More than £50 million was invested in energy efficiency and carbon reduction by the Housing Executive last year, according to the Northern Ireland Home Energy Conservation Authority (HECA) annual progress report, unveiled at the Sustainability Symposium in Belfast.

Now in its fourth year, the symposium brings together housing professionals to share the latest developments in green energy and to hear updates from the Housing Executive, Northern Ireland's largest landlord and strategic housing authority, on its ongoing sustainability work.

Speakers included Michael Craggs, Development & Asset Management Innovation Lead at Bromford Housing, and the event featured a video message from Communities Minister Gordon Lyons. A special discussion also looked back on the contribution of Noel Rice, appointed as the Housing Executive’s first Energy Conservation Manager 30 years ago.

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Housing Executive Chief Executive, Grainia Long, said: "We were thrilled to welcome attendees to our latest Sustainability Symposium, which has become an important opportunity to explore how the housing sector can work together to address climate change.

"We have made great progress to increase energy efficiency in homes across Northern Ireland, reduce our carbon footprint and tackle fuel poverty.

"Last year alone we invested £10.8m in the Affordable Warmth Scheme. Working in partnership with the Department for Communities, the scheme offers grants to lower income households to install a range of different measures in their home that help reduce energy bills.

"The Housing Executive has also continued to invest in our own properties with over £42,442,344 in energy efficiency and low carbon projects over the last year."