St. Sampson and Le Murier school children use new route to school

September 2nd, 2010 by Pat

School children going to St. Sampson’s High and Le Murier Schools were able for the first time at the start of term on 2 September 2010 to walk or cycle to their schools through the Guernsey’s countryside. Pedestrian safety group, Living Streets, had spent three years developing the cross country route which links existing footpaths to a new pathway through a private vinery site which backs onto the school campus. Only 7 students tried out the route in the morning and 9 in the afternoon but Living Streets is confident that, given time, it will become a popular route – particularly for cyclists.

AFM offers capital cost savings for R-22 air conditioning systems

September 2nd, 2010 by Amalgamated Facilities Management

COMPANIES are being warned not to leave it too late to ensure that air-conditioning units are compliant with new legislation.

Following studies which showed that R22 refrigerants have a detrimental effect on the ozone layer and contribute to environmental damage, legislation was brought into effect in 2009, to enforce the removal and replacement of R22 refrigeration units.

‘Many businesses across the Channel Islands will have air-conditioning systems that are effected by this UK & European legislation and will be completely unaware of the issues surrounding the ban,’ said AFM commercial manager Darren Etasse.

‘At AFM, we know that this will be a costly problem to resolve and have used our in-house team to research ways of reducing the cost and inconvenience to businesses and to ensure they meet the requirements under the legislation and are not caught out by the ban.’

AFM has been the Channel Islands’ approved installer for Daikin products for over 15 years and is holding a seminar next week to explain how a new Daikin system can be integrated to existing R22 systems.

‘Replacing R22 systems can be an extremely expensive in terms of capital cost and disruption costs to your core business. Previously to replace R22 systems, would require complete floors to be cleared of staff and ceilings to be removed to allow new pipework systems to be installed. By utilising the new Daikin VRV-Q system, businesses will be able to reuse the existing pipework systems and in some cases 99% of the existing plant, which is a huge saving against when compared with fitting a complete new system’ said Mr Etasse.

The seminar in Guernsey takes place on Tuesday 7th September at the Peninsula Hotel at 12.30pm and will be repeated in Jersey on Wednesday 8th September at Grand Jersey starting at 11am. A buffet lunch will be served at both seminars and places can be booked by contacting Demi Lee Dawson on 01481 252111 or emailing demilee.dawson(at)amalgamatedfm.com or Victoria Green on 01534 877688 or emailing victoria.green(at)amalgamatedfm.com.

The Jersey Fairtrade Island Group presents ‘A Fair Feast’ in St. Helier, Jersey

September 2nd, 2010 by Richard Lord

The Jersey Fairtrade Island Group presents ‘A Fair Feast’ on Tuesday, 21 September 2010 at 7.30 pm at the Assembly Room in the Town Hall, St. Helier, Jersey.

Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation, will give a presentation “If you can, buy local; if not, buy Fairtrade!”

The evening event will include a buffet meal using local suppliers and Fairtrade products.  Tickets for the event are £15 each and can be purchased from Ed Le Quesne on 01534 730131 or email edleq (at) jerseymail.co.uk

Dr. Lee Durell is the patron of the Jersey Fairtrade Island Group.  Tony Allchurch is Chairman 01534 767593; Elizabeth Donoghue is Vice-Chairman 01534 735758; Lucy Layton is secretary 01534 873515; and Ed Le Quesne is Treasurer 01534 730131