Even Small Companies Can Benefit from IT Systems
Benefits from improvements in Information Technology (IT) systems should not be limited to big international businesses and large corporations. Small business owners can benefit from IT systems just as much by embracing and using the technology to their advantage. As time marches on, business owners are finding that they are using services like the World Wide Web and other information technology systems more and more often thus leveraging the advantages that technology can offer. Adopting IT systems are good for small businesses for the many reasons, some of which we highlight below.
Save Time with IT Systems
With information technology, only a few easy keyboard taps are needed to record and manage information. There is a large variety of computer programs that have been developed to help small business owners capture and manage their clients’ information as well as their communications and finances. Instead of using longhand documents and many bits of paper to record their communications and finances, there is e-mail and computer software to make communications and calculations take place almost instantly.
IT Systems Offer Better Accuracy
Accounting programs are just one example of IT systems that allow small business owners to ensure that their profits, revenues and expenses are accurately calculated. Customer Relations Software allows business owners to track client contact information and a history of their purchases. Information technology systems help guarantee accuracy in record keeping and calculations, which saves the business owners from having to worry about potential human errors and provide live status overview of the business at any point in time.
New Systems Increase Business Productivity
Thanks to even basic programs that take care of client information, calculating profits and filing reports, business owners can free up time to focus on more important activities like growing the business, improving operations and generally focus on long term rather then short term issues. One of the most popular information technology systems, the internet, allows business owners to reach clients far beyond their local borders and to outsource simple tasks like data entry or book-keeping saving them time and money by not having to source and hire local help.
New Technologies Reduce Expenses
There is a large variety of information technology systems that help small business owners save money. Thanks to readily available computer hardware and software programs, business owners are able to create their own marketing materials (e.g. leaflets) instead of hiring professional printers to do the job. Other technology solutions can also help business owners by reducing expenses such as postage and phone services.
Small business owners tend to take on many of the tasks of running their companies. Now thanks to new IT systems, that is becoming more manageable. IT systems provide ways in which business owners can retain their overall company control, while increasing their productivity, saving time and money and worry about human errors. IT systems provide systems to keep any business operating smoothly and effectively.
Bridging the Gap in the Construction Industry
Green covers blanket the buildings, cranes tear up the skylines - despite the plummeting economy, and Britain still seems to be in the midst of a commercial building boom. While other sectors are cutting back, the commercial building industry is not, with the problematic result of a sharp shortage in construction workers to fill the increasing demands of the companies.
The shortage of skilled construction workers becomes increasingly evident when looking at last year’s figures. In 2007, 13,000 building projects were started, and around 87,600 workers are needed to support these projects. The skill deficiency is widespread, extending to both the trade and non-trade. In the common trades, the biggest annual requirements are in wood and electrical trade, as well as brick layers and building specialists. In non-trades, all from construction managers, business processes managers, office-based IT recruits, to architects, professional and technical staff are on high demand.
These shortages are mainly a consequence of three variables: 1) the demands of the building boom; 2) the decline in the number of East Europeans in the trade; 3) the misconceptions about construction work that recruiters have.
The first reason, which was discussed previously, is relatively obvious - the more construction projects there are, the more recruits that need to be hired to do the job.
As many of the highly-skilled workers in the British trade were often of Polish origin, the impact of the construction boom in Poland is keeping a lot of Poles at home, which is a massive loss for British construction companies.
The third reason that the UK is experiencing a worker shortage is due to recruiters’ misconceptions of what construction work actually entails. Many job hunters perceive builders as hard-hats limited to a construction site, while in reality, a lot of construction jobs are often managerial or office-based.
A variety of steps have been taken to bridge the recruitment gap in the building trade. One way this is achieved is through encouraging diversity in the work place. Instead of just hiring white males with degrees in mathematics, some companies are looking beyond traditional recruitment pools and encourage women and various ethnic groups to work in construction. The National Association of Women in Construction is one of the organisations that takes this approach and by doing so, is not only allowing for fresh ideas to be brought into the construction industry, but cultivates diversity in the workplace.
A way of increasing the number of graduates in the construction trade is by getting children interested at a young age, as the Sustainable Employment Legacy Forum and Inspire Scholarships programs have done. They not only organise trips for children to visit construction sites, but they also offer student funds, apprenticeships, and training courses to people in the poorer outskirts of London, providing younger generations with great initiatives to join the industry.
