The government has reiterated the importance of energy saving and helping to protect the environment.

According to climate change minister Joan Ruddock, more efficient use of energy in the home can go a long way towards achieving the UK's climate change targets.

She also insisted that using gas and electricity more wisely could have financial benefits as well.

Indeed, Ms Ruddock said living in a green home would make a "real difference" to a household's utility bills.

I think she's absolutely right and there are a number of ways in which homes in the UK can achieve substantial energy savings.

Big Green Smile has already suggested various ideas such as only using the washing machine if a person has a full load.

Another top way of saving energy is when using the kettle, people should only boil the amount of water they actually need.

These are small and simple but effective ways of saving both energy and money at the same time, both of which should be a priority in these challenging times.

I've always considered looking after my teeth an important part of my beauty regime.

But I was alarmed this week to read a study which made me realise how easy it is to forget about our oral health when we are away from the bathroom.

Research by the Eastman Institute of Oral Health revealed that a person's tooth enamel can be eroded by acidic drinks such as sodas and fruit juices.

So while I may make a point of buying eco products such as natural toothpaste, I could be undoing all my hard work by drinking just a bit too much of these every day.

"Orange juice can potentially cause significant erosion of teeth," said lead researcher YanFang Ren, who added that sipping drinks slowly over a 20-minute period can be more damaging than finishing it quickly.

He recommended that oral health can best be maintained by brushing teeth twice daily.

However, I personally don't favour the average fluoride toothpastes that most shops sell, as I find eco products without articificial whiteners and preservatives to be much better.

It's good to see Sweden urging the European Union to take the lead on the issue of climate change.

The country's prime minister this week said that all of the 27 member states need to have a united policy of safeguarding the ecological future of the world.

Only this, he stated, would give the EU the strength to influence the decisions of other big polluters, such as China and the US.

Sweden has only just taken on the mantle of president of the EU, but prime minster Fredrik Reinfeldt has soared in my estimation already.

The calls for leadership and reduced dependency of fossil fuels are exactly what we need to hear.

"Climate change is happening," Mr Reinfeldt told BBC News.

"It's coming quicker and earlier than we thought."

He's right to say our current way of living is not sustainable, but it is worth saying that -thankfully - more and more people are embracing concepts such as energy saving and buying eco products.

According to a recent study by uSwitch, more than three-quarters of households in the UK are more energy-efficient than they were a year ago.

I was heartened to read comments from a beekeeper than the good weather in the UK could be good news for the country's bee population.

Recent years have seen a notable decline in the number of bees, but Robin Tomlinson believes this week's heatwave could mark a turning point.

Speaking the Yorkshire Evening Post, he said the insects have recently struggled in what was not a very good spring.

However, Mr Tomlinson said the current high temperatures, as well as the humidity, are perfect conditions in which they can flourish.

"Nature is incredibly resilient," he commented

"It has a remarkable way of changing even within the space of a week or two."

Mr Tomlinson added that since May, he has a seen a noticeable increase in the number of bee swarms.

I think this is great to hear, particularly as the decline in the bee population would be very bad news in ecological terms, as their pollination is vital to the future of our natural world.

Luckily, bodies such as the Welsh Assembly are already working hard to ensure the bees survive and thrive.

This week, rural affairs minister Elin Jones said protecting bees is important because they are vital for local food production.

Many people in the UK are not taking skin care seriously enough during the current heatwave.

A survey carried out by Travelodge found that one in five people in Britain do not believe the sun is strong enough in this country to cause damage to their skin.

As a result, many are failing to use sun block and therefore making themselves more vulnerable to a number of serious illnesses.

The British Skin Foundation (BSK) has described this statistic as "worrying" - a sentiment I agree with entirely, as I wouldn't go anywhere on a hot day without my natural skin care products.

"Just one case of sunburn can significantly increase the chance of developing skin cancer," warned Indy Rihal of the BSK.

Leigh McCarron, sleep director at Travelodge, added that it is "essential" for sun worshippers to take steps to protect themselves.

The company also recommended that people spending time in the sun make sure they drink lots of water.

According to the Met Office, the heatwave is likely to continue until Friday.

Music lovers across the land are in heaven now that festival season is underway. Glastonbury was as successful as ever, while punters are now gearing up for more big events such as T in the Park.

But one of the main problems faced by women is how on earth can they maintain their natural beauty when they are sleeping in a tent?

Luckily, the Sun has issued a few handy tips and recommendations to those who don't know what natural skin care products to take with them.

Cleansing wipes were flagged up as one essential item to take, as being outdoors at a music festival can make skin very grimy and vulnerable to blocked pores and blackheads.

The Sun said wipes can be particularly useful because festival shower and toilet facilities "can often leave a lot to be desired".

Women were also advised to remember to put sun block in their rucksacks, as UV rays can still damage a person's skin even when the sun is not beating down.

People in the UK are becoming more and more interested in issues such as energy saving and tackling climate change.

This is the view of Phil Bentley, managing director of British Gas, who said environmental concern is becoming more apparent across the country.

The utility provider has done its part in encouraging this sentiment, as it is currently engaged in a scheme which involves people saving energy in exchange for funding for local projects.

"We're seeing a genuine groundswell of interest from communities around the country to do their bit in tackling climate change," he told the Mirror.

This has got to be a good thing, I reckon, as there is no more important issue facing us today.

British Gas should be commended for its efforts to promote energy saving in the home.

It recently announced that it would replace gas and electricity meters across the country with new smart meters, which it hopes will encourage people to use less energy on a day-to-day basis.

The UK government has unveiled its new Energy Bill, which includes measures to roll out Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology.

According to environment secretary Ed Miliband, this could prove "critical" in tackling climate change and protecting the natural world.

"I want the UK to lead the world with it," he commented.

"Through CCS we can develop a new high tech industrial sector [and] maintain a diverse energy mix.

Mr Miliband said that once deployed around the world, it would make a "major contribution" to the fight against climate change.

I'm glad the government appears to be taking the issue of the environment seriously, as I thought issues such as the financial crisis and the expenses scandal had led to it moving to the bottom of the pecking order.

But it has pledged to reduce harmful emissions by more than a third by 2020, and if this is to happen, it needs meaningful action such as this, rather than just hollow promises.