24th year of Energy Saving Week as cost savings are needed more than ever

Energy Saving Week returns this November to empower people across Northern Ireland to lower energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint. 

• Energy prices for households across Northern Ireland have stabilised since their peak in 2022 but remain higher than they were before the energy crisis of 2021 

• To help people in the winter months, Energy Saving Week returns to Northern Ireland for its 24th year from Monday 18 November 2024 

• Experts will share tips to empower people to ‘be the change, save energy’ and launch the return of the popular schools’ challenge 
   

With energy prices still high in Northern Ireland and potentially rising further, it’s more important than ever to save energy and explore low carbon technology for heating and powering homes1. Energy Saving Week will focus on raising awareness of these issues, especially as 84% of NI households report having little to no knowledge of low carbon heating systems2. 

The five day Energy Saving Week campaign, supported by the Housing Executive and partners, will see Energy Saving Trust promote energy saving tips to help people reduce their energy use and carbon emissions. The annual energy saving challenge for primary schools and secondary schools (years 8 & 9) will also return for its seventh year, encouraging young people across Northen Ireland to reduce their carbon footprint. 

Each day, people will be encouraged to ‘be the change, save energy!’ with themes on Facebook and X covering quick wins to save money, through to advice on different types of low carbon technology.  

Energy Saving Trust’s five top tips to reduce annual energy bills by £250 and save the equivalent of a return flight from Belfast to Rome in carbon emissions:   

• Installing reflective radiator panels behind radiators on external, uninsulated cavity or solid walls could save around £20 and 100kg of carbon dioxide ever year. 
• Draught proofing windows and doors with low cost DIY strips can save you around £45 and 150kg of carbon dioxide a year in an oil heated home. 
• If you’re feeling warm enough, lowering your thermostat from 22°C to 21°C can save you £100 annually and 440kg of carbon dioxide every year. The World Health Organisation advises that the most comfortable temperature range for most people is between 18°C and 21°C. 
• If you use a heated drying rack instead of an electric tumble dryer you could save around £30 and 20kg of carbon dioxide every year. Just remember to ventilate your home when you use it to get rid of excess moisture. 
• Avoid standby mode and turn off unused devices to save around £55 and reduce carbon emissions by up to 35kg every year. 

Schools’ challenge returns  

To coincide with the Energy Saving Week campaign, Energy Saving Trust, in partnership with the Housing Executive and Eco Schools project, are inviting primary schools and secondary school pupils (years 8 & 9) across Northern Ireland to take part in an energy saving challenge. Pupils will be encouraged to save energy at home and reduce their carbon footprint by completing a range of daily energy saving tasks.   

Each participating school will receive a certificate showing the total amount of carbon saved by their pupils through the challenge. They will also compete to win a £1,000 prize, sponsored by Power NI, to contribute to a sustainability project and five schools will receive a laptop, donated by the Housing Executive. 

Last year 7,519 school students took part, saving a total of 8,298kg carbon emissions during the week, the equivalent of driving from Belfast to Dublin 288 times! St Patrick’s Primary School, Omagh was last year’s winning school and used the funding to kit out their outdoor classroom, where they hold their ‘Eco Meetings’ to discuss eco-friendly initiatives for the school.  

Laura McGadie, Group Head of Energy, Energy Saving Trust said: “Energy Saving Week is an opportunity for people to consider small actions that can reduce both their energy costs and carbon emissions. With energy bills highest in the winter months, we’re motivated to be collaborating with the Housing Executive and its partners to engage with as many people across Northern Ireland as possible. We’re also looking forward to empowering young people to take action to save energy and have a positive impact on reducing carbon emissions.”  

Elma Newberry, Director of Strategic Housing, NI Housing Executive said: "As Home Energy Conservation Authority for Northern Ireland, the Housing Executive is delighted to support Energy Saving Trust with other local stakeholders, to drive forward this important initiative. 

“Energy Saving Week is about equipping individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to make a real difference in their energy use and environmental footprint. Small changes can lead to big savings, and together, we can build a more sustainable future to ‘be the change’." 

Robert Clements, Head of Sustainable Development, NI Housing Executive said: “Energy Saving Week presents an invaluable opportunity for householders to take simple yet impactful steps to manage energy consumption more efficiently. The Housing Executive is pleased to support this collaborative initiative to address our dual challenges of energy costs and carbon emissions, especially during the winter months when utility bills are at their peak.” 

Energy Saving Week is supported by the Housing Executive and delivered in partnership with Power NI, NEA NI, Bryson Energy, the Consumer Council, Radius Housing, Clanmil Housing, Choice Housing, NIFHA, APEX Housing Association, Phoenix Energy, Evolve, firmus energy, and SSE Airtricity.