Millions of Britons may soon up their energy-saving efforts in an attempt to save money on monthly utility bills expenditure, according to Tesco.

The supermarket giant has indicated that as many as 39 million UK residents - 83 per cent of the population - already recycle household waste in order to improve their overall green credentials. Meanwhile, two-thirds (66 per cent) of respondents to the study said they turn appliances off at the wall to limit the amount of wasted electricity their household uses. A further 76 per cent said they had installed energy-saving lightbulbs around the home. However, more than six out of ten (61 per cent) said they felt they could do more to help the environment while one in five (20 per cent) said doing so was too expensive.

For those looking an effective way to fund large-scale energy-saving projects such as loft insulation or double glazing installation, taking out a home improvement loan may allow them to fund the renovations effectively and reduce their overall energy expenditure more quickly to make savings in the longer term.

Taking out this type of loan may be of interest to the 800,000 people recognised in the Tesco study who said they had made no effort at all to improve their environmental credentials. While doing so may be costly for many Britons, the firm explained that there are a number of ways to reduce electricity usage without significant investment. It reported that nearly half (47 per cent) of all UK consumers are missing out on the opportunity to save money by washing clothes at a lower heat. In addition, almost a third (32 per cent) said they were still taking baths rather than showers, while more than a quarter (28 per cent) were wasting money making a brew by overfilling the kettle.

Commenting on the statistics, Paul Baxter at Tescocompare, said: “Going green takes a little bit of effort but can reap huge rewards in the long and short term. 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 day-to-day basis to reduce our carbon footprint and energy bills. Simply turning gadgets off at the mains when you’re not using them is a sure-fire way to save the planet and the pound in your pocket.”

statistics from the group show that many Britons are happy to make the commitment to energy saving, with four out of five (80 per cent) respondents saying they prided themselves on being above average when it comes to their green credentials. For more than half of the population, pursuing energy-efficient household habits may become more than a point of pride in the coming months, with 54 per cent of people saying that soaring energy and food costs were a principal driving force behind their desire to go green.

Those who are in search of capital to fund major environmental improvements to their home may find that taking out a secured loan proves an attractive option. Doing so may also be advisable for the growing number of Britons looking to buy more environmentally-friendly vehicles. A recent study by Experian showed that during the course of 2007, sales of electric vehicles increased by 473.5 per cent.

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