Invest in energy efficient upgrades

Recent findings suggest that buying an energy efficient conservatory, or indeed making any green changes to the home, might result in a spike in the propertys value.

A study by the Energy Saving Trust found that more than half (54 per cent) of those questioned felt that how green a home is will soon become more important than how fashionably decorated it is.

The research by the green energy technology experts also found that some buyers in the UK would pay an extra £15,000 for a home they perceived to be energy efficient.

British Eco Energy (BEE) has added that it feels an eco-investment would be well worth-while.

"Gas is going up, electricity is going up, if you can save yourself money and can make yourself more eco-friendly then more people will go for it," a spokeswoman for BEE said.

"Try and go for it if you can. If you can afford it, budget, work out what your budget is, work out where you want to be in the next 18 months to two years time and starting moving towards it."

A Gloucestershire man recently used his eco-friendly home to grow Asian bananas – a feat that the Royal Horticultural Society claimed was nigh-on impossible in the UK.

The former naval officer claims he uses his huge conservatory to heat his home – spending just £60 a year on gas heating.