Renewables

Introduction

As the Home Energy Conservation Authority for Northern Ireland, we have a responsibility to improve the energy efficiency of residential accommodation by 34%. We have been leading the way in testing the viability of renewable and emerging technologies – some of which are already installed or are being introduced into our properties.

About this section

This part of the website contains some basic information on the different kinds of renewable technologies which are currently available to homes in Northern Ireland.  It also contains examples of properties where have installed these systems.

You can get further details on costs, advice on suitable renewable technologies and grants available by contacting the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre.

To find out more you can ring the advisors on freephone 0800 512 012. The Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre is managed and operated by the Northern Ireland Energy Agency. You can also ring our Energy Conservation Unit  on 028 90 318781.

Types of renewable energy

The topics covered in this section are:

Check suitability before you install

Some of the renewable technologies outlined in this section are not suitable for all dwellings. Solar panels, for instance, are only suitable for dwellings with a suitable south facing position.

Other factors may also influence their installation - for example, shading from other buildings, trees etc. In addition, many of these systems may complement rather than completely replace conventional forms of heating and electrical supply.

We recommend that you make sure that your property is properly insulated before installing renewable technologies. Insulation is relatively cheap to do compared to installing renewables. Installing additional insulation will also improve the energy savings you can achieve.