British Gas homes have seen a 22 per cent decline in gas consumption, on average, as more homes adopt energy efficiency measures.

These cuts in gas use follows three decades of rising consumption, and shows the impact energy efficiency is having on British homes, according to an independent report published.

The British Gas Home Energy Report 2011, by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), is the largest ever independent analysis of natural gas use in the home. The research is based on 40 million British Gas meter readings over a four year period. All the figures are weather-adjusted to show underlying trends in consumption.

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The report finds that British Gas customers who adopted simple energy efficiency measures such as insulation and energy efficient boilers saved an average of £322 each year, and saw a 44 per cent fall in their gas use between 2006 and 2010, but some homes took no action at all.

With many customers not installing any measures and not seeing any cash savings, British Gas today unveils a major new programme to insulate - for free - the homes of its dual fuel customers. Dual fuel customers will get a free home insulation survey, and then a choice of either loft insulation or cavity wall insulation at no cost.

Gearóid Lane, Managing Director of British Gas New Markets, said: "£1 in every £4 spent on heating our homes is wasted because of poor insulation. We want to help as many of our customers as possible reap the benefits of more energy efficient homes. That's why we're launching a national programme to give our dual fuel customers access to free cavity wall or loft insulation.

"Rising global energy prices needn't mean higher bills for households. This report shows that many homes are already reducing their energy consumption and cutting bills, but we want all British Gas homes to enjoy the same benefit."

(CD)