5 March 2015
An energy-saving additive for heating systems has won a commitment by Marks & Spencer that it will be assessed for potential applications across the retailer's estate.
The product, Endotherm from Endo Enterprises, reduces the surface tension of water in order to allow more water to coat radiators. In turn, this increases the cross-sectional area of the heating system and reduces a boiler's energy expenditure. Savings of 15 per cent on gas consumption are reported.
The award comes as the culmination of The Big Innovation Pitch, an initiative between M&S and Ecobuild to unearth "a true sustainable innovation across the sustainable design, construction and energy sectors".
Five products made it through to a live 'pitch' stage in front of the Ecobuild audience yesterday. Joining Endotherm were:
- Newlife Paints Ltd - Waste Paint Recycling (taking discarded paint and processing it for re-sale)
- Ritec International - Clearshield (a chemical bonded to glass to repel dirt)
- Gatorduct Limited - Gatorduct (cardboard ducting resistant to both fire and water)
- Novah Ltd - LED lighting (LEDs in fluorescent tube casings, allowing for quick adoption using existing fittings)
Endotherm won favour from the judges because of the ease with which the solution could be applied, requiring no new installation skills. Gatorduct was received warmly, but judges expressed incredulity at the claim by manufacturers that the lightweight ducting would, as claimed, resist fire and water.
Judges included Chris Marney, Marks & Spencer's head of engineering and energy efficiency. Marney was joined on stage by Peter Caplehorn (policy director at the Construction Products Association), Hywel Davies (technical director, Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers), Kath Fontana (MD, BAM FM) and Gareth Tancred (chief executive, BIFM).
More details on the products and the judges' determinations will appear in the 12th March 2015 edition of FM World.