Businesses can improve the energy efficiency of their properties by using sustainably sourced materials in their development, a specialist has advised.

It is advantageous for companies to make use of insulation, as doing so can lead to significant energy savings, while retrofitting low-flush toilets and aerated taps could also bring about benefits, a representative from Sustain Worldwide has recommended.

Gordon Miller, co-founder and sustainability and communications director of Sustain Worldwide, said: "When maintenance is being undertaken, look to use products and materials that are sustainably sourced – [such as] FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)-certified timber or carpet tiles that are made from renewable and recycled content."

Mr Miller stated that, in under-insulated buildings, 25 per cent of heat loss occurs through the roof, while 35 per cent is lost via walls.

The benefits of insulation were also recently highlighted by the National Insulation Association, which found that roughly £700 million could be saved every year if Britons install the feature.