NATIONAL ENERGY FOUNDATION
News Release

Energy Efficiency Advice Centres meet in Belfast

Staff from 48 Energy Efficiency Advice Centres met in Belfast at the Queen's University for their annual conference on 26-27 June 2000. The theme of the conference was "Energy Efficiency in a time of change", reflecting the expansion of the EEAC network to full national coverage, and numerous government led initiatives in the field of energy efficiency including New HEES and the Energy Efficiency Commitment for fuel utilities. Eoin Lees, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, commended the EEACs on advising record numbers of householders, and looked forward to there being an EEAC serving every UK resident by Autumn 2000.

The Conference had a total of 17 workshops and seminars, ranging from issues such as how to inform secondary school children about energy to ways of better linking national and local energy saving initiatives. It concluded with a popular Question Time which included the Northern Ireland Energy Regulator, Douglas McIldoon, amongst its panellists. Belfast City Council kindly hosted a formal dinner on the Monday evening, which gave delegates a chance to see inside the magnificent City Hall.

The National Energy Foundation organised this conference for the seventh year running on behalf of the Energy Saving Trust: it was the first time it had been held in Northern Ireland. The conference benefited from the generous sponsorship of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Northern Ireland Electricity and Phoenix Gas.

For more information about:

• the National Energy Foundation's energy efficiency project management activities, please call Ian Byrne on 01908 665555
• improving energy efficiency in the home, please call your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012

3 July 2000

The National Energy Foundation: Registered in England - Charity No. 298951