Making your home more energy efficient is better for the planet and your wallet. By making conscious design and lifestyle choices, you can save money on your household bills.
Managing energy at home
The City has installed large-scale solar thermal heating systems for its swimming pools at the Swan Active Beechboro and Swan Active Midland leisure centres. These systems use solar energy to preheat pool water and therefore reduce the volume of natural gas required for this task.
The City also has an ongoing program to progressively install small scale solar hot water systems (e.g. for showers) at suitable community facilities such as Coolamon Pavilion, Midland Sports Complex and the Stratton Community Centre.
You can measure your household’s carbon footprint by borrowing a free City of Swan Home Energy Audit Kit. Each kit includes:
- A thermal imaging camera to help you locate draughts around your home and gaps in insulation, for checking fridge seals, and measuring hot water temperature
- A plug-in energy monitor for measuring energy consumption and the running costs of appliances
- A basin flow measuring cup to determine the water flow rate of your taps
- A thermometer for measuring the temperature of rooms, fridges and freezers
- An instructional manual that explains how to conduct a variety of tests.
Please note: These kits contain valuable and sensitive equipment. Please be aware that you may incur a fee if the item is not returned in the same condition in which it was loaned.
To find out more, visit our Library Services page.
Many of us simply increase our energy usage to live more comfortably at the expense of our savings and the environment.
Our Guide to Energy Efficient Homes has been created to help City of Swan residents design homes that are better for them and the environment.
To learn more about making your house more energy efficient, visit yourhome.gov.au
This City of Swan has an electric vehicle charge station that features two chargers outside the City’s main administration building in Midland.
Our community can plug in to the DC fast charger 24/7 and the AC charger is available outside of City operational use (Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm).
The City uses the AC charger during operational hours to charge its fleet of electric vehicles.
The fast-charging station takes approximately 20-30 minutes to sufficiently charge an electric vehicle.
In the 2025/26 financial year, the City charges 0.48c per kWh on each charger.
To use the charger, simply sign up to Charge Hub.
Both the Federal and State governments currently offer rebates for home batteries installed with new or existing solar PV systems.
The Federal Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program provides a discount on eligible home batteries, aligned with battery prices.
The WA Government also provides extra support for Synergy and Horizon Power customers through the WA Residential Battery Scheme, which stacks on top of the federal discount.
A carbon offset is a unit that represents a reduction in carbon dioxide and/or other greenhouse gases to compensate for emissions made elsewhere.
You can purchase carbon offsets if you want to compensate for the greenhouse gas emissions you make in your daily activities.
Carbon offsets are typically achieved by providing financial support to a project that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, for example, a tree planting project where the trees act as a carbon sink by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. Other types of carbon offsets include renewable energy or energy efficiency projects.
Western Australian energy retailer Synergy has several green energy billing options available where renewable energy certificates (RECs) can be purchased from nationally accredited GreenPower renewable energy sources. This allows you to offset some or all of the carbon emissions from your electricity consumption.
Carbon reduction at the City of Swan
What is the City doing to reduce its emissions?
The City of Swan is working towards a target of net zero emissions by 2050.
The guiding document for this is the Emissions Reduction Action Plan.
Transport
What public electric vehicle charging stations are in the City?
See where your closest EV charging station is, visit PlugShare
Consider sustainable and active modes of transport, including cycling and public transport. Your Move is a free program that provides information and support to help you find healthier, more active ways to get around.
For more information, visit Your Move