The amount of energy used during the Royal Wedding was much greater than predicted according to figures released by the National Grid.

The National Grid had predicted lower interest in last Friday’s event, but a surge in TV viewing meant it was the fourth highest energy sapping event in UK television history.

Electricity use peaked at 2,400MW as television coverage followed the newly married Mr and Mrs Windsor back to Buckingham Palace following their wedding in Westminster Cathedral at around 12.40pm.

It was predicted that Charles and Diana’s wedding would remain the most watched royal wedding but their son and his beautiful wife managed to top even theirs. Charles and Diana’s wedding saw an energy surge of 1,800MW which is the equivalent of 720,000 kettles being bottled simultaneously, William and Kate’s was the equivalent of almost one million kettles.

National Grid’s power system manager, John Carnwath, said: “This impact in demand was broadly in line with our forecast, although the final surge was larger than expected, reflecting the huge interest in the event.”

“It was a fascinating day to work in our control room, seeing the huge impact on electricity demand of millions of people across Britain being brought together by William and Kate’s wedding.”

The only TV events to top the wedding were:

·The record of 2800MW set at the end of the nail-biting penalty shoot-out after England’s World Cup semi-final against West Germany in 1990.

·The 2600MW surge in demand after a 1984 episode of The Thornbirds.

·The 2570MW surge at half-time during England’s quarter-final match against Brazil in the 2002 World Cup.

BuilderScrap sourced this article from Edie.

The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton tomorrow (April 29) is not going to burn through as much energy as William’s parents.

A number of different factors are likely to lead to greatly increased demand on the UK’s energy system, but not on the scale of the 1981 wedding of Charles and Diane, according to researchers from the National Grid.

The 1981 event saw an energy surge of 1800 megawatts, that’s the equivalent of 720,000 kettles being boiled at the same time, as the nation stared at TV sets and enjoyed a cuppa.

However, the National Grid control centre is predicting a boiling-kettle-driven pick up in power of between only 1200 and 1600 megawatts when the pair exchanges their vows in Westminster Abbey.

Power will, say National Grid, rise steadily throughout the morning, but as the televised coverage begins there will be an overall decrease in demand as millions of people watch television rather than pursuing their usual, more energy-intensive, activities.

Sudden surges in demand will come after viewers have watched specific moments in the ceremony such as Kate’s arrival and procession up the aisle, the couple’s vows and the moment they appear on the steps of Westminster Abbey as a married couple.

According to the National Grid after these significant moments, viewers will leave their television sets to switch their kettles on, and this activity will result in an increase in demand.

A spokesman said: “While public interest around William and Kate is greater than it has been around more recent royal events. “

“The forecasting team isn’t expecting the impact on demand to be as big as for Charles and Diana’s wedding, which belongs to a different era. “

“The entire forecasting team at National Grid is proud of the role they play in making sure families across the country can enjoy watching this special day.”

There is still likely to be more energy used than for lesser royals Edward and Sophie’s wedding, more recently in 1999, which saw just a 750 megawatt increase.

BuilderScrap sourced this article from Edie.

Output for the construction sector shrank in the first quarter, despite a 0.5% increase in output for the economy as a whole.

GDP figures released by the Office of National Statistics yesterday show construction recorded a dramatic fall of 4.7% over the previous quarter.

The size of the drop has raised questions amongst professional in construction who have cast doubt over the accuracy of the statistics.

Construction Products Association Chief Executive, Michael Ankers said: “Today’s GDP estimate includes a fall in construction output of 4.7% in the first three months of the year.”

“The scale of this fall in the official figures is extremely surprising and is not consistent with information from construction industry surveys or the experience of the companies and sectors that the association represents.”

“The indications are that the construction industry performed better in the first three months than the ONS figures suggest.”

Statistics indicate there may still be a long way to go before we can see sustainable growth across the board. Actions may need to be taken to help the growth of the construction sector, which is responsible for almost 10% of GDP the country will struggle to recover from this economic uncertainty

Almost 50,000 plumbers, gas fitters and heating engineers will be receiving a final warning letters this month, as a national crackdown on industry tax dodgers begins.

Under the HM Revenue & Customs’ so called Plumbers Tax Safe Plan relevant trades are being warned to contact the revenue before inspectors come knocking.

The letters warn that the particular trades have until 31 May to declare earnings and pay the tax they owe.

