Introducing home automation in the UK could successfully cut energy costs and help to tackle the issue of climate change at the touch of a button, it has been claimed.

The technology is currently being tested in Germany as part of a European Union-funded scheme - the i2home project - to assess how it can help drive down energy consumption and decrease the management costs of the modern home.

Users of the automation system can control a variety of home appliances and systems, which may have been left on stand-by, in their homes via their mobile phones.

As well as here in the UK, it can also be used in countries where water is a scarce commodity and knowing exactly how much has been used is vital.

Andy Stanford-Clark, master inventor for IBM and visiting professor at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, said: "Smarter systems like leakage detection to spot flooding problems, or slow leaks like a dripping tap, can make a huge difference and save lots of water."