As summers go, it feels like we’ve been short-changed somewhat. Last month’s floods and severe weather warnings caused devastation and disruption throughout – some parts of the UK even witnessed a month’s rainfall in one day. In light of July’s downpour, now seems like an opportune time to reflect on the savings and benefits that can be gained from systems that utilise unwelcome weather forecasts.

Rainwater harvesting is just one area of focus for water management. As significant contributors towards carbon footprint, new and existing builds are continuously under scrutiny regarding their water consumption. BREEAM ratings are determined through a variety of requirements – water use being one of them – therefore both public and private sectors have been forced to re-address their existing systems and look for alternative solutions to become more sustainable.

Readers can turn to page 26 to see just how one company is meeting the demands of existing builds striving to manage their water more efficiently. With its latest RainStore system, Kingspan Water outlines the greater savings that can be achieved without affecting water supply continuity.

Elsewhere in this issue, FC&A takes a look at the developments of the upcoming Timber Expo event – the annual showcase delivering unprecedented networking opportunities for professionals working within the timber industry. Promising to be even bigger and better than last year, the event has a whole host of special features and seminars lined up for attendees seeking to enrich and enhance their knowledge and understanding of this low-carbon construction material.