An alternative way to gather recruits is to change the way in which the industry is viewed. By making the public aware of the fact that construction work is not just about hard hats and light-reflecting mesh jackets, more people might consider construction as a career.
Part L of the Building Regulations Harnesses High Efficiency Boil
Introduced in 2005 the new Building Regulations Part L has changed the scene as far as boilers are concerned. According to the new requirement, all boilers replaced or installed must be of high efficiency rating. This includes condensing and combination boilers which utilize a larger heat exchanger (or a secondary heat exchanger) to recoup some of the heat that would normally be released into the atmosphere with the exhaust gases. Since some of the energy can be reused, the boiler can generate the same amount of heat with less fuel.
The new requirements are much more demanding than previously in terms of the professional level of the system designer, the installer and the service engineer. The new systems are more integrated than old systems as all components are specifically designed to provide the right output (in terms of power) or demand the right input (such as in the case of heating controls). The engineer has to have good understanding in order to maximize the efficiency of the system.
Since Part L of the building regulation was introduced, domestic heating in the UK has seen a remarkable drop in the volume of carbon emissions that is generated annually. According to analysis conducted by the heating industry, a reduction of around 2.4 million tonnes of carbon was made since the new regulations were introduced. As a reference point, the analysis shows that if the industry did not adopt Part L and kept on relying on SEDBUK D rated boilers, the carbon emissions level would have increased by over one million tonnes since 2005.
As things stand, there are massive opportunities to reduce the carbon emissions levels resulting from domestic heating in the UK. It is estimated that there are around four million old and inefficient boilers still in operation around the country. Replacing these boilers with a high efficiency A rated boiler would reduce the carbon emissions by around 30% per boiler. A typical UK household generates around 5 tonnes of CO2 annually. It is estimated that UK home heating accounts for approximately 16% of the total carbon dioxide emission for the UK as a whole.
The government is trying to encourage carbon reducing behaviour within the home heating sector. It has scrapped stamp duty for carbon neutral homes and has introduced the home information packs which have an energy performance certificate as part of the pack. However, the stamp duty benefit does not apply to the vast majority of inefficient homes around the country making it less effective. The home information packs (with their energy performance certificate component) also have drawbacks in that they are only produced when the house is sold, and thus not having enough of an impact at other times to encourage reduction in carbon emissions.
There are several alternatives to adopt that can further reduce the carbon emission resulting from domestic heating within the UK. The most effective among them is the application of renewable energy technologies, such as solar water heating. If just 10% of the new homes that the government plans to build between now and 2020 adopt such technologies, it is estimated that around 150,000 tonnes of carbon emissions would be cut on an annual basis.
There are several options for the government to reduce the carbon emissions from the UK housing stock and meet the challenging targets it set. It is important to note that any relevant plan would be met with a prepared and professional group of plumbing and heating companies that are investing in professional development and staff training for the new technologies.
Can Microgeneration ensure environmental sustainability?
When 189 nations signed the Millennium Declaration in September 2008, consenting to adopt the eight development targets and take steps to achieve them by 2015, many of us enthusiastically welcomed the notion of launching into an idealistic new future, only to turn our backs on the Declaration seconds later and continue with our busy lives. Particularly when it came to Goal Number Seven: ‘ensure environmental sustainability,’ we nod, right, great idea! Government, you do something about it.
Great Britain, in particular, has come under direct criticism for not doing enough to reduce its carbon footprint on our increasingly delicate atmosphere. And if governments cannot be counted on to set in motion a plan to ensure ecological sustainability, how can we, as individuals, be expected to do so?
To counter these accusations of underachievement, the government has, over the past two years, set up a Microgeneration Strategy that aims to provide Zero- and Low- Carbon solutions for businesses, communities, and domestic dwellings. Its targets include all new homes being zero-carbon by 2016, while all new non-domestic buildings should be zero-carbon by 2019. A few years past the Millennium target of 2015, but still a very good step forward.
But what exactly does microgeneration do? Microgeneration involves the producing of energy through small-scale energy generators such wind turbines and solar photo voltaic electricity generating panels. It means that in the future, all buildings will be equipped with these small generators, allowing them to produce and supply their own energy, and in the process, reducing the mass impact that big energy generators have on the environment today.
What is more, microgenerators are particularly beneficial for particular types of homes, such as those with no access to a central gas network. This newly acquired self-sufficiency of future households, communities, and businesses would make them less dependent on large industrial power plants. The Guardian argues that Microgeneration might even be a rival to nuclear energy. We need to ask ourselves whether these advantages are enough to encourage people to make their own contributions to helping preserve the planet for their great-grandchildren.
