The Executive has been urged to switch its focus to renewables as homes and businesses face another energy price hike.

The Green Party has called for alternative energy to be introduced into social housing, for renewables to be included in building standards and for grants to be made available to households switching from fossil fuels to solar or wind energy.

Green Party co-chair, Dr John Barry, said: “As tariffs continue to rise for gas, oil and electricity, those on low incomes will experience fuel poverty and face a winter deciding whether to keep warm or buy food. It is also bad news for local businesses struggling with high electricity prices.

“It is imperative that the Executive recognise the reality of peak oil and the fact that fossil fuels are running out and therefore getting more and more expensive.

“The time is right to make the transition towards clean, secure and cheaper forms of renewable energy. The abolition of the Reconnect renewable energy grants earlier this year can already be seen as a monumental disaster in suffocating our local, indigenous renewable energy sector.

“Renewable energy is the future and provides for energy security and price stability for Northern Ireland, especially our most vulnerable citizens.”

The call comes as businesses were advised to adopt environmental measures as a means to save money.

New research launched by sustainable business experts Envirowise revealed that waste prevention, using less raw material and energy recovery will be crucial to combating the economic downturn.

More than 85% of companies questioned by the group said they chose the above actions as a way to make their businesses more profitable.

“With fuel, energy and raw material costs continuing to rise and changes in the economy persisting in creating challenging marketplaces, there has never been a better time to lead the way in using resources wisely, eliminating waste and ultimately raising environmental standards,” Northern Ireland regional manager for Envirowise, Sam McCloskey, said.

“Businesses are increasingly recognising that resource efficiency is not an expense but a money saving measure to be embraced.”