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Annaclone Community Engagement GroupAnnaclone Community Engagement was created four years ago, with the main aim of regenerating the local rural area. They have a number of associated groups which represents all age groups and interest in their community, some include; Young at Heart, Parent and Toddler, Historical, GAA, Social and Youth. They are very keen to become more energy efficient as they are situated in the area of Katesbridge, which had the lowest recorded temperature in Northern Ireland in the last recent winter. |
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Latest Updates
Energy awareness event in Annaclone
19th April, 2012 13:21
The parish of Annaclone was buzzing with energy recently, as Power NI and the Annaclone Community Engagement group hosted an Energy Awareness evening for all local residents.
The event was part of the BIG Energy Saving Challenge which the Annaclone Community Engagement is one of six finalists competing for the chance to win £20,000 of energy saving funding for their community.
All of the different stakeholders and community groups were represented as ACE group members involved with the BIG Energy Saving Challenge gave advice to those present about the benefits of saving energy.
Representatives from Power NI also gave a presentation on the wide range of products and services offered to customers alongside the community’s new nominated energy advisor, Aldo Fusiardi, who has recently completed a City & Guilds training course in Energy Awareness.
Neil Coleman from Power NI said, “The energy awareness evening in Annaclone was a massive success, to have such a large crowd come out on a Friday evening to support the BIG Energy Saving Challenge is what the competition is all about.
“The community of Annaclone has really come together for this challenge and it has been a pleasure working alongside so many of their dedicated members, helping them learn about energy saving.”
Bronagh Rafferty from Annaclone Community Engagement added, “We are delighted with the success of the energy awareness evening, we feel that everyone who attended has benefitted from some useful information that can contribute to the challenge, and we would like to thank Power NI for their advice and support.”
The group also launched their new energy saving booklet at the event with some excellent tips and advice for saving energy and money in the home as well as help available from Power NI.
The final of the BIG Energy Saving Challenge and the announcement of the winning community group will be held on Monday 25 June in the Armagh City Hotel.
Niamh wins Annaclone’s Primary section of the BIG Picture Competition
12th March, 2012 14:34
Pictured at the prize giving are Bronagh Rafferty (Annaclone Community Engagement), Kirsty Pollock (Power NI), Niamh McKay, Miss McGrillen (St. Colman’s Primary), Neil Coleman (Power NI).
Budding artist Niamh McKay from St. Colman’s Primary School, Annaclone has won Power NI’s BIG Picture Competition, picking up a Nintendo 3DS as first prize for her eye catching ‘energy man’ collage entry.
Niamh’s winning entry was chosen from an impressive number of entries and shows the various ways in which families can save energy and money by being more energy efficient around the home.
The competition was part of the BIG Energy Saving Challenge project which her local community group Annaclone Community Engagement is one of the six finalists, competing for £20,000 of energy saving funding for their area.
Commenting on the winning entry, Bronagh Rafferty from the Annaclone group said “We are delighted for Niamh and it’s a fantastic way to get children involved in energy saving as part of our wider project.”
Neil Coleman from Power NI said “We had some fantastic entries for the BIG Picture Competition and it was an extremely difficult to pick a winner, but Niamh’s entry showcased creative and innovative ways to save energy and money.
“We hope she enjoys her prize and continues to be an ambassador for energy saving in her local area.”
The Annaclone Community Engagement are continuing to promote their BIG Energy Saving Challenge campaign and will be hosting an energy information night on Friday 23 March at 8pm in the Annaclone Hall for all local groups to attend.
Annaclone get their houses in order
22nd February, 2012 10:07
Neil Coleman from Power NI with Annaclone Community Engagement member Catherine McMurchaidh and daughter Róise.
Annaclone Community Engagement, one of the six finalists in Power NI’s BIG Energy Saving Challenge, are continuing their pursuit of winning the competition by encouraging group members to get their houses in order!
The rural group based outside of Katesbridge has invested part of their £7,500 initial funding from the Challenge back into their community by installing both loft and cavity wall insulation, into homes of the group members.
The group has passed the half-way point of the BIG Energy Saving Challenge, in which the winning energy saving community will be awarded £20,000 to improve energy efficiency in their community, and the competition is really starting to heat up.
With the countdown on until the announcement of the winning community in June, group members will soon be hitting the streets in the area and giving out information and energy saving advice to local residents to help boost their chances of winning the top prize.
Neil Coleman from Power NI said “We are delighted with the progress that Annaclone has made in such a short space of time, they have really taken to energy saving challenges and the enthusiasm from the groups members’ has been amazing!
