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Energy and Water Efficiency

Vast swathes of Kent are predicted to suffer water scarcity by the time children born this year turn 25, so we all have a duty to use water responsibly. This page includes some tips to help you save water around the house.

Meet with the Fuel and Water Home Advisor

Residents needing extra support this winter can now reach out to Swale Borough  Council's Fuel and Water Home Adviser for help and advice, managed by Swale Charity Children and Families.

You can get advice on how to effectively manage energy and water use in your home, installing low cost measures such as draught proofing and radiator reflector panels, and helping those who are eligible to apply for grants.

You can complete this self referral form

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

The government is providing grants to encourage property owners to install low carbon heating systems such as heat pumps, through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). These grants can help property owners overcome the upfront cost of low carbon heating technologies.

The scheme is open to domestic and small non-domestic properties in England and Wales. It runs from 2022 to 2025.

You can get:

  • £5,000 off the cost and installation of an air source heat pump
  • £5,000 off the cost and installation of a biomass boiler
  • £6,000 off the cost and installation of a ground source heat pump

You can get one grant per property.

Water  Efficiency

Some water companies can provide free advice and/or water saving devices. Swale residents who are supplied by  Southeast Water can request things like cistern bags,  leaky toilet detectors and water regulating shower heads.

Around the house:
  • The #leakyloochallenge. Take a small piece of tissue paper, scrunch this up and place on the back of your toilet just above the water line. If it wets and drops down quickly, you most likely have a leak, which can waste between 200 and 400 litres of water which could cost you over £200 a year!
  • The short shower- pick your favourite song and see if you can finish your shower before the song ends! A 10-minute shower will use around 170 litres of water, while a 4–5-minute shower will use only 70-90 litres. That’s a huge saving.
  • Install a cistern bag.  A single flush of the toilet can use up to 11 litres of water, and this small action can help save up to 2 litres with each flush.
  • Try to fill your garden with drought resistant and pollinator friendly plants. This will mean your space is much more resilient to heat and dryness in the summer months, and will require much less watering.
  • When you do need to water, only do so in the very early morning, or in the late evenings. This helps reduce the amount that is evaporated.
  • Install a water butt!

More support:

If you can relate to any of these statements, take a look at the resources available: