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New Eco-Home programme helps householders save money and the environment.

Environmental charity TIDY Northern Ireland are delighted to announce the launch of their new Eco-Home programme with support from Belfast City Council and the Department of the Environment’s Rethink Waste Campaign.

Eco-Home is an exciting new environmental programme created to promote waste prevention and sustainable living to all householders throughout the Belfast City Council area. Participants carry out simple actions and change their environmental behaviours in small ways that can make a big difference. Those who implement the programme should benefit through a reduction in the amount of waste they produce and through money saved from lower fuel and energy bills, whilst at the same time knowing they are helping to save the environment.

The Eco-Home programme had its first launch event in Ikea Belfast on the 8th of February, where members of Belfast City Council and TIDY Northern Ireland staff joined Seaview Primary School pupils, staff and parents who will be getting involved in the Eco-Home Programme.

Ian Humphreys, Chief Executive, TIDY Northern Ireland said: “Eco-Home is not only free to join - it will save you money. It will also help keep your rates bill down by saving Belfast City Council money. And more waste being recycled means more local jobs. So, Eco-Home is good for the environment, good for the economy and good for you. Please take a look at the website or order the printed materials today and see what a difference you can make.”

Councillor Pat McCarthy, Chairman of Belfast City Council’s Health and Environmental Services Committee, said: “We are very pleased to be supporting the Eco-Home initiative as it represents a win-win not just for the environment, but for our ratepayers across the city. If every single person even made a small change, it would make a huge difference. Reducing the amount of waste we produce as a city is something the council is committed to and we need to see Belfast’s recycling rate reach at least 50%. This new initiative puts the issue back in the spotlight and is a reminder to people of the benefits of going green.”

How to join the Eco-Home programme

Households throughout Belfast are being invited to take part in the programme either as an individual householder or as part of a group. Households can register online at www.eco-homeni.org. Those without internet access can register by calling the Eco-Home team at TIDY Northern Ireland on 028 9073 6920.

Those who register and complete the programme will be entered into a prize draw where they will have a chance to win one of three ‘eco-hampers’ to the value of £75, comprised of various household items that will help participants act in environmentally friendly ways in the home.

How it works

Register and complete the Eco-Home Householder Survey 1 online (or send to TIDY Northern Ireland if completing manually). You will receive a percentage score according to your answers; for example a home that receives 25% has a lot of room for improvements; a home that receives 85% might have a few small changes to put in place.

Next follow the simple tips under the four themes - waste, water, energy and transport. It is recommended that householders begin with the easiest actions and then progress towards completing the more difficult or time consuming actions over the months that follow.

Finally, complete Householder Survey 2 and find out your new result; it is recommended that you wait 2-3 months before submitting your second survey as this gives an adequate amount of time to properly implement some of the tips to start noticing savings.

For further information on the Eco-Home programme see www.eco-homeni.org