“They’ve been coming up with some innovative ideas to promote their Challenge within the community and are now determined to go on and win the competition.” Added Neil.
You can follow the progress of the Annaclone Community Engagement online at www.powerni.co.uk/besc
Annaclone group cuts costs in energy drive
13th February, 2012 15:13
Article from reproduced courtesy of the Banbridge Leader. By Aine Fox (aine.fox@banbridgeleader.co.uk)
AS soon as you realise that boiling the kettle for one hour each day could end up costing you more than ten pounds a month, it’s safe to say you might take the notion of energy-saving a little more seriously.
The residents of Annaclone have spent the last few months switching off lights, having quicker showers – and even preparing special lights for their village Christmas tree to do just that.
The energy-saving drive began in early summer when Power NI (formerly NIE Energy) granted the local community group – one of only six to be chosen from across Northern Ireland – £7,500 worth of funding to help with plans to cut energy costs through loft insulation, boiler servicing and and the use of energy monitors.
Since the launch of the Big Energy-Saving Challenge, all 20 families have cut their electricity bills dramatically, and are now urging others to take the energy-saving issue seriously.
Patricia McKay, whose first bill since the scheme began came in at half the cost she had been used to, said her new best friend is the energy monitor perched in the kitchen.
While discreet in size, the monitor has become a big part of family life in the McKay household in recent times. Patricia, her husband Adrian and their three daughters are now well aware that all it takes are simple steps to make super savings.
“When I got my first quarterly bill I couldn’t believe it,” Patricia, a member of Annaclone Community Engagement Group, said.
“I came to the meeting after we all got our bills and everyone’s had dropped. But to halve my bill by making simple changes in the house was just incredible.”
Patricia began by swapping a six-bulb chandelier in her living room for one energy-saving bulb. And when she installed the Owl Energy monitor in her kitchen the ability to spot exactly how much it cost every time the fridge door was opened, someone switched on the hairdryer or the television was left on, made them sit up and take note.
“I had heard about energy-saving before and thought it was probably a good idea but it never went any further than that,” said the Annaclone mum. “But when things are transferred into an actual amount of money that is being wasted every time you leave something on without needing to it really is a wake-up call.
“My first bill fell by £150 and my second by £100. Taking into account the fact we’re using more heat and electricity coming into winter I think that is a real achievement.”
Fellow group member Aldo Fusciardi, whose wife Geraldine and four children are all part of the scheme, said preaching about energy-saving doesn’t really work until someone installs a monitor and realises the true cost of wasted electricity.
“One of the worst things is the kettle,” he said. “People tend to fill the kettle every time they go to make a cup of tea – but you should only boil as much water as you are actually going to use. Otherwise it’s a total waste.
“I think it is everyone’s responsibility to try and save energy – but without the monitors it’s more difficult because you don’t have that constant reminder.”
Patricia said checking the monitor has become a habit now.
“When we first got it we went round the house switching things on and seeing what was costing us the most money,” she said. “But now I find that if the cost shoots up on the monitor I will usually automatically know what’s on – and who is using it,” she laughed.
Children in St Colman’s primary school are currently taking part in Power NI’s Big Picture Competition – something which Aldo said helps them to avoid getting into bad habits in the first place.
“The young ones have taken to this really well,” he said. “They are actually better than the adults a lot of the time because they are being educated about all of this from a young age.”
Neil Coleman, Power NI’s project co-ordinator, said they are delighted to be working with groups in the local area.
“We’ve been really pleased with the progress of the Annaclone group and we’re currently working on using the £7,500 of funding for their homes,” said Neil.
“We will continue to assist and mentor the group through the rest of their energy saving journey. We’re also working with the Banbridge and Craigavon branch of the Chest, Heart and Stroke association and at the end of the year-long challenge, each of the six groups will receive another £7,500 for communities, with the most successful energy saving group winning a fantastic total of £20,000!”
For further information on the Challenge visit www.powerni.co.uk/besc.
Time running out for BIG Picture entries
19th December, 2011 14:10
A reminder that closing date for entries for the ‘BIG Picture’ Competition is just over a month away with all submissions having to be in before 31st January, 2012.
To help young people get ‘switched on’ to the benefits of energy saving, Power NI launched the ‘BIG Picture’ Competition and have been calling on young people to express their creative side with some great prizes on offer.
Power NI are looking for entrants to paint, draw, colour-in or even photograph their interpretation of energy saving in their area. This could be anything from wind turbines to solar panels; the Power NI judging panel are looking for the most original ideas!
