The BREEAM family of environmental rating schemes for buildings has been extended to cover datacentres. The scheme has been adopted in partnership with the world's largest datacentre provider, Digital Realty Trust, for the design, construction and operation of its datacentres in the UK.

With half of all domestic fires in the UK caused by electricity, leading safety charity, the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) has established an electrical fire prevention scheme and is now calling for funding applications.

House building levels across the UK rose during May 2010, according to the latest NHBC statistics, offering a positive backdrop to the coalition's first budget.

During March to May 2010, 32,352 new homes were registered across the UK. This was a 68 per cent increase on the same three month period in 2009 (19,286), indicating continued year-on-year solid improvement across the sector.

The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) is calling upon the electrical sector to take the lead when advising on installing energy-saving technology. Group CEO, David Pollock, says electrical contractors are in a perfect position to inform the public about the range of technologies on offer. By conducting energy reviews and advising on the installation of appropriate technologies, electrical contractors can help homeowners cut energy bills by up to £400 per year*, while allowing them to ‘do their bit’ to reduce their carbon footprint.

Environmental regulators in England now have new powers to deal with businesses that commit environmental offences. The civil sanctions, which include restoration notices and fixed monetary penalties, will be a more proportionate alternative to criminal prosecution. Read about new civil sanctions on here.

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"We are a sharper company as a result of the recession. Actively investigating resource-efficient options has meant we have been able to drive down costs across the business, despite the downturn."

Malcolm Bolt
Production Engineering Manager, Timsons Ltd

Recent research by Envirowise has shown that the recession could leave a legacy of improved resource efficiency.

Businesses in the UK have begun to adopt an increasingly 'thrifty' mindset. More than 500 UK companies took part in the Envirowise Thrift Shift Report which reveals that almost three-quarters (73%) of businesses have developed a more detailed knowledge of their spending and resource use as a result of the recession.

Rogue, dangerous cable to be eradicated in collaborative pledge to cable a safer Britain

The Approved Cables Initiative (ACI) launched its proactive and co-ordinated plan to investigate and address the issue of unsafe, non-approved and counterfeit cables in the UK marketplace. With an audience of electrical industry professionals, trade organisations, legislators, media and members of parliament, this new industry-wide initiative has the objective to communicate, educate and raise awareness of this serious issue.

The NAS (National Apprenticeship Service) has recently announced a new incentive to help employers recruit apprentices within their sector.

The new grant is offering employers an easy way to take on young apprentices. Over the next ten weeks the National Apprenticeship Service will provide up to 5,000 Apprenticeship Grants for Employers of 16 and 17 year olds (AGE 16 and 17). The grant of £2,500 is to enable employers to offer 5,000 new apprenticeship places and take on an unemployed 16 or 17 year old apprentice immediately. The £2,500 grant is in addition to the costs of training which are already met by the National Apprenticeship Service.

Electrotechical manufacturing association BEAMA has welcomed the two documents ‘Towards a Smarter Future’ and ‘Smarter Grids: The Opportunity’ outlining the Government’s plans on the details for the phased approach to installing smart metering in all UK homes, and the future developments for smart grids and smart housing.