Andrew Kerr, Managing Director of CMS Window Systems, stands outside the new CMS Innovation Hub

A new all-purpose commercial innovation centre that aims to make the UK a ‘world leader in energy efficient building designs, products and services’ was opened in Scotland on Friday (16 May).

The CMS Innovation Hub in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, showcases energy-saving products and devices produced by construction and supply firms for the building of homes and workplaces.

Builders, architects, specifiers, public and private sector buyers and contractors, as well as homeowners, are able to meet with manufacturers and access a range of products that can help reduce energy use.

Among the companies represented at the centre, which was officially opened by Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing on Friday, are Yale Door and Window Solutions, stone wool insulation firm Rockwool, hardware distributor Sealco Scotland, heat pump provide Daikin UK, Glassolutions Saint-Gobain, external building envelope product supplier Sheerfame and architectural aluminium window, door and curtain walling supplier, Metal Technology.

The facility

The 10,000 square foot facility is situated in the grounds of window contractor CMS Window Systems’ headquarters in Lanarkshire.

Built in a disused warehouse facing demolition (with the lowest energy efficiency, a G rating), the centre itself utilises energy-saving measures such as insulation blocks, thermally-efficient windows, and an air source heat pump with a system that recovers heat from one area of the building and transfers it to another. The building now has an A rating for energy efficiency.

There are plans to install solar panels on the roof to meet its energy use and to make the building carbon neutral.

Alongside the exhibition space, there is a seminar room for up to 90 people as well as ‘break out’ meeting spaces. CMS Window Systems said it hopes the facility will be used by local schools, colleges and community organisations, to discuss issues around climate change and sustainability.

Sharing best practice

Andy Kerr, Managing Director of CMS Window Systems and the driving force behind the Innovation hub, said its aim was to ensure the UK construction industry had access to the ‘most advanced products and services’ to make the country a world leader in energy efficient building design and construction.

He said: “The Innovation Hub is showcasing an extensive range of energy efficient products which, taken together, have helped turn a dilapidated G rated structure, fit for demolition, into an A rated building.

“We are far from finished and our aim is to achieve an A Plus rating, which means it will be carbon neutral.”

Kevin Hill, Managing Director of Yale Door and Window Solutions, said the centre was “the ideal place for companies to educate on revolutionary new products on show that can help to achieve these targets”, while Gary Doxey, Marketing Manager for Sheerframe, hailed the centre as a “brilliant idea” that allowed businesses to “share best practice and show how products manufactured by different companies can integrate to give total project solutions”.

Energy-efficiency in private-sector housing

By spring 2015, the Scottish Government is expected to publish draft regulations for consultationon standards of energy efficiency in private-sector housing.

It has itself recently developed a Resource Efficient House as part of its Resource Efficient Scotland project (which celebrates its first anniversary today) to help deliver Scottish housebuyers ‘highly energy efficient, net zero carbon, and affordable’ houses to live in.

Read more about the CMS Innovation Hub or Resource Efficient Scotland.