Business

New £3m fund to help firms cut energy costs

Margaret Hearty, InterTradeIreland
Margaret Hearty, InterTradeIreland

Businesses across Northern Ireland are set to benefit from a new £3 million energy services fund aimed at helping them slash overheads and cut their carbon footprint.

Spearheaded by InterTradeIreland supported company, ECI Energy (NI), the initiative will help manufacturing facilities, car parks, freight forwarding, logistics depots or SMEs with large commercial offices to upgrade their old, inefficient lighting to state-of-the-art LED technology at no upfront capital cost.

Funded using capital from ECI Energy, and with support from InterTradeIreland’s Acumen programme, the turnkey service will include new intelligent LED lighting, electrical installation, the removal and compliant recycling of all old light fittings and a five-year comprehensive warranty to ensure the outsourcing of all operational risk back to ECI.

In most cases, the energy savings generated will outweigh the monthly service charge, generating immediate cash flow and Co2 reductions.

Launching the fund, Mark Connolly, commercial director at ECI Lighting said: “This is a really exciting, win-win for both companies and the environment. It’s an opportunity for local firms to cut their electricity costs and reduce their carbon emissions - helping accelerate NI’s transition away from old inefficient technologies."

Margaret Hearty, InterTradeIreland’s director of operations and programmes, added: “InterTradeIreland’s Acumen programme can support firms on both sides of the border grow their sales ambitions, by providing salary support as well as additional help to recruit a sales person to target the local market. Leading to improved profit and productivity, it is an ideal way to enter a new market for the first time and a proven step to exporting off-island.”