Energy use in homes accounts for over a quarter of the UK's carbon footprint, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

To tackle climate change, it is essential to make sure homeowners are using energy as efficiently as possible before even considering renewables.

As heating and water accounts for 83 per cent of the total energy used in the home, it may be a good idea to team a more efficient boiler with a full set of heating controls which should ensure people spend less heating water.

Installing loft insulation can help lower heating bills, according to the report featured in the Guardian, saving around £150 a year.

Cavity wall insulation is another sensible option as a third of a home's heat is lost through walls. However, solid walls are more difficult to insulate than homes built after the 1920s, the newspaper claimed.

In related news, the government recently announced a feed-in tariffs scheme which could see UK homeowners sell any excess electricity they produce.