Energy & water

Lowering Energy at Home
Solar & Heat
Water

‘Use less, Waste less’

Living a more sustainable life requires us to live by the motto ‘use less and waste less’; this can be applied to power, electricity and water, there are many ways we can embed this motto into our everyday lives and in many cases it allows us to save money, and reduce our carbon footprint.

To help to embed this motto into our everyday lives, it helps to follow our ‘energy and water’ hierarchy. Loosely explained, it is the list of ways in which we can use energy and water. The methods are ranked in order of priority according to most environmentally friendly to least.

Energy and Water

The following is a list of projects, businesses and tools available locally that will help you to use less energy and water.

Low energy homes

Colchester Borough Council offers energy efficiency advice on energy & money saving at home, home energy improvement schemes and grants 

Warm Homes Funding was launched on 1st April 2025 and promotes vital energy efficiency to reduce bills and environmental impact. Now open for applications, this scheme supports residents in upgrading home insulation and heating. Act quickly—reservations are limited, so don’t miss this valuable opportunity to save energy and costs.

Centre for Alternative Technology offer a wide range of services including advice on renewables in your home, short courses and Masters degree in renewable energy, green building, sustainable growing and more​.

Energy Saving Trust offers financial support for home energy efficiency upgrades such as insulation and drought proofing   

 The Switch A helpful website to check if your energy provider is environmentally friendly and find greener alternatives.

Property Guardians Helps to bring empty properties back into use.

The SuperHomes Network harnesses the enthusiasm of energy saving pioneers to bring you examples of successful sustainable refurbishment. To qualify as a SuperHome, a 60% reduction in carbon emissions must be achieved. Consider registering as a SuperHome or discover homes locally to Colchester.

Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) is a network of individuals and companies with a common aim of promoting sustainable building. They bring together contractors, trades people, self-builders, architects, designers, engineers, manufacturers, housing associations, local authorities and academics to help develop, share, train and promote sustainable building best practice.

Grass Roof Company Take inspiration or purchase a green roof system; located in Basildon. 

Solar and Heat

Passive House Institute Pass­ive House De­sign­ers/Con­sult­ants cer­ti­fied by the Passivhaus In­sti­tut is a pro­fes­sion­al trained to design build­ings that meet the en­ergy ef­fi­ciency and com­fort cri­ter­ia of the Pass­ive House stand­ard. They have the know­ledge to design build­ings with min­im­al en­ergy re­quire­ments for heat­ing and cool­ing, in­clud­ing high per­form­ance in­su­la­tion, air­tight con­struc­tion and heat re­cov­ery vent­il­a­tion, while main­tain­ing op­tim­al in­door air qual­ity and com­fort.

AECB, Association of Environmentally Conscious Builders is a network of individuals and companies with a common aim of promoting sustainable building. Bringing together contractors, trades people, self builders, architects, designers, engineers, manufacturers, housing associations, local authorities and academics to help develop, share, train and promote sustainable building best practice.

We recommend ensuring trades services, e.g. solar, heat pump installers are registered to Trustmark, this is the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme covering work a consumer chooses to have carried out in or around their home.

Solar Together Operate a bulk solar buying scheme to the public through local councils. All residents who own their own house (or have permission from the landlord to install a solar PV system) can register. Small and medium-sized enterprises (non-domestic) and Commonhold Associations meeting this requirement can participate as well. Also find a solar installers, while ensuring that you’re getting a high-quality product and service.

 

Water

Anglian Water offer FREE water saving home visit. Want to save money and water? Book a home visit and save up to £40 a year on your water bill.

Anglian Water offer information on how to save water in the garden. 

Leaky loo’s are a BIG waste of water and money, The Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) have put together some very useful videos on how to maintain dual flush toilets, how to spot a leak and how to fix one. It could be either your Inlet Valve or your Outlet Valve.

My Account is the quickest, simplest way for you to view your bills and manage your water use and account if you’re an Anglian Water customer, helping you spot a leak quickly!

En-form offer water and money saving tips, plus workshops and free water saving items