Housing Executive invests over £50m into green energy and warmer homes

PICTURED ABOVE: From left to right, Angus Kerr, Director of Climate Change at the Department for Communities, Noel Rice, Housing Executive Chair Nicole Lappin, Caroline Connor, Interim Director Strategic Housing Authority, Emma Stubbs, Housing Executive Assistant Director of Sustainable Homes and Robert Clements, Head of Sustainable Development.

Over £50m was invested in energy efficiency and carbon reduction measures by the Housing Executive last year, a newly published report has revealed.

The figure was part of the Northern Ireland Home Energy Conservation Authority (HECA) annual progress report, launched at this year’s Sustainability Symposium in Belfast.

Now in its fourth year, the symposium brings housing professionals together to learn more about the latest developments in green energy and receive updates from the Housing Executive about its continued sustainability efforts as Northern Ireland’s largest landlord and strategic housing authority.

Speakers at the Housing Executive event included Michael Craggs, Development & Asset Management Innovation Lead at Bromford Housing and included a video message from Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.

READ NEXT: Ronan Keating takes to the Derry Walls for new BBC adventure series

A special discussion was also held with Noel Rice, who was appointed as the Housing Executive’s first Energy Conservation Manager 30 years ago.

Housing Executive Chief Executive, Grainia Long, said: “We were thrilled to welcome attendees to our latest Sustainability Symposium, which has become an important opportunity to explore how the housing sector can work together to address climate change.

“We have made great progress to increase energy efficiency in homes across Northern Ireland, reduce our carbon footprint and tackle fuel poverty.

“Last year alone we invested £10.8m in the Affordable Warmth Scheme. Working in partnership with the Department for Communities, the scheme offers grants to lower income households to install a range of different measures in their home that help reduce energy bills.

“The Housing Executive has also continued to invest in our own properties with over £42,442,344 in energy efficiency and low carbon projects over the last year.”

In its role as the Home Energy Conservation Authority for Northern Ireland, the Housing Executive seeks to support improvements in home energy efficiency across the entire housing stock in the region.

This includes carrying out and supporting research to promote innovation and help track the progress of energy efficiency programmes and projects.

You can read the full report by visiting nihe.gov.uk.