News
Earthmill expands with new operation
Yorkshire-based renewables specialist Earthmill , the UK ’ s largest agricultural wind turbine firm , has expanded with the launch of a dedicated turbine service and maintenance division , to help farms maximise returns from wind power .
The £ 15m turnover business , which has installed more than 250 ‘ farm-scale ’ turbines since it was launched out of Managing Director Steve Milner ’ s garage in 2009 , has invested in new staff and technology in response to the high demand for assistance from turbine owners whose initial service warranties have expired .
Earthmill has won more than 20 new service and maintenance contracts in the last few months and expects to have gained at least a further 50 by the end of this year .
With a 14-strong team of engineers deployed nationally , and further recruitment anticipated , Earthmill has also invested in a new on-site high-tech control centre at its Wetherby head office . The technology provides a detailed , real-time report of local wind speeds and power outputs of each turbine as well as pre-empting and instantly logging any technical problems .
Milner said : “ When something goes wrong with a turbine , speed and technical expertise are essential to avoid costly downtime for turbine owners , who need their machine to be producing power at every opportunity . This investment in technology allows us to gather the levels of data necessary to ensure our clients are constantly getting the maximum out of their wind turbine investments .”
Green Investment Bank streamlines energy efficiency funding
The UK Green Investment Bank plc ( GIB ) has provided a Green Loan to help Stirling Council save £ 31m over the next 30 years by installing energy saving streetlights .
Stirling Council is borrowing £ 9.87m from GIB and will use it to install light-emitting diodes ( LEDs ) instead of traditional sodium light bulbs in 12,000 streetlights over four financial years .
The council will also replace 4,000 of the columns ( or lampposts ), marking a major investment in infrastructure for the county .
Stirling is expected to cut its streetlight power consumption by 63 percent and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 14,400 tonnes over the lifetime of the project . The energy saved each year would be equivalent to the total electricity consumed by over 850 homes .
GIB launched its Green Loan for local councils to help them reduce their streetlight electricity bills by up to 80 percent . The Green Loan offers UK local authorities a low , fixedrate financial arrangement over a period of up to 30 years . It has been specifically designed to finance public sector energy efficiency projects where repayments are less than the savings realised .
The UK currently spends about £ 300m a year powering its seven million streetlights , with fewer than one million lamps so far using low-energy LEDs .
Worcester gives installers star treatment
Leading manufacturer of heating and hot water technologies , Worcester , Bosch Group has launched a new initiative aimed at loyal installers of its award-winning product range .
The Greenstar Rewards promotion runs from 6th April to 31st December 2016 and offers installers the chance to collect points that can then be redeemed against a number of rewards , ranging from Worcester branded clothing to Bosch professional power tools . Those eager to develop their skills can also use their points on selected training courses at the company ’ s network of Training & Assessment Academies .
To collect points , installers must sign up to the scheme and register a Greenstar i , Greenstar Si Compact boiler or Greenstore cylinder via the new log in area of Worcester ’ s website .
Apprentice winner signs up with NICEIC
The Apprentice winner Joseph Valente has signed up with NICEIC , the UK ’ s leading voluntary regulatory body for the electrical contracting industry .
Valente was named the winner of hit BBC show The Apprentice last year . That victory earned him the backing of Lord Sugar and he is using his support to expand his plumbing , heating and electrical business , Impra Gas .
“ It has been full on since winning The Apprentice , but it is a great platform for my business ,” commented Valente .
“ The investment and support has allowed us to explore new areas and we just want to get going now and grab the opportunity .”
Part of that development includes gaining NICEIC accreditation . As the nation ’ s leading and most recognised certification body , Valente admits NICEIC approval was vital to expanding his business .
“ Having specialised in the heating and plumbing sector I was well aware of NICEIC and it was the only brand that people really spoke about . We used to sub-contract out all of our electrical work but winning The Apprentice means we have been able to take on two fully qualified electricians and start doing that work in-house .
“ Being an Approved Contractor with NICEIC means we can now offer a full electrical service to our clients including consumer unit changes and electrical reporting and testing .”
Valente is also keen to capitalise on the growing trend for smart technology around the home .
Continual developments in technology in recent years have transformed the way we work . They are also increasingly changing the way we live in our ‘ connected ’ homes – something Valente has identified as a specialist area for his business .
“ I think smart homes and the Internet of Things ( IoT ) is the way the industry is going ,” he stated .
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