Today sees the launch of Energy Saving Week 2019 in Northern Ireland. This annual event, now in its 19th year, looks to shine a spotlight on the importance of energy efficiency at home to reduce carbon emissions and make savings on energy bills.
The awareness raising week is running between 18 and 22 November 2019, with Energy Saving Trust sharing simple and effective tips and brings organisations from across Northern Ireland together to help as many households save energy, reduce their bills and limit the impact of our energy use on the environment.
Angela Gracey-Roger of Energy Saving Trust said: “Energy Saving Week aims to support and enhance people’s understanding of home energy efficiency. Many of the tips we share throughout the week are both affordable and effective ways to save both energy and money at home all year round.
“Living in a cold home can have an effect on both a person’s physical and mental health, but making simple yet effective home energy improvements can have a significant impact in a person’s life, physically, mentally and financially.”
Further household energy efficiency information and advice can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website.
Energy Saving Week is supported by the following organisations: NIHE, NEA NI, Bryson Energy, Consumer Council NI, Phoenix Natural Gas, SGN Natural Gas, firmus energy, Power NI, NIFHA, and Choice Housing.
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For further information, please contact:
Email: enquiriesni@est.org.uk or media@est.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Energy Saving Trust
Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation dedicated to promoting energy efficiency, low carbon transport and sustainable energy use. We aim to address the climate emergency and deliver the wider benefits of clean energy as the UK transitions to net zero.
We empower householders to make better choices, deliver transformative programmes for governments and support businesses with strategy, research and assurance – enabling everyone to play their part in building a sustainable future.
Energy efficiency tips
- Price points for each household are addressed with do it yourself draught-proofing being a more cost-effective option over professional draught-proofing, which costs from approximately £85. The savings could be around £30 a year.
- If a fireplace is not in use, warm air can escape so insulating your chimney will make a home feel warmer. A chimney draught excluder can save around £20 each year on energy bills.
- Insulating your hot water pipes is an easy and quick way to reduce energy use. As well as reducing heat loss, lagging pipes will also prevent them from getting too cold in winter and therefore prevents pipes bursting.
- Insulating exposed pipes is an easy DIY install. You can buy foam insulation tubes online or from a DIY store and slip them over your pipes. In a typical house, materials will cost around £20, and you’ll save around £4 each year on your energy bills.
- Installing smart controls in your home can help heat your home more effectively and help you save money on your energy bills. These controls can be adjusted remotely which can help prevent wasting heat whilst you’re away from the home. The additional information smart controls can provide can help you work out the perfect temperature for your home and help identify wasteful habits that may be raising your bills.
- By avoiding standby and turning off devices when not in use, the average household could save £35 off their annual electricity bill. Almost all electrical appliances can be turned off at the plug without upsetting their programming.
- A dripping tap can waste more than 5.300 litres of water a year, so ensuring your taps are properly turned off and change washers promptly when taps start to drip. Using a wash bowl is another way of saving both water and money at home. Using a bowl to wash up plates and cutlery twice a day rather than having the hot tap running could see a saving of £25 a year on your gas bill.
Pictured
Back Row:
- Brian Rankin, Choice Housing
- Patrick Thompson, NIFHA
- Nigel Brady, Bryson Energy
- Robert Clements, The Housing Executive
- Gemma Cowles, The Housing Executive
Front Row:
- Gwyneth Compston, Power NI
- Lucy Cochrane, NEA NI
- Mary O’Kane, SGN Natural Gas
- Angela Gracey-Roger, Energy Saving Trust
- Pamela Beatty, firmus energy
- Lynsey Dewitt, Energy Saving Trust
- Gillian Orr, Phoenix Natural Gas
- Sinead Dynan, Consumer Council NI