are to be responsible for installing smart meters in all households in the UK by 2020.

Plans for smart meters for millions of homes have been unveiled with trials suggesting the £8bn scheme may help people save £28 a year.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change wants to see 47 million meters in 26 million properties by 2020.

It is hoped the technology will help people cut their energy bills by paying more attention to usage.

Smart meters have a visual display allowing customers to see exactly how much electricity and gas they are using and relay the data to energy firms automatically.

Energy use

Trials of smart meters have resulted in some people moderating their energy use.

"Smart meters will put the power in people's hands, enabling us all to control how much energy we use, cut emissions and cut bills," said Energy and Climate Change Minister Lord Hunt.

Source: bbc.co.uk

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Renewables - PTS launches Renewables Brochure

PTS has launched a comprehensive Renewables Brochure to help installers make the right choices when it comes to specifying energy efficient products.

The 56-page brochure contains product information from
leading manufacturers and highlights the latest energy saving product
ranges available in all PTS branches.
Covering all areas of renewable technology,
the brochure features solar thermal, solar PV, heat pumps,
biomass boilers, rainwater harvesting,
heat recovery and ventilation and hot water storage.

Nicky Clegg, head of marketing for PTS, said: “The 2011 Renewables Brochure has been designed to be as informative as possible, providing essential information about the latest energy efficient technologies to help installers select the right products for the job.”



 Taking time to understand the latest energy efficiency legislation can be difficult for busy installers, so the Renewables Brochure also includes the most up-to-date government initiatives such as Feed-in-Tariffs, the Renewable Heat Incentive, the Green Deal and the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Nicky added: “We believe that the new Renewables Brochure is the ideal way to keep our customers up-to-date with industry changes. Going forward PTS will remain active in supporting its customers by providing the latest news and developments in an informative and helpful way.”

The Brochure enhances a range of PTS initiatives including a number of Renewable Specialist branches, which ensure excellent stock availability, while its dedicated Renewable Energy Branch in Aylesford offers advice and training courses. Customers can also subscribe to PTS’ GreensSav£ers e-newsletter via the PTS website to stay up to speed with the latest legislation and promotions.

Source: hpnmag.com

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BPL Global Releases New Version of its Connected Energy™ Smart Grid Solution Suite

A smart grid technology company, announced today the release of Version 3.5 of its Connected Energy™ (CNRG™) smart grid solution suite for advanced distribution automation of the electrical network.


 The suite enables integrated management of smart grid solutions from substations through customer premises. Based on a common architecture, a broad range of smart grid solutions designed for the distribution grid can collaborate. Cross collaboration of smart grid solutions automates decisions and responses in the grid to enhance reliability and efficiency and delivers the promise of the smart grid.

This approach enables BPLG's solutions to bridge "islands of intelligence™" created by the independent deployment of specific smart grid solutions such as advanced metering, demand management, and/or substation automation.
The result is improved ROI for each of the smart grid solutions through leveraged infrastructure, shared information and integrated management.

"The Connected Energy™ smart grid solution suite enables utilities to plan and execute their long term smart grid roadmaps on a unified system architecture," said Pete Londa, CEO of BPL Global. "Utilities can sequence deployment of solutions to maximize their investments in smart grid technologies from substations through customer premises such as renewable energy, smart meters, load management, energy storage, asset monitoring and substation automation."


Source: prnewswire.com

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Grimsby continues its support of plumbing king

So far Tom has also been recognised as the ‘Northern Hip-Ex Apprentice of the Year’ and come out on top in the northern heat of the ‘skillPLUMB’ battle, organised by SummitSkills, the sector skills council for the building services engineering sector.

Tom, 25, left the competition standing at the Manchester-based semi-final of skillPLUMB, scoring 96% on his practical assessment. Tom will now join five other finalists in the national final of skillPLUMB, which is set to take place in September.

Information sourced from Plumbzine.
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SkillPLUMB finalists announced

The 10 competitors who will compete in the 2011 SkillPLUMB UK final have been named.

All will go head-to-head at Leeds College of Building on September 14-16 in a challenging practical task spanning the three days, in the quest to be crowned SkillPLUMB champion.