The competition is divided into two age sections for primary and secondary school pupils, and is open to all individuals within the local area. The winners from the Primary School section can win a new Nintendo 3DS while the Secondary School section will be competing for a new iPod.
Competition Overview
Terms and Conditions
1. The competition is open to all children of primary and secondary school age.
2. The picture/photograph must show the entrants interpretation of how to save energy in the home or community.
3. Entrants may only submit one picture/photograph each.
4. Pictures may be drawn in pencil, felt tip, crayon or painted.
5. Photographs entered must be taken in the UK.
6. Each entry should be submitted of a sheet of plain A3 or A4 paper, either portrait or landscape.
7. Images may be digitally enhance to remove spots or scratches but not manipulated. Entrants may enhance the picture to make it brighter, clearer etc but not manipulate the content. Power NI reserve the right to exclude any image they believe may have been excessively treated so as to alter its authenticity.
8. Entrants must attach their name, address, contact phone number, date of birth, school and class to their picture. Power NI will only ever use these personal details for the purposes of administering this scheme.
9. Entries should be sent to: Kirsty Pollock, Power NI, Woodchester House, 50 Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5NW.
10. The competition closes on 31st January, 2012. Entries received after this date will not be considered.
11. The competition is open to Northern Ireland residents only.
12. Power NI cannot accept any responsibility for any problem with the postal service which may result in an entry being lost or delayed.
13. A panel of judges will select the winning entries. When making their final decision the judges will take into account creativity, artistic merit as well as the pictures relevance to the theme. The judge’s decision is final.
14. Unsuccessful entrants will not be contacted and no feedback on an entry will be provided.
15. The competition winners will be notified by telephone within a month of the closing date.
16. Prizes are non-transferable and will only be awarded to the prize winner. No cash equivalent is available as an alternative to the prizes offered.
17. The winners name and picture may be used by Power NI in promotional material.
18. Power NI reserves the right to amend rules prior to the closing date, after posting notice on the website.
19. For further questions please contact energysavingchallenge@powerni.co.uk.
Annaclone’s BIG switch on
14th December, 2011 12:10
Kirsty Pollock from Power NI helps some of the local children from the Annaclone community switch on their energy saving Christmas tree lights.
Annaclone Community Engagement lit up their first ever community Christmas tree last week with a new set of festive energy saving LED lights.
The lights were purchased by Power NI for the community centre as part of the BIG Energy Saving Challenge, which the Annaclone group are one of the six finalists.
There was a large turn out of local residents at the festive event which proved to be a great success. The night started with carol singing and then Santa arrived on his tractor to help switch on the Christmas tree lights.
Kirsty Pollock from Power NI said “These LED Christmas lights may just be a small energy saving measure but it shows that Annaclone are taking this challenge seriously and incorporating energy efficiency in all aspects of the community.”
The Annaclone group have already been working hard with Power NI to prepare their homes for winter with the group members already having their boilers serviced and are currently getting both cavity wall and loft insulation installed through their £7,500 funding.
Big plans are already being put in place for the rural County Down village for 2012 and you can follow their progress at www.powerni.co.uk/besc.
Power NI’s BIG Picture Competition
11th October, 2011 13:48
Neil Coleman and Kirsty Pollock from Power NI at the launch of the BIG Picture Competition.
To help young people get ‘switched on’ to the benefits of energy saving, Power NI, the new name for NIE Energy, have launched the ‘BIG Picture’ Competition and is calling on young people to express their creative side with some great prizes on offer.
The competition is part of the BIG Energy Saving Challenge initiative, in which six finalists from across Northern Ireland, competing to win a share of the £100,000 energy saving prize fund.
Power NI are looking for entrants to take part in the ‘BIG Picture’ Competition to paint, draw, colour-in or even photograph their interpretation of energy saving in their area. This could be anything from wind turbines to solar panels; the Power NI judging panel are looking for the most original ideas!
Neil Coleman from Power NI said; “We are delighted to be launching this competition to help get kids to think about energy saving in their community. It is very important we try to educate the next generation of families and communities in Northern Ireland about the benefits of saving energy.”
The competition is divided into two age sections for primary and secondary school pupils, and is open to all individuals within the local area. The winners from the Primary School section can win a new Nintendo 3DS while the Secondary School section will be competing for a new iPod.
Competition Overview
Terms and Conditions
1. The competition is open to all children of primary and secondary school age.
2. The picture/photograph must show the entrants interpretation of how to save energy in the home or community.
3. Entrants may only submit one picture/photograph each.
4. Pictures may be drawn in pencil, felt tip, crayon or painted.
5. Photographs entered must be taken in the UK.
6. Each entry should be submitted of a sheet of plain A3 or A4 paper, either portrait or landscape.
7. Images may be digitally enhance to remove spots or scratches but not manipulated. Entrants may enhance the picture to make it brighter, clearer etc but not manipulate the content. Power NI reserve the right to exclude any image they believe may have been excessively treated so as to alter its authenticity.
