The BIG Energy Saving Challenge

Oisin wins Power NI’s BIG Picture Competition for Mullaghdun

6th April, 2012 13:46

Miss Morris (P7 teacher, St. Columban’s Primary), Oisin Leonard (St. Columban’s Primary), Aidan Cox (Principal, St. Columban’s Primary), Kirsty Pollock (Power NI) and Neil Coleman (Power NI)

Oisin Leonard from St. Columban’s Primary School, Belcoo has won Power NI’s BIG Picture Competition, picking up a Nintendo 3DS as first prize for his eye catching ‘Save the energy’ entry.

Oisin’s winning entry was chosen from an impressive number of entries and shows the various methods 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 his local community group Mullaghdun Community Association is one of the six finalists, competing for £20,000 of energy saving funding for their area.

Aidan Cox Principal of St. Columban’s Primary School said “We recently had the pleasure of meeting Kirsty and Neil from the Power NI Team when they visited St. Columban’s to present one of our Key Stage 2 pupils, Oisin Leonard, with his winning prize.

“The pupils have gained a lot by learning about energy efficiency and renewable technologies. We thank Power NI for their wonderful initiative.”

Kirsty Pollock from Power NI added “We had some fantastic entries for the BIG Picture Competition in Fermanagh and it was an extremely difficult to pick a winner, but Oisin’s colourful entry definitely stood out for our judging panel.

“We hope he enjoys his prize and continues to be an ambassador for energy saving in his local area.”

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.

Mullaghdun learn the power of energy saving

8th December, 2011 13:19

Neil Coleman from Power NI meets with the committee of the Mullaghdun Community Association.

Mullaghdun Community Association, one of the six finalists in Power NI’s BIG Energy Saving Challenge, took time to host an information on Tuesday evening for members.

Power NI group mentor Neil Coleman, met with the group and updated those present on the progress of the Challenge while provided information on saving energy and money this winter. The Mullaghdun Community Association committee also took time to distribute remaining items from their initial energy saving pack including energy monitors and energy saving light bulbs.

The task set for members of the rural Fermanagh group to monitor their energy consumption during the month of December, with findings presented at the next monthly meeting pm the effectiveness and results of having implemented the new energy saving methods.

Neil Coleman of Power NI said, “It was a really productive and informative evening – the key to success in this area is changing the mentality of the community and getting them ‘switched on’ to energy saving.

“We’re already hearing great stories that members are using their energy monitors and saving money off their bills so we’re working to put together some exciting plans for Mullaghdun in the New Year and use their Challenge funding to really make a difference in the area.”

For more information on saving money and energy this winter as well as practical tips and information, visit our combat winter page at www.powerni.co.uk/winter.

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.

Power NI unveils BIG Energy Saving Challenge with Mullaghdun

14th September, 2011 12:12

Jemma Geary and Neil Coleman Power NI; Michael McAloon, Chairman and (back, from left) James Leonard, Deirdre Corrigan, Geraldine Leonard and Gerry Mullally.

Power NI kicked off their BIG Energy Saving Challenge with Mullaghdun Community Association on Tuesday night.

Project coordinator, Neil Coleman, met with the large group of 30 participating households to give an insight into the energy saving grants and special offers

The groups members’ who signed up, received an energy saving ‘starter pack’ including an energy monitor which helps customers keep track of energy usage around the home, stand-by off adapter and temperature cards. Most encouraging was the range of ideas brought forward by the group, who will be nominating a representative to become a qualified energy advisor as one of their first energy saving steps.

Committee member Patricia McGrath commented: “We are really pleased to be getting involved with this challenge and people are really excited to be receiving their energy saving equipment.

“We would now encourage more members of the wider Mullaghdun community to come forward and sign up to the Challenge”

Neil Coleman from Power NI said: “This is certainly a great project for the Mullaghdun community, we have an association who are really ‘switched on’ and keen to make a difference in their community.

“This project will help all members save money and energy through the funding provided by Power NI and this will make a big difference during the colder months with winter fast approaching.”

As part of the BIG Energy Saving Challenge, the group have set up an Energy efficiency training course for all members, to help educate them about renewable heating and energy technologies. The course will be held on Tuesday 20 September from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at the Mullaghdun Community Centre.

Householders in the group can also sign up online to the challenge newsletter which is regularly updated with the progress of all six groups across Northern Ireland.

Mullaghdun Community Association shortlisted in Power NI’s BIG Energy Saving Challenge

16th June, 2011 7:31

Jemma Geary and Neil Coleman friom Power NI; Michael McAloon, Chairman and (back, from left) James Leonard, Deirdre Corrigan, Geraldine Leonard and Gerry Mullally.

Mullaghdun Community Association is one of just six community organisations 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 this group, is one of the six successful participants.

Mullaghdun Community Association is a small rural community, which provides sports and recreation facilities for the local people. They are a close knit community which means that their community centre is a great amenity to them, as it provides sports and recreation to all people of all ages. They are committed not only to making the community centre energy efficient but helping and encouraging all residents to reduce their own carbon footprints and save 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 the group in Mullaghdun 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, 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!”

You can follow the group’s progress in the BIG Energy Saving Challenge on www.powerni.co.uk.

Mullaghdun Community Association: Background

15th June, 2011 7:54

An integral part of the rural County Fermanagh village, the Mullaghdun Community Association is a close knit community which is excited to be taking part in the BIG Energy Saving Challenge.

The Mullaghdun Community Centre, in which the group is based, celebrates its 25th anniversary this December and following major damage to the main hall during last winter’s freak weather the group has entered the Challenge with the view to improving the facilities at the centre.

They will spend their start up costs encouraging all the households to take up various insulation methods and also by training members of their group to become certified ‘energy advisors’ to help become self-sufficient as a group going forward.

The Challenge will an ideal way for Mullaghdun Community Association to bring the community together by educating people of all ages, including youth clubs and elderly people who are using the center on a regular basis, with a view to changing their behaviour as regards to their energy usage.

Good luck to Mullaghdun Community Association and keep following their updates throughout the coming year through their online blog and also in the local press.

Power NI kicks off The BIG Energy Saving Challenge £100,000 Giveaway

14th June, 2011 15:18

Neil Coleman and Jemma Geary from Power NI are set for Power NI’s BIG Energy Saving Challenge, which will give six community groups from Northern Ireland in total over £100,000 worth of energy saving measures.

Six community groups from across Northern Ireland have cause for celebration after being 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 this year in search of community groups who are switched onto energy saving and Power NI are delighted to announce the six successful participants. 

The six finalists include Annaclone Community Engagement Group, NI Chest Heart and Stroke Group from Banbridge and Craigavon, Drumarg Community Association in Armagh, Mullaghadun Community Association in Belcoo; and Transition Towns Omagh and Whitehead.  All have 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.  Each group will receive a starter pack of energy saving measures and £7,500 of funding for their homes. For the next 12 months, we will assist and mentor the six groups 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 each of the group’s progress in the BIG Energy Saving Challenge at www.powerni.co.uk.