Energy Minister Nigel Dodds visited the McKenna family, at their home in Kircubbin, Co Down. The McKennas received two Reconnect grants to help install a wood-fuelled boiler and solar hot water panel.
Reconnect is the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s renewable energy grant initiative that offers grants of up to 50% to private homeowners seeking to install renewable energy systems. These range from heat pumps to small-scale wind turbines and wood pellet stoves to solar hot water panels.
Mr Dodds said: “Reaching this 1000th customer milestone is testament to the fact that people here are starting to recognise the benefits of reconnecting to renewable energy, not to mention combating the threat to the environment from fossil fuels.
“Reconnect has so far paid out more than £2.5million to private homeowners, allowing them to go renewable. Through this £8million grant scheme we aim to have up to 4000 people across Northern Ireland reconnected to renewable energy by 2008.”
The most popular technology installed to date through Reconnect, as also chosen by the McKennas, has been the wood-fuelled boiler. County Down has more renewable energy installations through the grant initiative than anywhere else in Northern Ireland, accounting for around 30% of all grants.
Mrs McKenna explained why they chose to go renewable. She said: “We wanted to install a renewable energy system initially to reduce our energy bills. We were also very aware of the damage fossil fuels are doing to the environment, and so wanted to do something to help combat this threat. We looked into the options intensively and with the offer of the grants through Reconnect, we were happy to go ahead with the two installations.
“The application and approval process for the Reconnect grant were straightforward and the money certainly went a long way to pay for the systems.
“Since we moved in, and the solar hot water panels were installed, we have rarely had to switch on our immersion. This is very promising and we are hoping to see a saving on our energy bills shortly.”
To find out more about renewable energy systems call the freephone helpline 0800 0234 077 or log onto www.reconnect.org.uk. Alternatively text ENERGY to 60900 or email reconnect@detini.gov.uk
Notes to Editors:
- Photographs 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.
- For media enquiries please contact Kathryn Napier in 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.
