Press Release, February 2006

Horne Engineering Ltd today announced that its range of surface mounted shower panels has been awarded placement on the Water Technology List having successfully met the criteria to enable Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) claims.

The Water Technology List, developed and managed by Defra and HM Revenue and Customs, in partnership with Envirowise, will help businesses save money in the short and long-term by encouraging them to invest in technologies and products that reduce water use and improve water quality.

Water savings are a key area for all businesses. According to Envirowise, manufacturing companies can easily save between 30% and 50% of water and wastewater costs through inexpensive changes to their working practices.

Martin Gibson, Director of Envirowise, said, 'The Water Technology List is making it easy for businesses to make important decisions to improve their water use and water quality and save money at the same time. Businesses will benefit in the long-term through reduced water costs and improved water efficiency and in the short-term by claiming an Enhanced Capital Allowance.'

He added, 'Horne is one of the product and technology manufacturers leading the industry forward. One of the objectives of offering the ECA is to encourage innovation and to encourage companies such as Horne to come up with new technologies to improve water use and water quality.' Horne Engineering’s products fall into the category on the Water Technology List of Efficient Showers.

Efficient showers deliver less water than ordinary showers without compromising shower performance. Through their unique design and/or particular way of delivering the water, efficient showers save not only water but also reduce energy consumption due to the amount of energy required to heat the water for a hot shower.

The following showerheads and shower sets are eligible for the WTL:
Low flow showerheads
Aerated showerheads
Thermostatic controlled shower sets
Auto shut off showers
• Mechanical push systems
• Electromagnetic systems.

The Water Technology List currently has nine qualifying technologies, which will be reviewed on an annual basis and expanded in future years:

• Cleaning in place equipment
• Efficient membrane filtration systems
• Efficient showers
• Efficient taps
• Efficient toilets
• Flow controllers
• Leakage detection equipment
• Meters and monitoring equipment
• Rainwater harvesting equipment

ENDS

For more information, visit www.eca-water.gov.uk or call the Environment and Energy Helpline on 0800 585794 or contact:

Hannah Whitelaw, Horne Engineering Ltd
Tel: 01505 321455, Email: Hannah@horne.co.uk, Web: www.horne.co.uk

For more information on how the Government is promoting water minimisation, visit the Envirowise website at www.envirowise.gov.uk/water

Notes to editors:

1. Horne Engineering Ltd has been designing, developing and manufacturing thermostatic control valves for the commercial and institutional markets since 1909.

2. To encourage more efficient water use and improvements in water quality, the 2003 Budget announced the introduction of Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) for water technologies. The capital allowances rules allow businesses to write off 25 % of the money they invest in plant and machinery, against their taxable profits on a reducing balance basis. The Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme allows businesses to write off 100 % of investments in qualifying sustainable technologies and products against tax in the year of investment (for example, a spend of £100 would result in a claim of £30).

3. Envirowise is a DTI and Defra programme which provides free advice to UK businesses on environmental best practice. Envirowise has helped UK business save £797 million since 1994, and can, on average, help companies save £1 000 per employee.