Bright Steps in North Belfast

14 Dec 2009

NIE Energy has given a group of older people from North Belfast free energy saving light bulbs to mark a recent energy awareness event.

Jonny Lamberton, Centre Manager from the First Step Community Centre on York Street, applied for the free energy saving light bulbs from NIE Energy to distribute them to the local community group for older people, the ‘First Step Friendship Group’.

Zoe McKay from NIE Energy met with Jonny at the energy awareness event, held at the First Step Community Centre to present the older people with their free energy saving light bulbs.

Zoe from NIE Energy said: “NIE Energy is delighted to be able to give free energy saving light bulbs to the members of the First Step Friendship Group.

“NIE Energy is keen to help people save energy and money and one simple way to do this is to replace standard light bulbs with energy saving ones. An energy saving light bulb uses a fifth of the electricity of a normal bulb, so each bulb when put in a frequently used light, can save approximately £10 a year of your electricity bill!

“Traditionally, energy saving bulbs were bigger than standard bulbs and either didn’t fit or poked out of the top of the lamp shade. That’s not the case anymore. You can now get energy saving bulb equivalents of nearly every shape of bulb you might need, and they are nice and bright as well.”

Jonny Lamberton from the First Step Community Centre added: “The First Step Friendship Group is for the young at heart. The programme is aimed at reducing loneliness for those seniors that live alone, offering them something educational and entertaining to do.

“With the elderly community living on tight budgets, it is great to be able to give the Friendship Group free energy saving light bulbs. Taking this simple step, such as changing to energy saving light bulbs, can save both money and energy. “

If you help run a Northern Ireland based community and voluntary Organisation which is helping vulnerable people and would be interested in applying for some energy saving light bulbs, like The First Step Friendship Group, please visit the NIE Energy website on www.nieenergy.co.uk

Photo caption - NIE Energy has given a group of older people from the ‘Friendship Group’ at the First Step Community Centre on York Street free energy saving light bulbs to mark a recent energy awareness event. (Back Row L – R) Kathleen Baird, Unice Milligan, Margaret McCreedy, Frances McKee, Lily Marshall, Margaret Snoddy, Bessie Kirk, Alison Scott, Margaret Whitten, Carol McCrory. (Front Row L - R) Jonny Lamerton, Centre Manager from the First Step Community Group and Zoe McKay from NIE Energy.

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