Householders looking to make energy-saving adaptations to their homes may wish to follow the lead of the National Trust (NT).

The organisation has announced that it will reduce its carbon footprint by slashing usage of fossil fuels by 50 per cent with the next decade at its 300 major historic houses, 360 holiday cottages and all of its offices and visitor centres.

It will aim to reduce its carbon emissions by 45 per cent as a result of the energy-saving changes, a target it will look to meet by reducing electricity and heating usage by a fifth.

Furthermore, the Trust will also utilise wood burning stoves, solar panels, heat pumps, hydroelectric and wind power.

Wood boilers will also be fitted at its mansions and other larger buildings over the next five years.

"By cutting our energy consumption and growing our own energy, locally, from renewable sources we will have more money to spend on the places we look after," said the NT's director general Fiona Reynolds.

The NT's pay-for-entry properties are visited by more than 14 million people per year, while over 50 million look around its open-air sites.