Housing Executive green energy scheme is long overdue - Alliance

10.47.05am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 27th Sep 2006

Antrim Alliance Councillor, Alan Lawther

Alliance Party Spokesperson, Cllr Alan Lawther, has backed a scheme to have solar panels fitted on the roofs of 600 Housing Executive homes by the end of next year; however, he said that it should have been implemented some time ago. The scheme is being run by the Housing Executive in association with Action Renewables.

The Antrim Councillor stated: "Its great news that by the end of next year, the Housing Executive will have installed solar panels on 600 homes in Northern Ireland.

"Alliance has long campaigned for renewable energy schemes being made available for social housing. This long overdue measure will help alleviate fuel poverty as well as helping to protect the environment.

"I hope that after the end of next year, this scheme will be extended to take in any other Housing Executive householders who wish to convert to green energy systems.

"This scheme is very welcome, because the government's green energy systems for homes scheme has been criticised because of it overly bureaucratic grant application process.

"At the moment, people have to obtain costly planning permission, building control and gain a number of quotes for the installation of the new energy system in order to apply.

"Disturbingly, recent statistics show that only one third of all applicant had been successful since the scheme started two months ago. When figures were released, only 186 of the 514 applicants had been awarded a grant.

"I am glad to see that through the introduction of this Housing Executive scheme, the government is finally starting to take environmental protection seriously."

ENDS