The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s (DETI) advertising campaign, offers private homeowners Reconnect grants of up to 50% for the installation of renewable energy systems, allowing them to ‘Go Green at Home For Less’. The television campaign is set to start on 3 September 2007.
Mr Dodds said: “Northern Ireland currently generates around 95% of its electricity through the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas.
“Government, through the offer of up to 50% Reconnect grant assistance, is committed to increasing the use of renewable energy. The grants aim to help up to 4000 households across Northern Ireland install a renewable technology by 2008. To date DETI has paid out more than £2.5million, allowing over 1000 people from across the country, to go renewable.”
The TV campaign, supported by cinema, outdoor, online and press advertising, has been created using fuzzy felt. In the advertisement, a little girl explains why we need to consider renewable energy now, what could happen if we ignore energy conservation and disregard the threat to the environment from fossil fuels.
The Minister continued: “Renewable energy may be a relatively new technology; however with the help of Reconnect grants and the Reconnect experts, the process is quite straightforward.
“The launch of the new campaign marks an important milestone in the promotion of renewable energy. It gives fresh impetus to this very important green initiative and I hope it will generate an increased interest to become less reliant on imported fuels and reduce harmful emissions now and in the years ahead.”
To find out more about renewable energy systems call the helpline 0800 023 4077 or email reconnect@detini.gov.uk. Alternatively text ENERGY to 60900. Further information is also available on: www.reconnect.org.uk.
Notes to Editors:
- For media enquiries please contact the DETI Press Office, telephone 028 9052 9348. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
- Photographs and TV advertising screen shots are available upon request from DETI press office, Tel: 028 9052 9348.
- 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.
- Reconnect is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investment (DETI) and managed by Action Renewables, 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.
