OFTEC competition winners light up the future of energy

Matthew Nelson, age 9, from St Macartan’s Primary School has been crowned the overall Energy Enterprise Winner, impressing judges with creativity and expert knowledge of home energy efficiency. With an incredible response of over 150 entries, Matthew has beaten off strong competition from across Northern Ireland.  The competition shared expert ways in which families can be more energy efficient around the home with the younger generation who can impact the future of energy.

Matthew’s winning entry highlighted all elements within the home that could be changed to create better energy efficiency, and also what energy efficiency means to him with the expert panel of judges. The competition taught Primary 5 pupils different ways to save energy within the home, including turning the thermostat down, turning electrical items off standby, closing doors and windows, and switching to energy saving lightbulbs.

David Blevings, OFTEC Ireland Manager, congratulated Matthew on his win: EMatthew’s winning competition entry is fantastic. He has taken such care in attention to detail, both in his colouring, and in his understanding of what it takes to make a home energy efficient. His knowledge that energy efficiency is important as it saves the earth is something we should all take into consideration, looking at the bigger global picture when it comes to the future of energy.

At OFTEC, we’re thrilled to see the level of interest in the competition – we have had a fantastic number of entries and congratulations to all those who were shortlisted. It was very difficult to choose an overall winner as we had such a variety of entries, and we are delighted to welcome so many entrants as members of OFTEC Energy Enterprise.

Matthew was selected as a shortlisted winner before being chosen as the OFTEC Energy Enterprise overall winner.

Eibhlin de Barra, Director of Young at Art, selected Matthew as a shortlist winner: Matthew clearly loves colour and this is a really neat job that he's taken lots of care over. Matthew really understands energy efficiency highlighting lots of ways in which the homeowner could save energy: closing the windows and door, turning off the lights/lamp during the day, not having TV on standby, turning thermostat down, and turning heating control down. Matthew has also brought a little creative flair to the scene – adding a checked detail on the sofa and even adding a wallpaper design. Well done!

The other OFTEC Energy Enterprise shortlisted winners include:
•    Hollie-Rose Lee, age 9, Mossley Primary School
•    Izzie Molloy, age 9, St Macartan’s Primary School
•    Sochi Okoli, age 8, Botanic Primary School
•    Sophie McClenanghan, age 9, St Macartan’s Primary School

David added: OFTEC recognises that mixed fuels are key to the successful future of energy and efficiency. We understand that taking steps to improve the energy efficiency of your home can seem like a daunting task. Yet making small changes to the way you heat your home, including upgrading to a condensing oil boiler, can save you from unnecessary spending and create an energy efficient home environment.

The shortlisted winners received a professional Crayola artist set, with the overall winner receiving a school trip for their class to W5, Belfast. The winners were chosen by an expert panel of judges, including David Blevings, OFTEC Ireland Manager, Colin Williams, Creative Director, Sixteen South and Eibhlin de Barra, Director, Young at Art.

For your nearest OFTEC registered technician and more energy saving tips, visit www.oftec.ie