Most consumers are put off from making energy-saving adaptations to their household through the expense which it involves.

This is according to Duncan Hayes, the editor of Build It Magazine, who stated that several of its readers have expressed their frustration at the high cost of energy saving at home through the installation of photovoltaics, solar panels and ground-source heat pumps.

"After a couple of quotes they just walk away and look to insulation for their savings in terms of energy and carbon dioxide," Mr Hayes said.

In order to overcome consumer objection regarding the price of these energy-saving measures, the government has launched a series of packages which provide funding to lower, or even remove, the upfront cost.

For instance, it is currently running the boiler scrappage initiative, which offers money off a new heating source when an old, inefficient G-rated model is traded in.

Schemes such as this should be applauded, Mr Hayes said, but he argued that "the money never lasts long enough".