Rising cost of living 'could encourage green measures'

More Britons could be encouraged to implement green measures in their homes in a bid to counter the credit crunch, it has been claimed.

A survey carried out by Tescocompare.com found that there could be a rise of environmental activity by as much as 50 per cent in response to increases in household bills and petrol prices.

Some 80 per cent of homeowners said they are already proud of their environmental efforts, rating themselves as "above average" when it comes to implementing energy-saving measures.

However, 20 per cent said they were put off doing more to be green by the cost of products such as energy-saving lightbulbs.

Paul Baxter, a spokesperson from Tescocompare.com, said that homeowners could reduce their bills by implementing changes such as turning the television off instead of leaving it on standby, as well as washing clothes at 30 degrees instead of 40.

"Going green takes a little bit of effort but can reap huge rewards. The cost of living and household bills are creeping up and up, but there are lots of things that cost next to nothing which we can all do on a daily basis to reduce our carbon footprint and energy bills," he attested.

The Guardian reported earlier this week that one in four British homes could be fitted with solar heating equipment as part of a green energy revolution to be proposed by the government.