Lotto Cash Helps Community Venues Harness Renewable Energy

A Northern Ireland community organisation will be able to harness natural wind energy and cut the energy costs at its centre thanks to a grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

St Joseph’s GAC, Craigbane, is one of 62 groups across Northern Ireland awarded grants totalling £621,268 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Energy Efficient Venues programme.

The programme offers Lottery cash to local groups to carry out improvements to their community venues so they make savings on their heating and lighting costs and cut down on their spending.

The club has been awarded £49,900 to install a wind turbine in their grounds that will generate enough electricity to provide power and lighting not just in the clubhouse, but in its newly built sports hall.

Development Officer Sean McGuinness explained that the new wind turbine will make a big difference to the rural club which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

"Our sports hall, which has the only indoor 3G pitch in Derry City Council, benefits the entire community," said Sean. "It is used by people aged from six to 60, and is open all day. The turbine, which will be installed in a 20 metre column, will provide power for the lighting in the hall, changing rooms and gym and for the showers.

"It will also provide electricity for our clubhouse which is used for social activities like dancing and music classes. We have an outside pitch with training lights and this will also power these. And any savings we make will go straight back into the running of the club."

Our Lady’s Home, in west Belfast, has also been awarded £50,000 to carry out a range of improvements including installing a solar water system on its roof, along with a device to reduce the amount of electricity they use.

"The home can support 86 residents, offering care to older people in the local area, while we also take day care clients," said Registered Manager Maureen Munster. "However, due to rising costs and the current climate of recession we need to cut down on our costs so we can continue to offer high levels of care and support to our clients.

"The new roof mounted solar water heating system will be particularly beneficial in terms of producing energy savings and reducing Co2 emissions. We predict that this alone will save us £910 per year. And the installation of a device to control the electricity we use will cut our associated electricity costs by up to 25 per cent.

"These improvements will mean we can cut down on the amount of heating and electricity we use in the building, and we will be able to put the money we save back into improving the comfort and well-being of our residents. We can’t wait to get started."

Frank Hewitt, the Big Lottery Fund’s NI Chair said: "The Energy Efficient Venues programme supports community organisations to carry out energy efficiency improvements to their venues that help them make savings during this difficult period of recession, and have a positive effect on the environment.

"The programme is open for applications, but organisations should be aware that it closes at 12 noon on Friday 1 June 2012."