We're all so aware now of the need to try and save energy for our future and the good of the planet but, in truth, some of the products that we were encouraged to use in the past were, well, less than efficient. It was a little off putting. We all lead such busy lives, whether we're at home looking after a family of growing kids, or working longer and longer hours, and we need to know that we can run our lives as smoothly as possible. Realistically we're all happy to do our bit for the environment, but how wonderful it would be if we could do so without compromising our time or the quality of the performance we've come to expect.

Fortunately there are so many innovative ideas and solutions to make your home more efficient today, that you'll find you are helping to save energy without even really noticing. And when you introduce these energy saving ideas into your home you'll also be saving yourself money at the same time too, which has to make sense!

The new, energy efficient light bulbs, for instance, which can reduce your lighting costs by up to £100 over a lifetime, energy-efficient radiators that can heat up your home faster, come in a range of designs, from traditional to contemporary, helping you improve the look of your home while saving energy, and even cavity wall insulation can keep around 33% more heat inside the home saving you money on your annual fuel bills.

Also, take a look at all the appliances you are using. If anything needs replacing, now is the time to really do your research and make sure you are getting an energy efficient machine. A new boiler can save you a fortune in heating bills over a period of time. A new 'A' rated condensing boiler, in particular, could help cut your heating bill by up to 40% and you'll be amazed at how little space they take up.

Interestingly, you may be surprised to learn that using a dishwasher is generally regarded as being as energy efficient as washing by hand, as long as you make sure it's fully loaded before you turn it on.

And if you want the latest, state of the art, washing machine, the Indesit Moon has an incredibly simple to use programming interface which means that one touch is all that it takes for all your wash cycles. The Moon has a unique self-cleaning dispenser which releases the detergent directly into the heart of the wash giving up to 50% more cleaning power.

And when you wash at lower temperatures with Ariel and the A+ rated Indesit Moon you will still get a brilliantly clean wash and save up to 40% of the energy used with each load!

So with very little effort on your part, you'll soon find that you are becoming more future friendly, helping support the environment, saving yourself valuable time and money and helping keep your home look stylish and smart.

Turning your home into a green machine has never been easier and you don't need to compromise on style either. So make your home more energy efficient and enjoy more time for yourself at the same time too!