If you intend to carry out energy improvement works, it may be useful to check if you need to make a Building Regulations application.
You might also want or to enquire with the following agencies which can advise you if you meet the eligibility criteria for any grant-funded schemes. They might also be able to signpost you to other schemes or opportunities.
Energy efficiency tips
Simple changes to day-to-day activities could make big differences to household bills. These are suggestions on ways to make energy savings:
- you can save around £55 a year just by remembering to turn off electric appliances and not leaving many of them on standby: for example TV, laptops and mobile phones
- save an average of £65 on electricity a year by drying clothes on a clothes line instead of using a tumble dryer
- room thermostats allow you to heat your home to a set temperature and maintain it. Turning it down by only one degree could save you around £80 to £100 per year
- spending one minute less in the shower every day will save up to £9 (per person) off your household energy bill each year
- only boil the water you need in your kettle. This can save you £12 per year
- washing clothes at 30 degrees Celsius and doing one less cycle per week can save around £15 a year on energy
- effectively insulating of your hot water cylinder is important. Increasing the insulation thickness to 80mm thick could save you £45 a year. Increasing loft insulation to 270mm can save between £35 and £300 per year
- switch off lights when not in use. This could save your household £20 a year
- switching to LED bulbs could save you between £4 and £13 per bulb, per year
- only run the dishwasher when it’s full. One less run cycle per week could save £15 per year
- draughtproofing windows or doors can save around £40 per year. A chimney draught excluder can save an additional £20
Source: Information sourced from Energy Saving Trust - Northern Ireland savings are for a typical three-bedroom, semi-detached home in Northern Ireland using an oil price of 9.2p/kWh and an electricity price of 30.9p/kWh (in July 2022).
Affordable Warmth Scheme
The Affordable Warmth Scheme is a fully-funded grant scheme, managed and delivered by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Scheme. It can assist low-income, private homeowners and those in rental properties to improve the thermal efficiency of their homes.
The scheme prioritises the following elements of dwelling houses:
- home insulation (loft, cavity wall and draft proofing)
- heating systems (boiler replacement and/or heating conversion)
- window replacement (single glazing to double glazing)
- external wall insulation (for dwellings with solid wall construction)
The target-based approach for referral to this scheme has been amended. Applications are made directly to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and must meet the eligibility criteria.
Referrals will now be accepted from homeowners and applicants from privately-rented properties on a self-referral application basis.
Contact details
Any potential applicant should contact the Housing Executive's NI Energy Advice Service.
Tel: 0800 111 44 55
You can also contact the NIHE team on this link
Grant Funding Scheme Contacts
Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme
NI Direct