Our approach to saving energy

As the Home Energy Conservation Authority for Northern Ireland, our target is to improve energy efficiency in the domestic sector by 34%.  Our strategy for achieving this target is continually evolving, and progress to date can be found in our annual reports

Renewable Energy

We have been involved in a number of pilot projects to test the viability of renewable technologies in Northern Ireland.  Full details of all of these projects can be found in our latest annual report.

• Download the 2009-10 Annual Report ( 3261 KB)

Solar programme

Funding was secured from the Environmental & Renewable Energy Fund to include a solar thermal panel when a new heating system was installed. Over 2,000 solar panels were installed in suitable houses between August 2006 and March 2008, when the programme came to an end.

Installing the panel at the same time as the heating system keeps costs to a minimum and allows us to install the maximum number of panels.  A property will be considered for a panel where funding allows if:

• It is in the heating replacement programme

• It has a south facing roof with no shadowing

• There is a reasonable demand for hot water in the property

• The property does not utilise an instantaneous electric shower