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Ownership of electric and hybrid motor vehicles is becoming noticeably more accessible, thanks to technological advances and price reductions. This greener type of motoring has steadily become more visible over the last few years; in May 2019, there were 12,000 EV (electric vehicle) public charging points in the UK. According to Auto Express, this remarkable figure was fivefold that of just eight years before, in 2011. Below, with motorists who own EVs (or plan to acquire one) in mind, we consider the cost of charging an EV and how it compares to refuelling petrol and diesel cars.

Although LED cost per unit is higher compared to incandescent lighting, energy savings are high. The Energy Savings Trust estimates the annual running cost of one halogen is £11, and the equivalent LED, just £2. Nowadays in new builds, LEDs are being installed as a matter of course. With halogens already being phased out, people and businesses are reaping the financial reward of lower utility bills by switching from halogen and fluorescent lighting to LEDs.

Image: Lowe and Oliver carried out the refurbishment which included LED lighting upgrade for HQube Headquarters.

In the short time energy saving Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), have been available in the mainstream lighting market, the technology has continued apace. Now, with LED specific dimmers, motion controllers and colour rendering available, they have been adopted as the lighting of choice in new commercial builds, and are the most popular upgrade in commercial properties. With incandescent lighting already obsolete, and compact fluorescent lighting due to be phased out in 2020, the choice of whether to upgrade will soon be taken out of your hands. So, how do you work out the average cost of upgrading your business lighting?

Image: Lowe and Oliver undertook the complete Mechanical & Electrical installation of a new six storey Bournemouth University Student Building.

As a facilities manager, it’s important to know when your maintenance staff can undertake a job, and when you need to call in the big guns. While your onsite engineers can happily cope with the day-to-day breakdowns and maintenance routines of your university’s hot water system, it is often more cost-effective to call in specialist mechanical contractors for breakdowns, extensive upgrades and large-scale installations. How though, do you pick the right company?

Thanks to modern technology and a host of innovations, the air conditioning industry has evolved in leaps and bounds. Not only are operators able to accurately control indoor temperatures, but there are a variety of unique configurations and design options to select. However, it can sometimes be difficult to appreciate which system is the most appropriate for your premises. Let us take a look at the main categories:

If you own or manage a commercial property, you’ll know that the air con and plumbing concerns are a bit different from those of residential homes. That's why you need a commercial mechanical contractor to understand and handle specific issues.

As a company responsible for electrical and mechanical works on some of the UK’s most prestigious historic houses, public buildings, and industrial and commercial properties, Lowe & Oliver has to comply with a large number of Health and Safety and Electrical Regulations at Work (codes of practice), to ensure the safe installation, operation and maintenance of electrical supply and appliances. The following is an overview of four of the main areas of accountability.

As the manager or operator of any commercial premises in the UK, you are bound by Health and Safety legislation to ensure the safety of employees and any members of the public visiting those premises. A log should be kept of all assessments, findings, actions taken, when they were carried out, and by whom (must be a qualified electrician).

Out of sight, out of mind could well apply to most peoples’ thinking when it comes to their home or workplace electrics. It’s one of those (relatively) modern miracles nobody gives a thought about – until it starts going wrong.

While LED lighting isn’t strictly a legal requirement, a string of important government documents published over the past 20 years has increasingly tightened the performance criteria for lights used in public buildings. Lighting requirements are designed to phase out inefficient types of lighting rather than select positively for one alternative or another. It just happens that LED lights are currently the most affordable and energy efficient alternative to incandescent and fluorescent lighting.