Energy accounts for almost 60 per cent of Northern Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions. The government’s Energy Strategy sets out a pathway for energy to 2030 that will mobilise the skills, technologies and behaviours needed to take us towards a vision of net zero carbon and affordable energy by 2050.
But what does this mean for homeowners who will soon need to look at alternatives to their traditional central heating systems to make sure they comply with coming legislation and are fit for the future. 
Thankfully for Jayne Stewart, who is one of over 110,000 customers who is supplied natural gas by firmus energy, she doesn’t have to worry about this. That’s because firmus energy is doing that for her. The company is already looking at ways of greening the gas in its network that is used to heat homes. In fact, the company’s first decarbonisation projects are expected to come online later this year. The good news is that the existing gas network, meters and boilers can be used for renewable green gas.
That’s good news for Jayne whose friends are all starting to have conversations about costly central heating changes.
Jayne said: “While natural gas has the normal benefits in terms of instant heat and constant hot water, I’m pleased to know that firmus energy is gearing up for greening the gas that I will use in future. It’s one less thing I need to worry about. Many of my friends and family are still using traditional oil boilers which do not comply with the long-term sustainability aims of the government. By using gas to heat my home I’ve taken a large step to solve that problem. My gas boiler is capable of using Bio methane which is a renewable green gas and when Hydrogen arrives it can also be used up to a 20% blend.”
Connecting to the gas network is one of the simplest ways to future proof your central heating system and your home. Alongside this are the immediate carbon emission savings. That’s because businesses and homeowners converting to natural gas from oil immediately reduce their carbon emissions by up to 52%*.
She said “Knowing that my system doesn’t need to be replaced or upgraded as Northern Ireland transitions to net zero carbon offers me a bit of assurance that my home is fit for the future. It’s good to know that my gas boiler will burn more sustainable gases of the future such as Biomethane and Hydrogen further down the line.”
That’s not why Jayne connected to natural gas in the first place though.
Jayne said: “When I moved into my home I inherited an oil fuelled central heating system. I wanted to get rid of the oil tank in the garden and my water tank and boiler inside the house to repurpose and make better use of those spaces. So, I contacted firmus energy to find out the options.”
“Following a straight-forward home energy audit with one of the company’s energy advisors I decided that connecting to the gas network was the best solution to make the changes I wanted.”
An added benefit was an offer of free advanced controls. Advanced controls are devices that are fitted to your heating system. They connect wirelessly to the internet and allow me to control my heating remotely from a smartphone, tablet or another internet connected device. Since I have more control over my heating, even remotely, I can be smarter about when to switch it on and off and that leads to fuel efficiency and less wastage. With global events affecting wholesale gas prices at the moment every little bit helps.” She said.
And on the topic of global wholesale gas prices what does she think? Jayne says: “The price increases are definitely not good news but I’m trying to see the long picture. We have come from a point of historic lows in the price of wholesale gas as recently as 2021 and I think we got used to these prices being normal. The Covid pandemic and political factors have impacted prices for now but I’m hoping these will level out again soon. I’m hearing my friends, whose homes are heated with oil, complaining of sharp increases in the price of oil at the moment so I know the cost of energy is an issue that is affecting everyone. Of course, it’s not just rises in energy that are causing the problem. Increases in inflation, taxation, food and fuel are hitting everyone right now. The government has the ability to help by scrapping VAT on fuel. Help must come from there.”
She continues “With prices increasing across the board knowing that I don’t have to find more money on changing or adapting my central system in line with government decarbonisation plans is giving me some peace of mind at the moment.” She concluded.
If you would like to book a free, no obligation, energy audit visit firmusenergy.co.uk/greengas or calling the team on 0330 024 9000.
The company has a number of offers available from 0% finance allowing customers to spread the cost of installing natural gas or free advanced controls putting you in control of your energy usage, boiler replacement scheme which means you could get £1200 off a gas install or free shower or £200 cashback. Visit firmusenergy.co.uk/offers to find out more.
*Based on switching your home heating system from a 15-year-old Sedbuk F oil boiler without controls to a new Sedbuk A natural gas boiler with heating controls.
