ENERGY STUDY: North-East windows and doors maker H Jarvis has played a key role in a university study which has shown how using certain construction components can reduce home energy usage by 72 per cent. The business, based in Redcar, Cleveland, was enlisted by GLASSOLUTIONS to work on Nottingham University’s groundbreaking piece of research into the impact housing design can have on energy usage. Using specially designed EcoClear sealed units with high performance triple glazed windows, the company proved how extremely energy efficient housing design – known as Passivhaus – can deliver energy savings of up to 72 per cent when tested in real life conditions. The Teesside firm provided technical and manufacturing support on the test, which was set up to demonstrate the difference in energy use between a property built to 2006 building regulations and today’s Passivhaus standard.

BISTRO ACCOLADE: A Teesside bistro has again become the only eatery in the area to make it into a national restaurant guide. Howards, in Stokesley, has been named in The Harden’s UK Restaurant Survey for the fourth consecutive year. The guide is the biggest annual survey of restaurant-goers in the UK, based on independent reports.

SLOWER PACE: Logistics firm Stobart warned its full-year operating results will be slightly below market expectations as its transport and distribution arm continues to grapple with difficult conditions. It added that its chilled operation will no longer be run as a standalone unit.