Green homes may be more attractive to home buyers than those with traditional plumbing and heating systems, it has been suggested.

Consumer awareness of environmental issues may sway them in favour of opting for a property which has energy efficient improvements made to its internal systems, according to the Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE).

People who are conscious of their environmental impact would be particularly interested in such a house, Danny Davis, senior technical engineer at the IPHE claimed.

"Energy conscious consumers would certainly be attracted to a house incorporating both energy and water conserving technologies over a similar house without such measures in place," he said.

Since April 2005 all UK boilers have been required to have a Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK rating, which means that the technology they use will be able to convert ten per cent more fuel to heat.