The BHL team recently visited EcoBuild 2010 at Earls Court, London. The exhibition was massive with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of visitors.

EcoBuild displays the latest energy efficiency and renewables products and materials from the leading manufacturers within the building industry. Many manufacturers use the exhibition as an opportunity to launch new and innovative products.

We wanted to see the Plumbing and Heating stands and be the first to learn about some of the new and exciting developments within the industry. It was also interesting to see all the other disciplines within the construction industry on display.

Worcester Bosch, as you would expect from one of the UK’s leading heating manufacturers had a large and impressive stand displaying their wide range of products including Worcester Bosch Boilers, Worcester Bosch Heat Pumps and Worcester Bosch Solar.

EcoBuild 2010 featured over 1000 exhibitors displaying a wide range of products and materials including Boilers, Solar Panels, Flooring, Green Walls and Wind Turbines

Kingspan had a large presence at EcoBuild and displayed a wide range of their products including Range Tribune Cylinders and Albion Ultrasteel Cylinders.

The Guardian’s Architecture and Design correspondent Jonathan Glancey in the EcoBuild 2010 Arena Lecture.

The New Albion Aerocyl Unvented Hot Water Cylinder and Aerocyl Buffer Tank on display for one of the first times.

The impressive Remeha (Broag) range of Avanta Boilers on display and showing off their build quality and use of top quality parts.

Glow-worm Clearly Heat Pumps on display at EcoBuild.

Worcester Bosch Underfloor Heating System which as the sticker suggests is new for 2010.

EcoBuild’s most impressive structure was Cityscape, an imposing 8 metre high cube clad in the very latest living wall technology.

Ideal Heating displayed a wide range of products including the Ideal Gas Boiler and Stelrad Radiator range. Ideal also sported their new corporate logo.

Baxi Ecogen, from Baxi is a combined heat and power appliance (CHP) generates electrical power and useful heat from the single source. The model displayed above explains it all. Baxi also displayed the Zenex built GasSaver, which I discussed in a previous blog post, Save Money with a Boiler Gas Saver.

Be sure to read our blog in the coming weeks when we will report on our findings in more detail including further details of the exciting Glow-worm Clearly Hybrid, which, according to Glow-worm is the first totally practical hybrid renewables solution that looks after the earth and your pocket.

We don’t want to give the impression that we make a habit of hanging around public toilets, but the toilets in Wolseley’s SBC demanded a closer look.

Having been advised that a whopping 30% of household water usage comes from flushing the toilet (an old style single flush toilet can use 13 litres in one flush!) we were interested to see how modern products could reduce this wastage.

The male WC facilities feature the Armitage Shanks Aridian waterless urinal (pictured). Other than the lack of pipe runs, the device looks like any other urinal. The Aridian not only reduce water usage, but are also hygenic and economic to maintain.

By installing the Aridian, water savings in a commercial enviroment could be up to 236,000 litres per year!

Another great product on display (and in use) is the Twyford Galerie Flushwise WC suite. The Flushwise operates on a reduced 4 and 2.6 litre flush as opposed to the most modern suites which use 6 and 4 litre flushes.

We did’nt test drive the Flushwise on our brief visit, but we heard great feedback from those lucky enough to have used it.

The washbasins within the SBC are kitted out with Saracen infra-red taps which only operate when the beam underneath the spout is broken. How many times do you see an unattended running tap in public loos.

Hidden away from public view are the rainwater harvesting units. The Titan Envireau Rainwater Harvesting unit, for example is buried deep underground and uses a silent pump to provide rainwater for the WCs. If the water level drops, for example during the summer, it tops up by taking water from the mains.

To help avoid any future water shortage, we in the construction and plumbing industry have an urgent responsibility to adopt the products and technologies showcased with the SBC.