AP Chant founder Ashley Chant's experience as a young heating engineer in Germany meant he was quick to spot the potential of renewables 

There can be a temptation to underestimate the returns offered by retrofit technologies on energy efficiency investments, warns Chris Meir, of Remeha Commercial. In fact, adopting the appropriate measures could save schools up to £21,500 a year 

Mark Quigley discusses the importance of good ventilation in educational buildings 

Phil Marris looks at the importance of maintaining good Indoor Air Quality within schools and what to consider in a ventilation system 

Andrew Murray examines the importance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in the school environment and the benefits of carefully selecting heat transfer fluids to ensure the lifespan and reliability of systems 

Manufacturers need to do all they can to aid specifiers in meeting increasingly tight budgets, writes heating solutions professional Stephen Suddens
 

The privately owned manufacturer of air distribution products GDL which was acquired as part of a family run operation in 2004 is making the Government's aim to ensure schools are ventilated to EU standards works in its favour, as demand for its unique natural ventilation products grows. HVR spoke to commercial director Paul Callaghan
 

Powered flue fan-assisted heaters offer a flexible and economical solution to heating problems in public buildings. They also provide significant energy savings over gas heaters with pilot lights, particularly in situations where intermittent heating is required, according to Martin Emmerson of Vulcana. 

Advanced controls technology and the ability to get different systems talking to one another through an appropriate building management system (BMS) is a valuable tool when it comes to managing a cooling plant effectively and meeting energy efficiency objectives. This can quickly deliver a significant return on the initial investment, according to Alberto Zennaro of Airedale 

A new type of air conditioning, that combines the benefits of high efficiency heat pumps with whole-building heat recovery, has been introduced by Klima-Therm. Best known for its co-development of the Turbomiser chiller, the company has partnered with Italian manufacturer Rhoss to launch the technology in the UK 

To ensure the longevity of industrial air conditioning and VRF systems, many believe that product maintenance and regular servicing are imperative. Fewer, however, appear to recognise the importance of routine inspections. Marc Diaz, of Panasonic, looks at the role that scheduled inspections play in reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions for VRF systems. 

Andy Cardy of Fläkt Woods discusses the need for a holistic approach to system design in modern ventilation systems to optimise working environments and reduce energy costs 

The last couple of decades have seen unprecedented investment in the energy efficiency of buildings. However, David Fitzpatrick believes this has led to a lack of focus on indoor air quality 

With specific CO2 reduction targets set out on both UK and European levels, how can the adoption of Passivhaus principles help companies meet these targets? Here, Tunca Sekban of Airflow Developments explains the theory behind Passivhaus and looks at one of the central technologies - Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) 

Building services maintenance engineers are often expected to help their clients or company to reduce energy consumption. To do so, they need to ensure that all control aspects have been addressed, says Geoff Newman 

Solar power, biomass and heat pumps are some of the key technologies when project managers think of developing an energy efficient building. However, the benefit of this renewable technology is multiplied when deployed in an energy efficient heating or cooling system. Stephen Hart of Frese says the use of Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICVs) to regulate the indoor climate have been shown to be one of the most effective designs to improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems 

These are challenging times in building services. In January the EU announced a carbon reduction target of 40 per cent by 2030 against 1990 levels, an increase in energy generated by renewable sources by 27 per cent and an 'indicative' target of improving energy efficiency by 25 per cent by the same year. This April the amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations come into force, requiring a reduction of carbon emissions for non-domestic buildings by nine per cent compared with 2010 standards, ahead of the zero carbon target for new non-domestic buildings by 2019. The Government has also set the UK a carbon reduction target of 80 per cent by 2050. Mark Northcott tackles the challenges we face 

Extensive product development, expansion plans and a special focus on customer service has put the Aquatech Pressmain in a good position to be ready for a potential influx of new business as the economy recovers, according to MD Mark Taylor 

While commercial building services engineers will undoubtedly have the correct formal qualifications, manufacturers' training in individual products, preferably on-site, is also essential, according to Simon Spridgeon, Geberit's product and technical manager for Piping Systems 

With commercial building managers under increasing pressure from the Government to perform in line with the UK's green agenda, the close management of carbon emissions and onsite energy consumption are now top of the agenda. Phil Chilton explores how leading manufacturers are tailoring their product development to ensure easier installation, easier maintenance and energy efficiency to help installers meet demand