Wood Warms up the Winter!

14/01/2008

With winter in full swing Northern Ireland Electricity has launched a new renewable energy initiative this week to help heat businesses across Northern Ireland! The new scheme offers businesses across Northern Ireland grant support to install wood pellet heating units, a method of heating which is widely used in North America, Canada and Scandinavia.  
 
The wood pellet units can be used as stand alone room heaters or integrated as part of businesses’ central heating systems. NIE has launched this new initiative following the success of a pilot scheme in 2005 which installed 15 units in a range of businesses including an engineering firm, electrical retailer, a financial advisor and even a funeral directors! All the businesses reported a substantial reduction in fuel costs compared to conventional oil heating systems.  
 
NIE Energy’s Delta Hamilton says new technologies, such as stoves and boilers which use sustainable fuel, will have a positive impact on the local environment. “We hope all types of businesses will see the economic and environmental benefits of using this sustainable fuel as part of their energy mix.  
 
“Wood pellets, such as the ‘Brites’ produced by Fermanagh timber firm Balcas, are a bio fuel pellet made using the residual from wood processing. Wood fuels have a significant role to play in combating climate change because the CO2 released when the wood is converted to energy has previously been taken out of the atmosphere as the trees were growing. Wood fuel is therefore classed as ‘Carbon Neutral Fuel’ and less pollution is produced compared to burning fossil fuels. We are offering businesses grant support for both wood pellet stoves and wood pellet boilers, a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel heating systems.”  
 
Businesses interested in finding out more should visit www.nie-yourenergy.co.uk and click on Renewable Energy to download an application form.  
 
Northern Ireland Electricity, in partnership with a range of other organisations, provides homeowners, businesses and communities with grants to generate their own energy from a range of renewable sources. For more information on a range of renewable energy options and energy saving measures for your home and business, visit www.nie-yourenergy.co.uk or contact the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012, www.est.org.uk.  

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