KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
16th November 2012
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International News
Products Energy efficiency projects in construction successful despite economic crisis A change in strategy can result in project success in tough economic times, as a conference on renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the construction industry has shown. Twenty-two coordinators for Concerto projects subsidised by the EU went to the Brussels conference to share their experiences. The Irish Republic has been one of the countries most hard-hit by the financial crisis; "This has been a success during the deepest crisis Ireland has ever experienced," said Seamus Hoyne from the Limerick Institute of Technology in summarising his project experiences, and the results do indeed speak for themselves - 400 buildings renovated and 50 energy-efficient buildings built from scratch. EQ Software develops TradeZone Ordering Link for PWS
Larger waterproof TVs for lucky bathers...
The competitively priced range was designed after consultation with developers, architects and specifiers and can be installed directly over the bath or within a shower enclosure. Bushboard unleashes potential of quartz worksurfaces with pioneering M-Stone range
Lakes Bathrooms reintroduces stone resin trays
CRL launches 6K Hydrophobic Surface Protection System - it isn't like other glass coatings!
Whirlpool's Eco Monitor guarantees energy optimisation
Lawcris opens new doors with Hettich
Charnwood Period Style bedroom doors look the business but don't break the budget!
Abode introduces Euphoria shower pack
Ellis Furniture creates bright kitchens with the new Solar range
10 new high gloss colours from Renolit
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A press release I received last week for use in KBzine's sister publication, The Cleanzine, quoted research which showed that one in 10 bank cards and one in seven bank notes are contaminated with faecal matter. Other well-used plastic items, such as computer keyboards, telephones, door handles, etc, are also often similarly contaminated and this is nearly always from the human hand... indeed the researchers reported faecal contamination on an incredible 26% of the hands they tested! Anti-bacterial plastic is relatively inexpensive and easy to produce and there is a real case for it to be introduced as widely as possible, in areas where bacterial contamination can spread from one person to another. For although the thought of touching faeces deposited by someone else is enough to put anyone off their lunch, we mustn't forget that picking up someone else's germs can actually kill us.
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This Week's News
S& P's European building materials sector report predicts uncertain future Standard & Poor's has published a commentary on the European building materials sector, which describes how the sector is wrestling with difficult and uncertain end markets, as well as increasing input and fixed cost inflation which are likely to persist for the next 12 - 18 months. Tuscan engineered flooring range is faster to fit with the new 5GS locking system.
Will demand for water outstrip supply by 2030? A study published in late October 2012 of water executives from around the world finds that nearly 40% of the executives questioned believe demand for water is "highly likely" to outstrip supply by 2030. Most of the other respondents predict the risk is "moderately likely." Shard's luxury Shangri-la Hotel exclusively tiled with BAL
Bushboard scores a hat trick with its new Prima splashback collection
Bushboard has added 10 splashback designs to its Prima worksurface range, making a total of 27 splashbacks available overall. Mission to reduce Malta's water consumption
Ecobuild the future at ExCeL, London, 5th - 7th March 2013... Ecobuild has announced the line-up for its highly anticipated conference programme -produced in association with the UK Green Building Council -which will run alongside the show next year from 5th - 7th March. More than 1,100 industry experts, ministers and VIPs from across the sustainable built environment will take centre stage at the heart of the exhibition to inform, educate and inspire. Homeowner demand for expert advice soars at Grand Designs Live
The KBSA was situated in the 'Ask An Expert' area located within the Grand Build hall and had an expert on hand to answer any visitors' questions on buying a new kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or home office. Starplan Bedrooms joins TFO as full member The Furniture Ombudsman, which aims to inspire consumer confidence in the furniture and home improvement industries by raising standards, has welcome Starplan Bedrooms to its growing list of Full Members. SBID launches CPD accreditation
Recent regional meeting a success for the KBSA
The Furniture Ombudsman and Office of Fair Trading working together The Furniture Ombudsman is working with The Office of Fair Trading to assist businesses and consumers of the furniture and home improvement industries to understand more fully their legal rights. British Ceramic Tile and Tile Town support charity project Houses 2 Homes - as seen on Channel 4
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Industry taskforce pushes forward on key Portas recommendation The newly-formed, industry led, cross-sector taskforce has agreed to undertake a review of UK towns and cities to identify through empirical research the property-related barriers to the vitality and performance of town centres.  Construction weakness continues in October amid further fall in new work
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Essential Value range from Carron Phoenix is outstandingly good value
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I'm aware that some companies in the KBB industry are using anti-microbial coatings on surfaces such as kitchen worktops, but I'd love to know whether any work has been done on incorporating this type of technology into other areas of our kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms, or whether I'm trying to look too far into the future... Do please let me know! And to make it easier for you to post messages to us KBzine now has its own FaceBook page!
