Geothermal energy

Geothermal energy is to be used for a residential scheme for the first time in the UK at the £18m St John’s Wood development in London, designed by architect CZWG. The geothermal solution is a closed loop system fitted inside the building’s piles. The claim is that it will reduce gas and electricity bills by up to 30%. Property and construction consultancy McBains Cooper has provided M&E engineering for the system.

McBains Cooper

enquiry #301

High efficiency boiler

Aquastan Heating has developed an unvented water gas heater called Novacon that is intended to improve the efficiency of domestic hot water supply. The company says the product is laser welded, that it eliminates dissolved air in the heating system and prevents corrosion. Novacon is available in four different sizes: 125, 150, 180 and 200 litres.

Aquastan Heating

enquiry #302

Rainwater collection system

Hydro International has introduced a rainwater harvesting system called StormBank to provide a sustainable water supply and lower utility bills. The company says that the system, which is made from plastic, collects rainfall from roofs, passes it through a stainless steel filter and delivers it to the building clean and free from particulate matter. The resulting water is suitable for toilet flushing, vehicle washing, laundry and irrigation.

Hydro International

enquiry #303

District heating

MHS Boilers has launched a community heating system called Nexus. This uses a gas boiler in a remote centralised boiler house to draw heat and hot water through a loop. Nexus units are placed within individual flats to monitor energy consumption. MHS Boilers says the system provides up to 19 litres of hot water per minute.

MHS Boilers

enquiry #304

Economical bathroom suites

VitrA has developed a bathroom suite called Carlton which is said to offer a cost-effective and durable solution for volume housebuilders. The entry level range comprises a bath, basic brassware designs and a range of sanitary options including 450 mm and 570 mm

full-pedestal basins, a 400 mm corner cloakroom basin and a toilet with top flush. The maker says Carlton's design focuses on simple and sweeping lines and has been priced to be highly competitive in the market.

VitrA

enquiry #305

Taps with thermostats

The Deva Tap Company has launched a range of taps called Dynamic that have thermostatic mixing valves to ensure a stable mixed water temperature and reduce the risk of accidents. The company says the Dynamic range has been designed in a sleek modern style and is suitable for new build and refurbishment projects.

The range comprises deck- and wall-mounted bath shower mixers and monobloc basin and sink mixers.

Deva Tap Company

enquiry #306

Specialist washbasin

Duravit has extended its Vero washbasin range with the introduction of models to fit large spaces and compact corners. The larger washbasins are available in widths of 850, 1050 and 1250 mm. They can be joined to a 500 mm wash bowl and have a built-in undercounter basin. The three slimline handrinse basins come in width of 500, 450 and 250 mm and are ideal for private bathrooms where space is limited. All the models have been designed to conform with the original Vero rectangular shape.

Duravit

enquiry #307

Kitchen units

Kitchen maker J&J Ormerod has added a model called Reviva to its entry-level range which is designed to offer specifiers a cost-effective and stylish design. The Reviva range comprises more than 50 different units and is available in white, cream and beech. Additional features include shelf lights, halogen downlights and a choice of more than 100 different handles.

J&J Ormerod

enquiry #308

Kitchen units

Kitchen maker J&J Ormerod has added a model called Reviva to its entry-level range which is designed to offer specifiers a cost-effective and stylish design. The Reviva range comprises more than 50 different units and is available in white, cream and beech. Additional features include shelf lights, halogen downlights and a choice of more than 100 different handles.

J&J Ormerod

enquiry #309

Surface for playgrounds

Watts of Lydney Group has developed a shredded rubber safety surface called Terrasofta to provide a resilient and safe environment for children's play areas. The product is made of recycled tyres that have been turned into rubber mulch. The company says that Terrasofta is coated with a biocide called Hygienilac which kills a wide range of bacteria including MRSA, listeria and salmonella.

Watts of Lydney Group

enquiry #310

Garage storage system

Scott Brothers has launched a flexible garage storage system called Pack-mate Racor InterChange which is said to be ideal for rotating and expanding storage space according to seasonal needs. The system is made of walls that can hold up to 22 kg and interchangeable racks that include a cord wrap, a hose rack, a multi-use rack, and a long-handled tool hanger and utility hook

Scott Brothers

enquiry #311

Communal satellite television

Sky has launched a communal system for digital satellite television called Free Shared Disc, which has been designed for apartment blocks and flats where it is difficult to install individual satellite receivers. The company says that FSD enables every resident to access digital satellite services without the need for each flat to put up their own dish. The Free Shared Disk cabling is routed to apartments externally to make additional connections easier at a future date.

Sky

enquiry #312

Programmable dimmer switch

Leax Lighting Controls has launched a programmable wall dimmer switch for the domestic market. The Leax 4 × 4 has been designed to fit into a 75 mm deep double-gang back box to avoid clutter, and the plates can be custom-finished to suit the requirement of any scheme. Leax Lighting Controls says that, unlike other lighting control systems, the Leax 4 × 4 can be programmed directly from the plate and controlled using an infra-red handset. Its overall capacity is 2000 W.

Leax Lighting Controls

enquiry #313

Retro sanitaryware

Axor has brought out a collection of bathroom taps and sanitaryware called Axor Montreux inspired by the belle époque style of the end of the 19th century. The maker says the range combines clean, geometric shapes with pure, traditional elements such as filigree cross handles and ceramic components. The Montreux collection nickel finish is available in brushed or polished styles.

Axor

enquiry #314

Optic lighting

Optic Lighting has developed five ranges of fibre optic lighting systems for the domestic market that offer the same aesthetic qualities as previous products for the bespoke contract sector. The company says the systems work by transmitting light down lengths of plastic fibre that is then emitted at the end point and defined by a choice of end fittings. Every single fibre can be cut to length. Optic Lighting says the colour of the light is adjustable resulting in a wide range of aesthetic options. The ranges include InFloor, InShower, InWater, Outdoor and StarCeiling for use in flooring, bathrooms, swimming pools, gardens and bedrooms.

Optic Lighting

enquiry #315

Product Innovation

Greywater recycling system

South-eastern England faces the prospect of long-term water shortages and, as a result, the pressure is on to find ways of cutting water consumption. One option is to recycle more “greywater” from baths and showers. Ecoplay’s compact water management system, which is also called Ecoplay, is designed to do just this. The makers say the system can cut a typical household’s water use by 30% by using bath and shower water to flush toilets. The system is located just above the cistern, and is made up of a cleaning tank and a storage tank. Gravity pushes recycled water from the bath and shower flows into the cleaning tank where the main pollutants are extracted. A pump is used in single-storey buildings. The cleaned water is then stored ready to fill the cistern. Ecoplay says the water is never kept longer than 24 hours and the system has the capacity to run up to two toilets in a flat, bungalow or two-storey house.

Ecoplay

enquiry #316