Three major themes for the National Home Improvement Council's (NHIC) 2008 Annual Awards Scheme will be energy efficiency, safety, and innovation in the UK home and environmental improvements.

This year's awards brochure provides full details of the various categories in the Annual Awards Scheme, now in its 33rd year.

NHIC Executive Director, Roman Russocki, said: "With fuel prices increasing and carbon emissions from domestic properties rising at an alarming rate, our 2008 Annual Awards Scheme focuses on how both the private and social housing sectors are helping tackle these vital issues. So this year's awards judges will be particularly anxious to see the important integration of energy saving measures as well as safety issues in today's crucial housing refurbishment schemes.


"With fewer new homes being built across our nation than meet the requirements, the responsibility for fulfilling the housing demand falls firmly on the existing housing stock. Consequently it is essential that it is especially maintained to the highest possible standards of efficiency to which the NIHC Awards aspire."

Entry forms for the NIHC Annual Awards Scheme 2007 are included in the Awards brochure which is being distributed and the final closing date for submissions will be Friday 22 August.

Judging will take place in the first two weeks of September and the Awards are presented in London's Gladstone Library.

(CD/NS)