City of Swan households reduce energy use as part of eco audit

HOUSEHOLDS across the City of Swan have significantly reduced the amount of water, electricity and gas they use by taking part in a free eco home audit program.

Eighty-one households took part in the City’s Eco Audit program, offered to residents as part of its ‘Thinking Green Program’.

An experienced auditor worked with participants to identify ways they could use water and energy more efficiently and reduce household waste, and gave them advice on how to implement those changes.

Swan Mayor Mick Wainwright said the program had produced impressive results.

“On average, the households that took part reduced their water consumption by up to 20 per cent, electricity by 13 per cent and gas by 3 per cent, which is a fantastic effort,” he said.

Councillor Rod Henderson said that by making some relatively small changes, the participants had already made a big difference.

“Simple changes such as sealing off ceiling vents, replacing their light bulbs with LED lights and collecting shower water in a bucket to use on their garden, have allowed the participants to make real reductions in their consumption and their weekly budgets,” he said.

The City will offer a new series of Thinking Green workshops in early 2017 to continue to educate the community on sustainable living.

For more information on sustainable living, go to swan.wa.gov.au/sustainableliving.