NEWS British satellite to map energy efficiency of UK homes A new British satellite launched on one of Elon Musks rockets earlier this month will enable the energy efficiency of the UKs building stock to be mapped from space. SatVu, based in Guildford, said its Hotsat-1 thermal imaging satellite achieved lift off with SpaceX Falcon 9 on 13 June. Hotsat-1 maps the heat being generated from buildings, and is the first of a constellation of eight satellites that is planned. SatVu says the unprecedented level of detail and scale offered by the satellites aerial thermal imaging technique will allow local authorities to target buildings in need of retrofitting and insulation. It will have the resolution to see individual rooftops and walls. Applications are expected to include monitoring the effects of heat islands and industrial processes, waterway pollution, ensuring energy efficiency, and assessing the health of solar farms. SatVu expects to receive the first images in July. Growing wildfire risk poses air quality health threat Wildfire smoke can affect indoor air quality hundreds miles of away Experts have warned that the growing risk from wildfire smoke will have an increasing impact on global health, as climate change brings record temperatures and more intense heatwaves across the world including the UK. With indoor air quality affected by airborne fine particles and gaseous substances, mitigation measures around ventilation should increasingly be considered for buildings in at-risk areas, according to members of the UKs Airbods research group (see article, Protecting buildings from wildfire smoke, on page 37). A UN Environment Programme report predicts an increase of up to 50% in wildfires across the globe by the end of the century, and serious incidents can affect air quality in urban areas thousands of kilometres away. Smoke from wildfires in Canada, for example, triggered health alerts across American cities last month, as air quality deteriorated. Millions of people in areas including New York City were advised to wear high-grade masks outdoors to combat the effects of the hazardous smoke. Individuals most at risk include young children, the elderly, and those with heart or lung problems. In the UK, June brought the first heatwave of the summer, with temperatures between 25C and 28C for three days. The prolonged heat triggered a number of wildfires, including a 300-acre blaze on Rhigos mountain in Rhondda Cynon Taf county, Wales. The Met Office forecasts temperatures this summer will reach similar highs to last years records. On 19 July, the hottest day of 2022, more than 800 fires were recorded as the mercury rose above 40C for first time in the UK. . C OMP R EH EN S I V E EXTENSIVE PRODUCT RANGE AND BESPOKE SOLUTIONS Trusted since 1919, our extensive portfolio of general and public health valves, pipe fittings and commissioning valves for constant and variable flow ensure you dont have to look anywhere else. Even if you need a bespoke solution come to us. Find out more at Cranefs.com/solutions 21400_CRANE_FS_COMPREHENSIVE_AD_133X186.indd 1 6 July 2023 www.cibsejournal.com 14/02/2022 13:32