Those making a full disclosure face a low penalty rate of 10% rising to a maximum of 20%. Once they come forward, they have until 31 August to make their disclosure and arrange for payment. When that time has passed, inspectors will start to pull together all available information to track down tradespeople that have not paid full tax, they will face large penalties and criminal prosecutions.

Over the duration of the year HM Revenue and Customs inspectors will select various specialist trades where they believe there is a large number of people evading paying tax.

Mike Wells, HMRC’s Director of Risk and Intelligence, said: “We are using a variety of intelligence sources to target plumbers who have not declared their full income and I urge tradespeople in this group who think they owe tax on their income to get in touch with HMRC and get their tax affairs in order simply and on the best available terms.”

“The first step for those wishing to avoid a full tax investigation with much higher penalties is to notify us.”

“We do not think everyone who receives a letter owes us tax. However, if you owe tax and don’t get a letter, do not assume that HMRC will not catch up with you.”

BuilderScrap sourced this article from Construction Enquirer.

HM Revenue & Customs is doubling the number of investigators in a bid to crack down on labour agencies who fail to pay tax in a bid to bring in an additional 500m pounds over the next four years.

The extra 100 officers will encourage contractors to use legitimate labour providers and tackle fraud within the industry.

Those found guilty of tax evasion could face jail.

David Gauke, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said: “This government has invested £900m in HMRC to crack down on people who break the rules.”

“Expanding these teams will help make sure that we bring in the additional money that the UK needs.”

“They aim to stop tax losses and increase tax yields by more than half a billion pounds over the next four years. Gangmasters who think they can exploit their staff and the tax system need to think again.”

Mike Eland, HMRC Director General of Enforcement and Compliance, said: “Building on HMRC’s successful approach to tackling fraud in the labour provider industry, these teams will make it even harder for fraudsters.”

“Labour providers are traditionally found in agriculture and construction, where they supply workers to other businesses.”

“We will tackle fraud by those employers who don’t play by the rules and the organised crime gangs who exploit their workers.”

“We will also work collaboratively with labour users and businesses in these sectors to help them use legitimate providers. This will help to create a level playing field for compliant businesses to compete in the market place.”

BuilderScrap sourced this article from Construction Enquirer.

A brand new hard hat has been released which is designed to be a deterrent for those construction workers who wolf-whistle at passers-by.

The “Stop That Hard Hat” comes with tiny speakers which play pre-recorded messages to the offending builder whenever they detect a wolf-whistle.

The first whistling offence prompts a warning about site behaviour.

And any further whistling leads to recorded readings from the works of famous feminist writers like Germaine Greer and Andrea Dworkin.

Manufacturers of the “Stop That Hard Hat” believe the politically-correct headgear will spell an end to sexist behaviour on site.

Spokeswoman Avril Una said: “The construction industry has made great strides in this field but many women are still intimidated walking past building sites.”

“We believe this product will provide a constant reminder to builders of the consequences of their behaviour.”

The company is now working on a number of further launches due this time next year including “stay high” trousers to eradicate builders bum and a pill which suppresses the desire for tea drinking.

BuilderScrap believes the industry has shed its persona of a boy’s club and embraces everyone no matter of their sex, race or religion. We hope this hard hat deters the final few who believe this behaviour is appropriate.

BuilderScrap sourced this article from Construction Enquirer.

Figures released yesterday (March 29) have shown that the UK is rapidly collapsing as a renewable energy hub.

According to the figures there has been a huge stall in what was a thriving market. It is thought this is due to the fear private investors have over the Conservative lead coalition’s position on renewable power.

World-wide statistics released by the influential American Pew Charitable Trust show that the UK’s private investment in clean energy fell by 70% in 2010.

The huge drop in UK funding is made all the more worrying by the fact investment for the rest of the world grew by 30% which means the market grew to $243 billion in 2010.

It also means Britain’s position among G-20 leaders slips from 5th in 2009 to 13th.

China remains the global leader attracting a record $54.4 billion in equity in 2010 which is a 39% increase from 2009. Germany moved up 1 place to 2nd, doubling financing to $41.2 billion and for the first time, India moved into the top 10, with $4billion in investment a 25% increase.

“With a new government in the United Kingdom, investors appear to have taken to the sidelines until there is more certainty in the marketplace,” said Pew’s clean energy program director Phyllis Cuttino.

