The EnOcean Alliance has announced worldwide success in its opening months of operation with over 50 companies pledging their commitment to the development of EnOcean self-powered wireless technology as the standard for sustainable buildings.

NICEIC Certification, the gas personnel training specialist, has produced a series of useful Pocket Guides for gas installers, plumbers and heating engineers. Designed to fit in your pocket, toolbox or worn on a lanyard around your neck, the laminated guides contain easy-toreference, practical information.

Colt International is providing a complete smoke control package, including car park ventilation and smoke extraction for Great West Quarter (GWQ), a large urban regeneration development in Brentford by Barratt West London. Due for completion in Summer 2011, the mixed use development comprises 773 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including both private and affordable homes, shops, restaurants, a health centre, office space and a hotel, all set amongst parks and gardens.

With scrap metal prices soaring, the number of thefts from construction sites has increased dramatically over the past few years. The problem has got so bad that it seems nothing is safe, with letter boxes, roof slates and road signs all being stolen to melt down and ship abroad.

When it was established in 1959 with a product used for heating glasshouses, who would have thought that nearly 50 years later Priva would become one of the leading names in the building controls industry? I spoke to Meiny Prins who has taken over the running of the company from her father to find out more about what they have to offer.

Atransformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through a shared magnetic field. A key application is to tap off 11,000 volts (11 kV) of electrical power from the national grid and step it down to 415 volts, which is the normal 3-phase electrical power system used in the UK for commercial, institutional or industrial applications. A transformer therefore makes raw electricity usable, as well as allowing it to travel through cables. In fact, most of the world's electrical power has passed through transformers by the time it reaches the consumer.

With energy efficiency and consumption firmly at the top of the corporate agenda, many companies are declaring their intention to reduce their carbon footprint. It's the new buzz phrase that's been picked up by the media and manufacturers alike - flick through most magazines and you'll find a product range that declares its low carbon qualities, despite the fact that it might be the latest in coal-fired, gas-guzzling, patio heating technology. Going carbon neutral could be said to be losing its meaning.

MK Electric has enhanced its popular Aspect DSC lighting control system with the launch of a 2-channel version to complement the existing 4- channel product. Based around the tried and trusted Aspect range of switches, Aspect DSC has been specifically designed and engineered to be an ‘out the box, on the wall' product, making installation quick and simple.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has launched a software tool which will allow air conditioning application engineers to design and specify complete variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems in minutes. Esolution software is designed specifically for the company's industry-leading KX4 VRF systems and will be available free to building services engineers.