NEWS | DIGEST Schools and hospitals missing millions in energy savings Sector urged to listen over mental health Six out of 10 construction workers have suffered mental ill health because of their work, according to a report released on Mental Health Awareness Day by Mates in Mind. The charity added that two workers in construction-related professions took their own lives every working day and it called for industry leaders and government to be more considerate and consistent on the issue. Last year, the number of deaths by suicide in the UK rose to 6,507 the highest since 2002 according to the Office for National Statistics. We are deeply concerned to see a rise in this figure, despite the attention that has been given to suicide prevention and increased awareness of mental health in recent years, said Mates in Mind managing director James Rudoni. Interest in the subject has intensified in the past three years and understanding is improving, he said, but organisations need to listen, encourage and support employees, rather than simply running short-term awareness campaigns or one-off training. More than 147,671 tonnes of CO2 could be saved annually, says EDF Energy-efficient lighting and better heatmanagement strategies could cut more than 45m from the energy bills of schools, hospitals, hotels, offices and police stations, according to new research by EDF Energy. The firm claimed the average UK organisation could achieve annual energy savings of more than 46,000. Measures include LEDs and heatmanagement systems that ensure heating is turned off when a building is unoccupied. EDF Energy analysed consumption at more than 4,000 sites and found that 62% could generate cost savings through lighting improvements, while 61% could improve the heating schedule using occupancy sensors. Our data covers a relatively small proportion of the UKs businesses and public sector organisations imagine what the impact would be if all such organisations made even the simplest of changes, said EDF Energys director of energy solutions Vincent de Rul. EDF also calculated that emissions reduction of more than 147,671 tonnes of CO2 could be achieved annually from the same simple measures. On average, it said organisations could make annual savings of 10,800 per site by installing efficient lighting. This would also reduce their carbon emissions by 24 tonnes per site, per year. Cash for firms to develop low carbon heating The Scottish Government has created a 30m fund for businesses and technology companies able to provide low carbon domestic heating solutions. The Scottish Low Carbon Heat Funding Invitation encourages companies to devise a solution to inefficient household heating by offering successful companies financial assistance for up to 50% of the total eligible costs of a capital project, up to a maximum of 10m. It is part of the countrys Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, which encourages companies to develop technology and methods to reduce carbon emissions. Scotlands homes are responsible for the emission of 6m tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide into our atmosphere every year 15% of all emissions, said Scotlands Energy Minister, Paul Wheelhouse. To meet Scotlands ambitious proposed climate-change targets, we estimate that nearly every Scottish home unless already on a renewable heat supply will have to change its heating system by 2045, if not before. WAT C H N O W Brought to you by bit.ly/cibsewebinars Introducing compliant emergency lighting Tuesday 22 October (BST) Now available on13.00 demand 10 November 2019 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Nov19 pp10 News.indd 10 25/10/2019 14:36