The Ministry of Justice is “seeking expert advice” on how it can achieve a ‘net zero’ target for its property portfolio – mainly prisons and court buildings – MPs on the Environmental Audit Commitee heard today (4 September). Carl von Reibnitz, Sustainability Director at the Ministry of Justice, told the MPs that prison emissions represent Read more…
Nottingham Council to self-supply water, hand responsibility to energy team
Nottingham City Council will start supplying water to its own estate next month – with responsibility handed to its energy services team. Having acquired a self-supply licence, enabling it to buy water directly from Severn Trent at wholesale rates, the council hopes to cut bills and increase resource efficiency. The council estimates it will save Read more…
The potential of water efficiency
Water supplier Business Stream urges businesses to take a proactive approach to water efficiency in this sponsored article. Whilst the benefits of reducing energy use are well understood, the similar benefits to be gained from reducing water use are sometimes overlooked. By using less water, customers can stand to benefit from lower bills and greater Read more…
Yü Energy enters water market
Business gas and electricity supplier, Yü Energy, has launched a water service for SMEs. The firm hopes to bundle energy and water procurement to business customers, which it claims will save them time and money. It also touts water management services for larger corporates. While businesses have been able to switch suppliers since last April, Read more…
TPI Open Energy Market enters water market touting big savings
Third party intermediary Open Energy Market has launched a platform to help firms switch water suppliers – and claims businesses can save up to 24% just by switching. The company suggests switching levels have been depressed since deregulation last year because savings are perceived to be scant. Around 90% of businesses have not switched supplier, Read more…
Bristol Water poaches Bristol Energy’s finance chief
Bristol Water has hired Laura Flowerdew as its next chief financial officer. Flowerdew, currently finance director at Bristol Energy, will replace Mick Axtell, whose resignation was announced in November 2017 and who will leave the firm after financial statements for 2017/18 are approved by the board. Flowerdew will start on 1 October. She held senior finance Read more…
National Grid gas chief joins former Eon boss at Affinity Water
National Grid director of gas transmission, Pauline Walsh, will be the new chief executive officer of Affinity Water, taking over from Simon Cocks at the end of April. Prior to joining National Grid in 2015, Pauline held senior leadership roles at Havells-Sylvania, Fred Olsen, Phillips Electronics and the Ford. She has also worked for Esso Read more…
Nando’s seeks water supplier for 400 restaurants
Restaurant chain Nando’s will tender for a water supplier in early 2018. The chicken specialist currently has 397 outlets across England with more in the pipeline. It has appointed consultancy Waterscan to advise on the English water market, provide a data set for the tender process and conduct margin analysis to assist in the bid evaluation. “Having Read more…
Castle Water scores major contract via Crown Commercial Services
Independent water firm Castle Water has secured a contract to deliver water and wastewater services to public bodies in England. The company did not disclose terms, but said it was a “multimillion pound” deal delivering services for up to three years to public sector facilities in areas including Yorkshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. The Crown Read more…
£8 million investment in maker of water efficient toilet
Investec and fund managers Earth Capital Partners (ECP) and Universal Partners (UP) have made an £8 million investment in Propelair, maker of a low water usage toilet. ECP, through its Nobel Sustainability Fund, was already an existing shareholder and has now increased its shareholding, whereas Investec and UP are new investors. They join the founder, Read more…
Belimo Energy Valve helps Hillsdale College meet strategic energy goals
Founded in 1844, Hillsdale College, Michigan is known for its strong tradition in liberal arts and classical education. Its campus spans approximately 400 acres and encompasses 51 buildings. Buildings affiliated with the college account for roughly 1.4 million square feet of total space. In this Sponsored Article – Belimo explain how its Energy Valve helped Read more…
Tender: Water retailer to serve 300 restaurants
Casual Dining Group seeks a retailer for both water and wastewater across some 300 UK restaurants. A competitive tender process goes live this month. The independent restaurant firm serves more than 20 million meals each year via brands including Bella Italia, La Tasca, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas. “We watched the development of the open Read more…
Water competition: Big savings or damp squib?
The retail water market is deregulating in April. That means firms in England will be able to choose their supplier. But can businesses expect to save much money? The Energyst asked brokers and end users. David Peake, sales and marketing director with The Energy Brokers, says customers have “come around to the view that they Read more…
Ofwat outlines terms – and £5000 fee – for new water companies and business self-suppliers
Water regulator Ofwat is consulting on the applications process for new water retailers and businesses that want to become their own water suppliers. The water retail market opens in April 2017. It means all firms in England will be able to choose their own supplier, as they can in Scotland. Ending regional monopolies is Read more…
Regulator’s wrong sums leading to higher water bills says government watchdog
Miscalculations by regulator Ofwat have led to windfall gains for water companies and customers paying over the odds on water bills, the Public Accounts Committee has found. That is because Ofwat has consistently over-estimated water companies’ financing and tax costs when setting price limits, according to the Committee. It estimates those errors have handed water Read more…
United Utilities to supply water to all Tesco stores in Scotland
United Utilities has won a tender to supply all Tesco stores and distribution centres in Scotland. The utility firm has promised the retailer, which is the largest commercial water user in Scotland, a 20% saving on water bills totalling some £800,000 per annum. The win comes as incumbent utility firms and new entrants prepare for Read more…
Ahead in the cloud
In this sponsored post wastewater technology and services firm Jacopa says it has agreed a deal to implement the IFS Managed Cloud on Microsoft Azure, in order to help the company maximise its business development and efficiency. As part of its separation from previous owner Ovivo when Jacopa was created earlier this year, the company Read more…
Esos for water: Why wait to discover the obvious?
A prominent energy consultant recently floated the idea of creating a water equivalent to the Energy Saving Obligation Scheme (Esos). He called it Wsos. While Esos may be struggling to gain traction, and the Environment Agency may find itself without the budget to enforce the scheme, the principle of auditing water use as part of Read more…
Jacopa ups the tempo for wastewater treatment
In this sponsored post, wastewater treatment solution experts Jacopa details the successful deployment of two advanced Copa CB750 submerged aerated flotation (SAF) systems at the Tempo wastewater treatment works in Northern Ireland as part of a major upgrade. Northern Ireland Water commissioned the £750,000 project, which serves the remote village of Tempo in county Fermanagh, Read more…
Big thanks, colossal tanks: Jacopa gives Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water standard special treatment
In this sponsored post, wastewater expert Jacopa details the completion of a £2.5m design and installation contract for a dissolved air flotation (DAF) solution on behalf of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water’s landmark Swansea wastewater treatment plant. The solution was provided for client Imtech Process on behalf of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. One of Dŵr Cymru’s Read more…