It’s time for County Down to reconnect at home with renewable energy

With government grants of up to 50% available, there has never been a better time for County Down to Reconnect at home with renewable energy.

This is the message from Action Renewables, as they prepare to showcase renewable energy and climate change issues at The Green Living Experience, taking place in Castlewellan on 25 and 26 August 2007.

Renewable energy is generated from sources that will never run out, such as solar panels, small-scale wind turbines, wood-fuelled boilers and geothermal pumps.  The grants, available through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, will help people to install renewable energy systems to provide heat and power at home.  

Dan Sinton, DETI Energy Division, said: “People are really catching on to the benefits of having renewable energy systems in their homes.  County Down is the region with the most renewable energy systems in Northern Ireland, accounting for around 30% of all grant claims.

“So far, Reconnect has paid out in excess of £2.5 million to assist over 1000 completed installations, and with a further 2000 private homeowners here seeking to install domestic renewable energy systems, the total value of financial assistance offered is close to £6million.”

One Reconnect customer, Nick Finnegan, received a government grant to install solar heating panels.  Mr Finnegan chose solar because it was a renewable source that would save money and be particularly useful for the family.

Mr Finnegan said: “Since having our solar water heating panels installed we have not needed to use the immersion at all in six months.  It is great that such advantages come with no negative effects to the environment."

Dr Andy McCrea, Director, Action Renewables, says even in Northern Ireland, a solar hot water system can perform very well: “Provided solar hot water panels are placed on a south facing roof, there is sufficient solar resource to provide around 50% of a typical household’s hot water.”

Dr McCrea continued: “Northern Ireland generates 96% of its electricity through the burning of non-renewable materials such as coal and gas. The resulting waste products contribute significantly to both pollution and climate change. We take everyday actions such as switching on a light or television for granted; however there are significant environmental consequences.  

“Northern Ireland has an abundant supply of renewable resources which, if harnessed properly, can significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. This, coupled with the continuous development of renewable technologies available, will help to decrease the cost of implementing renewables.  Ultimately, this provides an opportunity for households to make significant savings in comparison to the cost of using fossil fuels.”

As sponsors of The Green Living Experience, Action Renewables will be on hand to offer practical advice to home owners on how to install renewable energy at home.  

Dr McCrea added: “We should not waste energy.  Simple measures include turning off lights when not in use, not leaving appliances on standby and insulation of both cavity walls and lofts to minimum industry recommended levels.  However the long-term solution lies with increasing our renewable energy capabilities to meet our needs, both now and in the future, while ultimately reducing our need for fossil fuels.

“Come to The Green Living Experience in Castlewellan on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 August to find out how you can benefit from the Reconnect grants on offer, save money and reduce harmful emissions now and in the years ahead.”

Action Renewables will be at Green Living Experience at Castlewellan Forest Park on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 August.  

For further information including how to apply for a Reconnect grant, the range of technologies on offer and a list of approved renewable energy technology installers across Northern Ireland, access the Reconnect website.l.  Alternatively contact Freephone 0800 023 4077, text ‘ENERGY’ to 60900 or email reconnect@detini.gov.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. Reconnect is one part of the government’s £59.2million Environment and Renewable Energy Fund (EREF). The programme was launched in July 2006 by the then Secretary of State, Peter Hain MP. The aim of EREF is to enhance and accelerate renewable energy development and deployment in Northern Ireland.
2. Action Renewables is a Northern Ireland based organisation, set up to stimulate awareness of the issues associated with conventional energy use and of the range of solutions available through renewable energy technologies.
3. For media enquiries regarding Action Renewables, or for further information on The Green Living Experience, please contact Julie Casson in Action Renewables, telephone 028 9073 7861 or email julie.casson@actionrenewables.co.uk.
4. For media enquiries regarding Reconnect, please contact Nicola Steele in the DETI Press Office, telephone 028 9052 9510 or 07879 842680.
5. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.