Microgenerators systems also have disadvantages in the way that they are not necessarily accessible to everyone. Microgeneration is not suitable for a minority of homes, whereas some business establishments such as shops have little access to this technology at all. Moreover, since microgenerators are a quite modern development, there are still only few specialists who know how to install a private energy producing unit. Microgenerators are not exactly cost-friendly either, which reaffirms the old argument that the future of sustainable development will not begin until costs fall significantly.
So is microgeneration the best way forward? Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks, among others, agree that it is. With the proper government support schemes in place, such as grants as well as more information regarding the pros and cons of microgeneration, more people will be ready to embrace it. It has the potential to have a massive impact on the reduction of CO2 emissions, so the more accessible microgeneration is made to the British public, the more individuals can do to reduce their ecological footprint. For now, it’s back to recycling for most of us until we can afford to produce our own energy.
Sun’s Light Powers Solar PV Panels
Solar Photovoltaic cells, also known as Solar PV, are silicon wafer based panels that absorb energy from the sun and then transfer that energy to your home. When photons of light hit the silicon wafer, they tip them of their chemical balance, creating a movement of protons and electrons in opposite directions, thus generating an electrical current. Solar PV cells are already used in some common appliances such as watches and calculators. Naturally, the domestic or commercial panels come in larger sizes to provide sufficient output. Over the years, some solar photovoltaic cells have been used successfully to generate electricity for very large buildings and other installations including the National Grid.
The Planning Considerations of Solar Photovoltaic
One can install solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of their home as well as along one of the outer walls or as standalone units. Before setting off on the installation process, it is essential to check with the local authority regarding planning restrictions. Most local authorities in England allow solar PV panels to be installed on residential roofs and as standalone cells as long as certain criteria are met (mainly that the panels are not attached onto listed buildings or within conservation zones). Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, however, are still working out their local legislation. For residents of these areas it is therefore advisable to consult the local planning authorities before installing the solar systems.
Reasons to Use Solar Photovoltaic
There are several important benefits to having solar PV cells in your home. The most obvious benefit is the ongoing savings on the electrical utility bills. In addition to saving money, the user will be lowering their carbon footprint as solar PV emit virtually no carbon dioxide and cut around 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year. An indirect benefit is the fact that the user will no longer be tied to the National Grid which means that they do not have to worry about power cuts or increases in the cost of electricity. Solar power makes a strong economic case for properties in remote areas where there is no coverage by the National Grid (e.g. remote farms, research facilities).
How to Install Solar Photovoltaic
Solar photovoltaic cells need to be installed by a professional installation crew. Professional installers must be certified by the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. It is not recommended to try and install the solar panel cells unless you are fully trained and qualified. The cells are typically very heavy and they have to be attached to a separate support system that must be constructed and attached carefully to the roof. A professional installer will understand the local electrical and safety codes and can ensure that the solar PV units are meeting the requirements of the code.
With the increasing public awareness to global warming and climate change, there is substantially more focus placed on finding energy generation options that are not reliant upon fossil fuels. Of the alternative energy options currently available (wave, wind, hydrogen, solar, nuclear), solar power is considered to be the most cost effective and with solar panels dropping in price due to competition, this technology is likely to become ever more popular.
Service your Boiler, Keep within the Law and Save Money
It is generally known that systems such as your domestic boiler require periodic service in order to keep them in good operating condition. There are several ways to ensure the maintenance is done on a fixed schedule, such as using the service interval time controls as a reminder mechanism
Over the last several years we have seen a major drive towards upgrading old boilers to new high efficiency boilers to save energy and reduce carbon emissions. Still, there was notably little focus put on the importance of regular boiler maintenance and central heating system servicing.
Regular servicing of your domestic boiler and central heating system is essential for the following reasons:
* Ensure that performance is kept stable and reliable even at peak demand levels. This way, the boiler is efficient and economical throughout the year (both at low and high load times).
* Ensure that as a landlord or property owner, you keep within the law which requires you to maintain the boiler and the central heating system in good operating condition.
Gas Regulation 36 from the 1994 Gas Safety, Installation and Use Regulations states that:
*Owners of gas appliances must make sure that the appliances are kept in safe operating order that eliminates the risk of injury to people using the property. The owner has to make sure that the appliances are checked periodically every twelve months.
