Harvey Group is Heating up with Wood!

29 Mar 2010

The Harvey Group, a mechanical and electrical service company based in Newtownabbey, has recently been doing its bit to help the local environment. The company has replaced its oil heating system by installing a 100 kW wood chip boiler, part funded by the Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) SMART Programme.



The boiler, which is housed in the workshop, will provide heat for the building and John Healy, Plant and Logistics Manager of Harvey Group, believes it is imperative for businesses to incorporate renewable energy technologies and energy saving measures where possible. “We made the switch to biomass because we wanted to do our part to help the local environment and economy as well as making carbon reduction. We have an energy committee within our business who explore new energy saving ideas that we could introduce to help us to reduce our carbon footprint. It was from here that we decided that a biomass boiler would go a long way in helping us achieve our energy saving objectives and also encourage local farmers to grow biomass crops. The wood chip boiler is our only source of heat in order to show that this type of arrangement is reliable and doesn’t need a fossil fuel back up.”



The Harvey Group has integrated many sustainable energy conservation features into their building, including rainwater harvesting and low energy lighting, making the biomass boiler a welcome addition to their energy saving portfolio.



Sarah Beldon from NIE Energy, visited the Harvey Group this week to see the new boiler in action. She is pleased that the company, which is also a registered local installer, has made the commitment to sustainable heating. Sarah says: ‘The grant support available from the NIE SMART programme helps businesses of all sizes make the switch to sustainable alternatives from fossil fuel central heating systems. This not only has a positive impact on the local environment but it will also help to reduce energy bills which is especially welcome in the current economic climate. I would urge all types of businesses across Northern Ireland to consider installing biomass boilers and room heaters and to take full advantage of the grant which we have on offer.”



This is a limited offer from the NIE Smart programme and is available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. The NIE SMART Programme is funded by Northern Ireland Electricity and managed by NIE Energy. To find out more about how to apply for the funding go to the NIE Your Energy website www.nie-yourenergy.co.uk .

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