8. Entrants must attach their name, address, contact phone number, date of birth, school and class to their picture. Power NI will only ever use these personal details for the purposes of administering this scheme.
9. Entries should be sent to: Kirsty Pollock, Power NI, Woodchester House, 50 Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5NW.
10. The competition closes on 31st January, 2012. Entries received after this date will not be considered.
11. The competition is open to Northern Ireland residents only.
12. Power NI cannot accept any responsibility for any problem with the postal service which may result in an entry being lost or delayed.
13. A panel of judges will select the winning entries. When making their final decision the judges will take into account creativity, artistic merit as well as the pictures relevance to the theme. The judge’s decision is final.
14. Unsuccessful entrants will not be contacted and no feedback on an entry will be provided.
15. The competition winners will be notified by telephone within a month of the closing date.
16. Prizes are non-transferable and will only be awarded to the prize winner. No cash equivalent is available as an alternative to the prizes offered.
17. The winners name and picture may be used by Power NI in promotional material.
18. Power NI reserves the right to amend rules prior to the closing date, after posting notice on the website.
19. For further questions please contact energysavingchallenge@powerni.co.uk.
BIG Energy Saving Challenge online newsletter launched!
15th September, 2011 8:50
Power NI are pleased to announce the launch of the BIG Energy Saving Challenge newsletter which will go live on Monday 3rd October.
The free e-newsletter will be sent directly to your e-mail address every month and contain the latest news and events from the six community groups from across Northern Ireland competing to win the £20,000 prize of energy saving equipment.
To sign up to the newsletter simply just enter your e-mail address into the sign up box on the right hand menu of the site and we will keep you updated with all the latest news from the challenge.
Help your favourite community group promote their campaign by encouraging your friends and family to get signed up to our BIG Energy Saving Challenge newsletter.
Annaclone keen to promote their Challenge!
2nd August, 2011 15:18
Aldo Fusciardi of Annaclone Community Engagement and Kirsty Pollock of Power NI with one of the new BIG Energy Saving Challenge promotional posters.
Annaclone Community Engagement are the first of the Power NI BIG Energy Saving Challenge groups to receive their new promotional material the get their community group ‘switched on’ to their year-long energy saving campaign.
Each group will be receiving personalised leaflets and posters encouraging households to get involved with the start of their respective challenges! Certainly Annaclone group representative Aldo Fusciardi took no time in getting the posters put up in their local community centre base.
Power NI representatives will be visiting all the six groups in the next few weeks to deliver their promotional material and to help the communities implement their action plans. Keep following the latest news online!
Annaclone Group shortlisted in Power NI’s BIG Energy Saving Challenge
15th June, 2011 8:42
Neil Coleman and Kathy Smyth from Power NI delivered the energy saving starter kit to Annaclone Community Engagement Group members Aldo Fusciardi, Bronagh Rafferty, Geraldine Fusciardi and Kieran Heenan, included is local Banbridge District Councillor Seamus Doyle.
Annaclone Community Engagement Group is one of just six community groups from across Northern Ireland who have been selected to compete in The BIG Energy Saving Challenge, an exciting new initiative from Power NI which is giving £100,000 to communities to encourage energy saving.
The Challenge team toured the country earlier this year in search of community groups who are switched onto energy saving and Power NI is delighted to announce that Annaclone is one of the six successful participants.
Annaclone Community Engagement Group was created four years ago, with the main aim of regenerating the local rural area. They have a number of associated groups which represents all age groups and interest in their community, including Young at Heart, Parent and Toddler, Historical, GAA, Social and Youth. They are very keen to become more energy efficient as they are situated in the area of Katesbridge, which had the lowest recorded temperature in Northern Ireland in the last recent winter. The group has committed to working with Power NI over the next year to introduce energy saving measures into their premises and wider communities, educate residents and save them money.
Project Coordinator Neil Coleman said, “This competition is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and we are very excited. We recently delivered the starter pack to Annaclone full of energy saving devices and information as well as £7,500 of funding for their homes. For the next 12 months, we will assist and mentor the group through their energy saving journey. At the end of the year long challenge, they will each receive another £7,500 for communities, with the most successful energy saving group winning a fantastic total of £20,000!”
You can follow Annaclone’s progress in the BIG Energy Saving Challenge on www.powerni.co.uk.