Roca Group has announced a long-term renewable energy purchase agreement (VPPA, or Virtual Power Purchase Agreement), spanning 10 years from 2025 to 2035, tied to the new solar plants Trévago I & II, located in the province of Soria, Spain. The solar production facilities Trévago I and II are scheduled to begin operations in July 2025 and have a capacity of 86.84 MWp. According to a statement, 80% of the total capacity will be dedicated to Roca Group, expected to generate 120 GWh of clean energy annually, the volume needed to cover the electricity consumption of all group operations in Eur ..read more

Dame Rosie Winterton opened Daikin’s new Sustainable Home Centre in conjunction with Spinks, located in Kelham Street, Doncaster, earlier this month. According to a company statement, the centre was opened to inform homeowners about the advantages of sustainable, low-carbon home heating. It is the sixth Sustainable Home Centre launched by the business in 2024. This facility is a joint effort of Daikin and Spinks, an independent family-run business that provides trade and retail customers with building, plumbing and bathroom supplies. The launch event ran from 11am on Friday 19 April and was op ..read more

Mira Showers has announced the release of its 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. The company stated its new ESG report showcases its goals, whilst emphasising the importance of businesses working to create sustainable and innovative practices that drive meaningful change. Emma Foster, managing director of Mira Showers, said: “Our dedication to having a positive impact on our people, planet, and communities continues to be a core business ethos. Since the launch of our first-ever ESG report last year, we’ve been working hard to continue bringing this ethos to life and drive ..read more

Leading brassware manufacturer, Aqualla, has broadened its portfolio with the launch of a new trend-led bronze option. With its deep tone, brushed finish and unique fusion of antiquated and contemporary aesthetics, Brushed Bronze makes brassware the focal point of the bathroom. Available across the Hanna range, Solaris Flush Plates, Design Collection Showers, Luca Radiators and Valves and other accessories, the new colour provides consistency across the collections for a comprehensive bathroom design. Hanna makes an ultra-modern but timeless addition to any bathroom, with its distinctive spout ..read more

The Geo-panel range of interior wall panels from Freefoam Building Products has been updated with new premium finishes and marketing materials. Five new high-quality finishes have been added to the Geo-panel range, which includes contemporary matt concretes, classic marbles and diamond options. Three are tile finishes: White Gloss, Light Grey Gloss and Azure Gloss, which feature a routed groove for an authentic grouting effect. Meanwhile, Grey Quartz Matt and Grey Azure Matt are stunning full-panel options. Geo-panel can be fitted to any interior wall to quickly refurbish and restyle bathrooms ..read more

Designed as a comprehensive solution for water management in multi-occupancy buildings. Altecnic, the UK’s leading supplier in hydronic solutions and part of the Caleffi Group, has launched the brand new ‘Apartment Control Assembly Plus’. The valve assembly offers a combination of functionality and efficiency to allow the easy monitoring and control of water supply to a range of residential and commercial multi-occupancy developments. The Apartment Control Assembly Plus has been designed to ensure seamless water management with three interconnected monoblocs: Pressure Control and Isolation: F ..read more

Mitsubishi Electric’s full range of Ecodan heat pumps and hot water cylinders are to be stocked by the Boiler Shop, an independent merchant. Mitsubishi Electric’s Ecodan air source heat pump range includes its new R290 high-temperature heat pump and hot water systems, with a strong focus on environmental sustainability. Ecodan heat pumps utilise renewable energy to efficiently heat homes while significantly reducing carbon emissions, according to Mitsubishi Electric. Additionally, Ecodan water cylinders offer advanced insulation and heat retention features, it added. Scott Ditchfield, head of ..read more

Talon is backing its ambassador, Shoaib Awan, also known as @thegasexpert on Instagram, who is aiming to launch a petition aimed at curbing the theft of power tools. This petition seeks to impose a £10,000 fine on organisers who permit the sale of stolen tools at car boot sales and markets, a known avenue for the distribution of stolen goods. According to a company statement, this move comes in response to the trend that sees countless tradespeople victimised by theft, significantly impacting their livelihood. The petition titled “Ban the Sale of Used Power Tools at Car Boot Sales and Markets ..read more

The Viessmann Academy, Viessmann Climate Solutions UK’s training centre, has partnered with Shrewsbury Colleges Group to offer a BPEC Level 3 Award in Installation and Maintenance of Air Source Heat Pumps. According to a company statement, the partnership has been developed to offer Viessmann installers a qualification route for heat pumps and to help increase the number of qualified heat pump installers in the region, to meet growing market demand. The formal heat pump qualification is designed for experienced heating engineers who are ready to transition from fitting oil and gas heating prod ..read more

The Worshipful Company of Plumbers (WCoP) has announced Gareth Owen OBE, humanitarian director at Save the Children UK, as a guest speaker at The Plumbers’ 39th Annual Lecture. The Plumbers’ 39th Annual Lecture is to take place on 13 May 2024 from 5:15pm until 8:45pm at Carpenters Hall, 1 Throgmorton Avenue, London EC2N 2JJ. According to a company statement, the session will discuss how critical a clean water supply and effective sanitation has been in humanitarian crises globally and, therefore, why WaterSafe accreditation is crucial to plumbing professionals. Gareth will discuss how expert s ..read more