…for the unbelievable amount of feedback on our first enews 'Flash'. Your response was tremendous and really helpful in making sure we are on track. As many of your comments and content suggestions as possible have been included in this issue.

With hardly a day going by without a story on energy being in the news, we decided to highlight practical energy saving help available from NIE Energy in this issue.

If that isn't enticement enough to read on, don't miss your chance to win a Weekend Break for Two at any one of the six Hastings Hotels in Northern Ireland.

We'd like to be able to address you by your first name in future enews. If this is ok with you, please click here and email us your full name. Thanks.

• 'Energy Greedy' appliances: be aware of the energy greedy appliances in your home and put them on a diet. For example, a tumble dryer on for two hours per week costs over £67 per year to run.

• Get switched on to switching off: leaving appliances on constant standby can cost over £100 a year. Not good news for the person paying the electric bill!

Click here to find out more about energy greedy appliances.

Whatever your circumstances, NIE Energy has practical help available to help cut your energy costs.

• Up to £300 cashback for insulation

Open to any homeowner. Up to £150 cashback when you have cavity wall insulation installed and another £150 for loft insulation.

• Free replacement of Economy 7 or solid fuel heating plus free insulation

Open to lower income* homeowners, or private rented tenants.
*Single with income less than £12,000 gross per annum or couple with income less than £18,000 gross per annum and
must be older or disabled or have children under 16 at home or have a long-term health issue that is affected by the cold.

For a limited time only, NIE will top up the Low Carbon Buildings (LCBP) grant for Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which generate electricity. The LCBP PV grant is currently £2,000 per kW installed (up to a maximum of £2,500 per property) and NIE will top this up with an additional 15% (or £900 per kWp, whichever is less, capped at £4,500).

First-come, first-served basis until funding is committed.

'For Your Benefit' provides free, confidential and independent benefit entitlement checks to encourage benefit take-up for lower income customers across Northern Ireland.

Previous benefit entitlement activity undertaken by NIE and advice partners highlighted that on average, customers were £30 per week better off, making a significant contribution to household bills.

If you are on a lower income* (see above) and a homeowner of a rural, hard to heat home with Economy 7, solid fuel or no central heating, who cannot be connected to the natural gas network, then you could get an energy makeover which could include a wood pellet boiler or solar panels, for example.

To apply for the 'Hard to Heat' scheme, click here or call the Energy Saving Trust advice centre on freephone 0800 512 012 (Mon-Fri, 9-5pm)

'Let there be light' was the cry at the recent launch of NIE Energy's big energy saving bulb giveaway.

NIE Energy, through local St Vincent de Paul groups, the Salvation Army and community and charity groups, is giving away thousands of money saving energy efficient bulbs to vulnerable customers across Northern Ireland.

NIE Energy is looking for trial participants for an online system that will tell you exactly how much electricity is being used in your home at any time. We would like to offer our enews readers the opportunity to be amongst the first in Northern Ireland to join the 'NIE Energy Smart' trial.

NIE's Switched on Schools project has won the Nemex Renewables Innovation Award! Funded by NIE Smart, Department of Agriculture and Regional Development and the Education and Library Boards, Switched on Schools has installed solar panels and renewable external lighting at 43 schools across Northern Ireland.

Visit http://www.switchedonschools.co.uk/ for more information.

We love hearing from you with your suggestions for future enews. Email us with one or two and you'll be entered into a competition to win a luxury 'Weekend Break for Two' at any one of the six Hastings Hotels in Northern Ireland. Take it easy and save your own energy with two nights superior accommodation, breakfast and an evening meal.

Click here with your suggestions, including your NIE Energy account number if known. Good luck! (Terms & conditions apply, click here for details.)