ScottishPower has teamed up with Bellway to unveil one of the UK's most environmentally friendly houses. The specially adapted showhome will form the centrepiece of this year's Ideal Home Show at Earls Court in London which is open to the public until 8 April 2001. The house aims to give visitors the chance to see for themselves how easy it is to become energy efficient.

With UK households spending £6.5 billion more than they need to on fuel bills due to energy inefficiency, the show home is expected to create high levels of interest from householders who want to reduce bills, help the environment and make their home warmer and healthier.

Built on three levels the ScottishPower Bellway house style by Allied Carpets is filled with energy efficient products such as fully insulated timber frames, a condensing boiler, low energy lighting and an energy efficient ventilation system.

Raymond Jack, Consumer Sales Director at ScottishPower comments: "Most people don't realise exactly how much money they needlessly waste around the home. More needs to be done to protect the environment through small every-day energy saving actions in the home. We are delighted to have teamed up with Bellway to help householders prioritise energy efficiency improvements which will benefit not only themselves but also the environment. "

For example, if all households turned their TVs off overnight instead of leaving them on standby we could stop enough CO2 emission to fill the Millennium Dome 38 times. In addition, if all households turn off one light for one hour a day we would save enough energy to boil 7 billion kettles.

David Fryer, Group Public Relations Manager at Bellway Homes comments: "Making new homes energy efficient is a priority for builders. Energy and conservation are now important issues for householders and this show home demonstrates how just a few energy devices can dramatically reduce domestic fuel consumption. By working alongside ScottishPower we hope to stimulate debate about changing lifestyles, the climate of the UK and the future aspirations and needs of householders."

Visitors to the house receive a free ScottishPower energy efficiency audit worth around £50. Once completed and analysed, homeowners are sent an energy rating certificate and a detailed report giving practical advice and real solutions on how to save energy and cut fuel bills.