According to a University of Ulster (UU) project into methods of countering fuel poverty, low-income households could save around £10 per week, or as much as £480 a year, as well as improving their health and benefit the environment, it has been claimed.

The report – Beechmount Energy and Environmental Project – compiled by UU researchers was presented yesterday at Belfast City Hall. The Minister for Social Development Nigel Dodds, whose department funded the project, said that it would now be "rolled out" across the Province as the Warm Homes Scheme.

Mr Dodds said: “The evidence of the benefits to be derived from providing energy efficient measures goes beyond our expectations.

“Firstly, people are living in warmer homes but spending less on heating costs. Spending on fuel and electricity by householders in the area has decreased by £10-30 per week providing an additional £480 in disposable income annually.

“Secondly, a warmer home for many residents has resulted in an improvement in their health with reductions in conditions such as asthma, respiratory complaints and arthritis.

“Thirdly, and appropriately in a week when world leaders are meeting to find ways to protect the environment, our scheme has led to dramatic decreases in pollution. It has been estimated that the scheme has led to a reduction of 1,174 tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions per year.

“The project gave us an indication of how the installation of energy efficiency and heating measures can literally transform peoples’ lives.”

The project involved the partnership of organisations such as the Blackie Community Group, Belfast Regeneration Office, the Housing Executive, Bryson House, the Eaga Partnership, NIE, Phoenix Natural Gas and North and West Belfast Health Action Zone.

The Minister added: “This project has been influential in many ways most notably it has reinforced the need to work in partnership to combat fuel poverty and for a co-ordinated effort involving all key stakeholders.”

(GMcG)