£13bn set to be spent on green home improvement

British home improvers are planning to spend over £13 billion this year to make their homes greener, with more than two thirds (68 per cent) claiming they have already implanted measures to reduce the carbon footprint of their household in the last year.

That is according to new research from the Co-Operative Bank, which found that the most popular "green" measures already made by people include recycling household waste (66 per cent), turning electrical items off stand-by (61 per cent), using energy saving light bulbs (60 per cent) and turning down the heating (57 per cent).

Looking to the future, the survey indicated that Brits are planning such innovative green improvements as installing a rainwater collector (11 per cent) and adding solar panels (seven per cent).

"This research clearly shows that people are really starting to sit up and take notice of green issues in relation to their homes," said John Barker, head of mortgages at the Co-operative Bank.

"Houses are one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK and taking steps to improve the environmental impact of homes is something that we strongly believe should be encouraged."

Over a third (40 per cent) also claimed to now wash their clothes at 30 degrees, while 26 per cent have added loft and wall insulation and 25 per cent have installed double glazed windows.