Can home design cut gas and electricity bills?

When Bill and Jo Smith purchased the Welsh property next door to their current home, it was not only increased space the couple wished to achieve through their building project.

Indeed, the pair have revealed to This Is Money that they also hope to benefit from cheaper gas and electricity bills once they move into their extended new home near Wrexham in Clwyd.

And energy efficiency is high on the couple's agenda as they watch the building project advance.

Cheaper bills a priority

In order to benefit from cheaper gas and electricity bills, Mr Smith said he wants the property to be as energy efficient as possible, in order to not leave them struggling with their finances should utility prices increase over the coming years.

And John Hay, of the specialist self-build company Buildstore, told the online resource that many Britons considering building their own properties also made energy efficiency a priority.

"One in five of our customers says that the ability to include environmentally friendly features is the main reason for managing their own building project," he said.

Currently, Mr and Mrs Smith's new home is set to include walls constructed from a hemp-based material rather than concrete, a water source heat pump and heat exchanger.

Going green doesn't mean building

However, Britons do not have to build their own home from scratch in order to benefit from energy efficiency and cheaper gas and electricity bills.

Carrying out a retrofit of a property - where old fixtures and fittings are replaced with greener or more efficient ones - could be a quicker and easier way to enjoy a more environmentally-friendly living environment.

And advice on what steps to take is available from the Energy Saving Trust, which recommends investing in a new condensing gas boiler, double glazing and loft and cavity wall insulation as just some of the ways of achieving cheaper gas and electricity bills.