The task involves the installation of a simulated small central heating system with copper pipework, condensing boiler jig, wash hand basin, shower control, towel rail and simulated WC with soil stack and connections – all to an exact specification and a strict timed schedule.

This year the competition will be held side-by-side with SkillELECTRIC, SkillFRIDGE, SkillPIPE and the 10 competitions that comprise SkillBuild in a joint event that will see around 150 trainees compete in front of hundreds of visitors.

The finalists are:
• Reece Bradley – Barclays Coalville/Stephenson College, Leicestershire
• Tim Coney – Gaswise/Grimsby College
• Lee Cuthill – DI Jones Heating Engineers/Yale College Wrexham
• Alex Henning – Gower College Swansea
• Phillip Kempsell – KEJ Services/Bedford College
• Tom King – Brian King Plumbing & Heating/Grimsby College
• Gregory Lines – SW Turner/Stourbridge College
• Sam Love – Festival Housing/Worcester College of Technology
• Raymond McWilliam – Speyside Plumbing Services/Moray College, Scotland and SNIPEF Training Services
• Ross Temple – Killen Plumbing Services/South West College N. Ireland

SkillPLUMB has the UK Copper Board as its premier sponsor and is organised by SummitSkills, the sector skills council for building services engineering.

For more information on SkillPLUMB, visit: skillplumb.org.uk

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UK to take on the world in plumbing and heating

A talented young plumbing and heating engineer has been chosen to represent the UK at WorldSkills London 2011 in plumbing and heating.

Shane Trevitt, 22, who works for NG Bailey, was chosen to represent the UK after a tough four-day selection competition earlier this month. He will now step up his training to make sure that he is ready to compete at WorldSkills.

WorldSkills London 2011, which takes place at ExCeL from October 5-8, 2011, will be the world’s largest international skills competition with young people from across the globe competing to be the ‘best of the best’.

At the competition, 1000 competitors from over 50 countries will compete in 46 skill areas over four days. The event will also offer visitors impartial advice and guidance on careers and apprenticeships.

Skills minister, John Hayes, said: "Those representing the UK at WorldSkills will play a hugely important role in bringing the value of vocational skills and practical learning to national attention. I offer my warm support and congratulations to every member of the team.

 “To support the ambitions of young people everywhere in our country, we have created a record number of apprenticeships, and we are building the best skills training system we’ve ever had."

During WorldSkills London 2011, Shane will compete against the best from all over the world and they will be judged on their level of skill, accuracy and speed in completing projects.

From now until WorldSkills London 2011 in October, each competitor will be in training supported by a dedicated training manager. Their training will focus on preparing them for the WorldSkills environment by acclimatising them to working under time pressure and in competitive conditions.

Shane said: “It is a huge honour to have been selected to represent the UK at WorldSkills London 2011. I hope this opportunity will allow me to showcase how apprenticeships can lead to successful employment and career opportunities. I know the next few months will be tough as I will be in training for the event and I really hope the whole of the country gets behind Team UK for WorldSkills London 2011 like they do our sporting teams!”

The members of Team UK have been and will continue to be supported in their training by Edge, the independent education foundation, the Premier Supporter of Squad and Team UK and Brathay Trust, the Premier Training and Development Partner of Squad and Team UK. APHC also sponsors Team UK in plumbing.

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Female plumber named best local trader in London

Plumber Carrie Andrews has been named as the best local trader in London by recommendation website, Which? Local.

Based in Tulse Hill, Carrie, who runs Plummy Plumbers gained five star reviews and was praised by her customers for her “efficiency, thoroughness, and reliability”.

Reviewers also enthused about her friendly nature, with one commenting that she was “a pleasure to have in the house”.

More than 20,000 recommendations were made by Which? members for the Which? Local Business of the Year award. The award recognises local traders that provide a great service or go the extra mile for their customers.

Plummy Plumbers now joins seven other regional finalists for Which? Local Business of the Year. The overall winner will be announced on June 23 at the Which? Awards in London.

Pete Tynan, Which? Local manager, said: “Word of mouth counts for a lot when choosing a local trader, and the reviews on Which? Local show how much people value great local businesses.

“With a fantastic number of rave reviews from its customers, Plummy Plumbers is a worthy finalist for London. But of course, there can only be one overall winner, which we look forward to announcing at the awards ceremony in June.”

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