* Landlords must ensure that all gas fittings within the property are kept in safe condition which prevents the risk of injury to anybody using the property.
* Without predisposition to the above points, a landlord must make sure that all gas appliances (including the flues) are checked within twelve months from the point of installation and at periodic intervals of no more than twelve months apart (whether such check was done subject to these Regulations or not).
In reality it proved to be difficult to enforce these Regulations in the case of private householders. There are 25 million homes to check in the UK and the current home owners are either unaware of their obligations, forgetting to do them or delaying them until their financial situation allows them to do it. It is expected that penalties would be imposed if an accident occurs which involved damage or injury and neglect can be proven.
There are automatic solutions that offer a reminder mechanism that flags when it is time for a periodic check or service. Some manufacturers offer a flag up reminder, while other manufacturers actually turn off the system if the service date has passed without the system being serviced. In such case the system flashes up a phone number for the local engineer.
Automatic reminders typically let the system have a short period of operations beyond the specified service date before physically shutting it down. While the system is running within this grace period the tenant or the owner must arrange for an urgent service for the system.
Evidence shows that servicing calls numbers increase substantially as winter approaches and more households are firing up their central heating systems after a break of several months. A Service Interval reminder will flag up the servicing requirement at a more controlled rate, spreading out the work load and minimizing spikes.
Use Hot Water Pressurized Tanks for Proper Hot Water Pressure
Pressurized hot water storage tanks, also known as unvented cylinders, have seen a remarkable increase in demand since their introduction to the country in the 1980s. They have proven to be highly popular both with the wider population and the plumbing and heating industry in equal measures. Latest results show 2007 was the first year where unvented systems have accounted for 50% of the hot water systems installations in the UK.
Compare this with pressurized systems which use the pressure of the mains system to provide hot water at convenient pressure levels. As the name suggests, pressurized systems sustain the incoming pressure of the cold water mains (normally around 2-3 bar in most residential areas in the UK). By keeping the system sealed, the hot water is pumped out to the user at the same flow as the cold water that comes out of the cold water tap.
Unvented systems are sealed and thus have an internal pressure which is likely to increase as the water within the tank heats up. In traditional systems, expansion of water as it heats up is handled by the feeder tank, which easily accepts any such expansion. For unvented systems, the solutions come in the form of specially designed checks and safety equipment to ensure safe and reliable operations even as water heats up and expands.
It is important to point out that the system is sealed and hence pressurized. As such it requires special training for correct design and installation. Since water expands upon heating it creates a few additional issues to account for. Unlike traditional systems where the header tank can take any expansion of the hot water, in sealed systems the technology has been designed to address this using a few checks and safety equipment along the hot water loop.
An additional safety mechanism is the pressure and temperature relief valve. The PT valve is a mechanical instrument that is designed to open whenever the temperature or the pressure exceeds a preset level, thus creating a potential hazard. When the temperature or pressure becomes too high, the PT valve opens up, discharging excess water into the drain (normally through a tundish), and in doing so reduces the temperature and pressure.
Another safety measure is the temperature and pressure relief valve. The PT valve is a simple yet smart mechanical valve which senses whether the temperature or the pressure within the cylinder is too high (or is breaching a preset level). At that point the valve opens up to let the extra steam out into the drain, thus immediately reducing the temperature, the pressure and the volume of water in the system.
The safety checks and valves ensure a safe and reliable hot water system. The Cold water enters the system at mains pressure, keeping the system (which is sealed) at a constant pressure throughout. The water heats up within the cylinder and is then delivered to the user (still at mains pressure). As the hot water is drawn to the user (normally from the top of the cylinder), fresh cold water enters the cylinder (normally from the bottom) to replenish the levels and sustain the pressure.
Unvented cylinders normally fall into one of two main categories - direct and indirect:
* Direct cylinders - normally use an electrical heating unit to heat the water. The electrical unit (often referred to as an immersion heater) is immersed within the water inside the cylinder and has a typical heating capacity of 2.5 to 3.6 kW to heat up the water electrically.
* In-direct cylinders - using a heat exchanger, the water in the cylinder acquires the heat from the heating medium. Typically a boiler is used to heat up water which is then pumped through the heat exchanger where it loses its heat to the water inside the cylinder. This system is widely used in conjunction with solar thermal systems.
Since their introduction, unvented cylinders have grown in their market share and their popularity. With competition in the market improving availability and reducing prices, it is fair to assume that unvented tanks have a bright future.