Water saving measures such as rainwater collection are among the best ways to make a house more eco-friendly, an expert has said.

Alex Goddard, curator at the Eco Home Exhibition, explained that a rainwater collector on the roof of the house can be used for flushing the toilet and to run the washing machine.

She added that current trends in making properties more energy efficient include water saving toilets and washing machines.

The exhibition is looking at "all kinds of gadgets to limit the flow of taps and shower heads and those kind of things, all different ways of trying to reduce your water consumption", she said.

Ms Goddard explained that insulation and double or triple glazing are also effective ways of making a property more energy efficient.

Her comments come after the Energy Saving Trust announced plans to give loans of £500 to £10,000 to Scottish householders to cut carbon emissions in their homes.