Electrical Contracting News (ECN) September 2017 | Page 9

INDUSTRY
NEWS
GAIA REWARDED FOR
ITS ENVIRONMENTAL
RESPONSIBILITY
RICARDO SUPPORTS UK POWER NETWORKS
ON AWARD WINNING SMART GRID TRIAL
Gaia Climate Solutions has
been awarded the Bronze level
accreditation from the Carbon Charter
Panel, thanks to the company’s
effective carbon monitoring and
attitude towards taking environmental
responsibility seriously, with several
reduction plans in place.
The Suffolk Carbon Charter is
awarded to organisations that are
monitoring and reducing their carbon
emissions; it is intended to provide
public recognition of this vital step
to the shared goal of Creating the
Greenest County.
The panel stated that ‘Gaia
demonstrate a clear commitment
to managing their carbon footprint,
and has adopted a strong policy to
enshrine this. A range of actions
undertaken, from lighting upgrades
to vehicle replacement and route
planning have put the business on
a clear path of increased efficiency.’
The panel also particularly noted
a commitment to sustainable
procurement and supplier
engagement.
Gaia places great importance on
maintaining a clear environmental
strategy with both staff and suppliers,
which has now been recognised and
rewarded. It will now be a case of
maintaining and growing this strategy,
helping to continue the work that has
already been started.
For further information visit:
www.gaia.co.uk
The UK Power Network’s Flexible Urban Networks – Low Voltage
(FUN-LV) project, which is supported by Ricardo, has been awarded
the Business Green, Green IT Project of the Year, recognising its
potential to ‘significantly improve the resilience and performance of
urban grids in a cost effective way.’
The FUN-LV project uses power electronics to release spare
capacity in the electricity distribution network. Smart electronic
devices are fitted in the network to detect when the facility is
running close to capacity. The power flow is then automatically
redirected and shared with neighbouring substations that are more
lightly-loaded.
The technology could significantly boost grid capacity,
maximising the power that can be used and potentially increasing
the longevity of existing infrastructure. It could allow electricity
companies to connect new customers and those requesting more
power, quicker and at lower cost than upgrading or adding entirely
new substations and cabling. Greater control over power flow could
also make it easier to connect more low carbon energy generators
to the network.
FUN-LV received funding under Tier 2 of Ofgem’s Low Carbon
Networks Fund for Electricity Distribution Networks. This is the
third time that the project has been recognised for energy sector
innovation, having previously been awarded the European Utility Week
Industry Innovation Award in 2015, and the Institute of Engineering
Technology (IET) Power Innovation Award the following year.
For further information visit:
www.innovation.ukpowernetworks.co.uk
BIG INDUSTRY NAMES ANNOUNCED
FOR NAPIT EXPO 2017
CEDIA TO HOST PRE-AWARDS
INDUSTRY WORKSHOP EVENT
CEDIA has announced that it will be hosting a three-hour
Technology, Consumer Trends and Business Strategy Workshop on
the morning of Friday September 29, before the industry heads to
the highly anticipated 2017 CEDIA Awards ceremony in the evening.
Hosted at the Lutron Experience Centre in London, the
workshop will discuss what’s next for the home technology industry.
Concentrating on consumer and technology trends, the session will
explore how these developments will affect businesses over the next
five years.
Organised by CEDIA’s Technology Advisory Council, the day will
begin with a brief update from each council member discussing
their predictions for future trends in the technology market. Based
on ideas raised covered, attendees will work in small groups to
discuss and develop strategies to embrace opportunities and
overcome potential challenges. Following the workshop session,
integrators will be able to network with their fellow peers.
Tickets for the Technology, Consumer Trends and Business
Strategy Workshop are priced at £75 + VAT for CEDIA members and
£115 + VAT for non-members.
To find out more about the event and to book a place, visit:
www.cedia.co.uk/cedia-events
This year NAPIT welcomes a variety of supporting partners to
the annual NAPIT Expo event, which will be taking place at four
major locations in the UK later in the year.
The free exhibition, which kicks off in September in
Bristol, is open to all NAPIT members and the industry as
a whole. Visitors can get an exclusive insight into the latest
industry developments, such as the 18th Edition of The Wiring
Regulations, as well as being able to shop and browse the latest
products and services from a range of exhibitors.
Big name manufactures signed up to attend so far include
Megger, Martindale Electric, Schneider Electric, Dimplex, DYMO
and Surge Protection Devices. There will also be a selection of
NAPIT’s own white label services in attendance including NAPIT
Drive, NAPIT Insurance, NAPIT Direct and NAPIT Keep Busy.
All partners will be providing exclusive on the day offers for
attendees, as well as contributing to a prize bundle which will be
up for grabs at each session.
The event will be split into two sessions, 12-4pm and 4-8pm,
allowing visitors to attend at the time which suits them best.
There will be one hour of browsing time with the exhibitors
before the technical presentations begin and 15 minute breaks
between each presentation for refreshments and more browsing.
For further information visit: www.napitexpo.co.uk
IT INFRASTRUCTURE
SOFTWARE & SERVICES
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