“Our research consistently demonstrates that strong policy attracts investments. Nations like China, Germany and India, which all saw an increase, were attractive to financers because they have national policies that create long-term certainty for investors.”

Solarcentury’s head of public affairs, Seb Berry, said the results were hardly ‘surprising’.

He said: “Worryingly, there are few signs ministers are heeding the warnings from investors. “

“In less than ten months the new Government has turned the fledgling UK solar industry literally upside down with its ill-considered and frankly shambolic fast track review.”

“Ministers are living in a dream world if they think that their shock U-turn on the feed-in tariff won’t have consequences in terms of other policies or the general standing of the UK in the clean tech investor community.”

BuilderScrap sourced this article from Edie.

Construction employees have suffered one of the severest drops in real take home pay with wages falling by £100 a month over the last two years.

The industry is one of the hardest hit by a fall in take home pay when the figures are adjusted for inflation.

The numbers will be detailed in a BBC Panorama programme which is on tonight highlighting the effect of pay freezes and a rising inflation rate.

The average British worker earned £20,149 at the start of 2011 – a real term fall of 5% from what they were earning in the middle of the recession.

The research was based on actual salaries paid into bank accounts.

It was carried out by the Centre for Economics and Business Studies and based on data on salaries from the payment processor, Vocalink, which looks after more than 90% of deposits into employees’ bank accounts.

Construction staff were hit even harder with pay packets suffering a £99 per month drop or £1,188 per year compared to the all industry average of £1,088. The research shows that if you allow for inflation, the average take-home pay is lower today than it was in 2004.

BuilderScrap sourced this article from Construction Enquirer.

Constructions starts on new residential developments plummeted 41% during the first quarter according to disturbing figures from research specialist Glenigan.

The worrying figured came from research specialist Glenigan, the huge fall on 2010′s numbers continued a downturn in housing work which began towards the back end of last year.

Glenigan economist James Abraham said: ”The downturn in private housing project starts during the latter half of 2010 has continued into 2011 amid pessimism about the strength of the housing market, with the year-on year decline of 41% over the past three months greater than previously anticipated.”

“New social housing projects fell 36% over the three months to February as a result of government cut backs that are planned to increase over the next two years.”

Glenigan said social housing starts are set to remain under pressure over the coming months but a return to growth in private housing starts is anticipated by the end of the year.

In other construction sectors, non-residential project starts were down 7% year on year for the three months to February due to Government funding as well as poor weather and the usual seasonal lull that depressed private starts.

The underlying value of office starts fell by 20% during the 3 months to February, and retail, industrial and hotel & leisure starts all declined by around 10%.

Abraham said: “Falling vacancy rates and rising rentals are expected to promote growth in the industrial and office sectors, especially during the second half of 2011.”

Civil engineering project starts were 2% down on a year ago as utilities project starts continue to decline while infrastructure starts stabilised over the three months to February.

Increased investment by the regulated utilities is forecast to lift project starts over the longer term.

BuilderScrap sourced this article from Construction Enquirer.

It looks as though everyone’s hard work of campaigning and petitioning to save our forests has finally paid off, with the Government looking to scrap the plans.

The 38 Degrees website has signed up over a half a million people on their site alone. They weren’t alone in their efforts a big congratulations needs to go to the thousands of local groups, up and down the country, who campaigned day and night to get these proposals scrapped.

The 38 Degrees organisation and their members also put in a tremendous effort with about 100,000 of them emailing and calling their MPs trying to persuade them to stop the forest sell off.

Hundreds of 38 Degrees members donated to fund a people-powered You-Gov poll which found that 84% of the public wanted the forests kept in public hands and thousands helped raise almost £60,000 to pay for ads in national newspapers to highlight the You-Gov poll results.

Media Headlines

* Sky News – Forests Sell-Off Plans ‘Facing the Axe’

* Sky News Blog – Forest Sell-Off – “great example of people power”

* Independent – Forest Farce: Cameron to axe sell-off policy

* Telegraph – David Cameron in forest sale climbdown

* Press Association – U-Turn on forests sell-off expected

* Guardian – Forests sell-off abandoned as Cameron orders U-turn

* Channel 4 News – Government expected to abandon forests sell-off

BuilderScrap would like to thank every member who signed the petition and sees this as a great victory for the people.