Rising energy costs 'necessitate home upgrades'
Duncan Stewart, energy expert and About the House presenter, has told the Independent that UK houses are using far more energy than they require.
"The typical house is currently using five times the energy it should be," he said.
"Around €30 billion will need to be spent on the upgrade of all our existing housing stock," he added.
Mr Stewart commented that insulation "is by far the most critical way to make your home more energy efficient".
He claimed that by installing insulation, significant savings will be made, while upgrading windows should also be a high priority, as well as draught proofing.
Adding a heat recovery ventilation system and a solar collector system are also options available to people who want to upgrade their property.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, £110 on energy bills and one tonne of CO2 could be saved per year by installing insulation.