How to design a stylish kitchen
without tripping over the recycling bins!

Primetime TV presenter and interior design consultant Naomi Cleaver has teamed up with energy efficiency experts at Powergen to demonstrate how you can save energy with style.
The writer and broadcaster, who also has her own design studio and advises major high street retailers and brands, has put together some simple energy saving tips designed to enhance homes as well as environmental credentials.
"Good design is as much about practicality as it is about aesthetics" said Naomi."Little changes to the design of your home that introduce energy saving measures can make a big difference to your bills, as well as to the environment."
And you don't have to sacrifice style to save energy. Clever use of mirrors and light-coloured walls, which reflect daylight, can brighten a room and reduce the need to use artificial lighting, for example.
"Interlined curtains can give a luxurious feel to your room and add extra insulation, particularly if you use a thick, thermal lining.
"And why not bring back the sausage dog? Pattern and print remains the fashion this season, so you can seal up those under-door draughts with sumptuous fabric rolls, which complement with your soft furnishings.”
Powergen will be issuing Naomi's vital home energy saving tips through its energy efficiency helpline and Home Energy Check visits across the UK.
Phil Biddle, Head of Energy Efficiency at Powergen, said: "We're delighted to receive the advice of one of the most popular interior design specialists to put together these hints and tips.
"If we can help home decorators and DIYers to think about the bigger picture, they can save money and carbon emissions. Little changes can make a big difference and, with 26 million households in the UK, the potential for energy saving is enormous."

Naomi's top tips for saving energy and retaining style

• Power dress your hot water tank - a British standard lagging jacket costs just £10, should pay for itself within six months and will save around 150kg of CO2 per year;
• Reflective radiator panels are cheap to buy and easy to install, reflecting heat back into the room which would otherwise be lost.  You can make your own panels by wrapping tinfoil around cardboard;
• If you're making new curtains ensure you line them, to create a plush look and keep precious heat indoors;
• Use energy saving light bulbs - they're now available in many different varieties and funky shapes, will last up to 12 times longer than ordinary bulbs and save around £10 a year on electricity;
• Light coloured walls, ceiling and floors, and clever positioning of decorative mirrors will reflect daylight and make maximum use of natural light, reducing the reliance on artificial lighting;
• Fit motion sensors to exterior lighting so that they are only activated when needed.
• Carry out a home energy check to find out how to save more energy.

Household Energy Saving Top 10 Tips:

• Air-dry laundry to avoid energy guzzling tumble dryers - save around £60 a year and help cut your carbon footprint.
• Always fully fill your washing machine before switching it on - never wash a half-load.
• Cool down your clothes washing - almost 90 per cent of the energy expended by a washing machine is used to heat the water. Wash on a warm wash rather than a hot wash to cut energy consumption by half.
• Maintain your central heating system - a dirty central heating system can significantly increase fuel bills.
• Turn your thermostat down - reducing the temperature by just one degree Celsius could cut heating bills by up to 10 per cent and save you around £40 per year.
• Switch unused lights off - lighting accounts for around 15 per cent of your electricity bill, so don't light rooms that aren't in use and change to low energy bulbs. Over their life time low energy bulbs will save you up to £65.
• Don't use stand-by buttons - items left on standby use up to 85 per cent of the energy they would use if fully switched on.
• Don't leave the fridge door open too long - the more cold air that escapes, the harder the fridge has to work.
• Put the plug in the sink rather than washing your hands under a running hot tap - it's not just heating the water that takes up the energy but also the energy used in pumping the water and treating the 'waste' water.
• Wash your dishes manually and allow your dishes to air dry.