Spying the Green Homes Concierge house at the launch in Trafalgar Square was just the kickstart to a greener future that Hugh needed. "I was impressed by what I saw", said the actor who owns a one-bedroomed house in Kennington. "I thought if I had one of these home energy reports it would kickstart me into doing something about the property I've lived in since 1985.

Hugh, who already composts and recycles everything he can and uses energy-efficient lighting, had been considering carrying out some improvements for some time, but had concerns about sourcing reliable contractors. "For me, the carrot at the end of the stick was that the service supplied you with reputable contractors - this is a difficult thing, particularly in a big city."

"That was a strong motivation for me to get involved with the service. Without Green Homes, I wouldn't have been sure whom I was getting, and one might have been taken for a ride. This way, I'm getting the work I want done through contractors I know have been reliably sourced. It is a first-class service."

Although Hugh's modern house is more energy efficient than some older homes, he felt it had some draughty areas and his heating was no longer as effective as it should be.

The report showed him what he could do to reap greater heating and savings benefits. He was also advised that some things he expected to have to do were not necessary.

"I was pleasantly surprised to have been told that, for example, while my house would be more heat-efficient if my windows were double-glazed, my windows were not in too bad shape and one could argue the amount of energy expended in manufacturing new ones might not presently be justified. Instead, I'm having them resealed, a much simpler and cheaper process."

"I am also having my front door frame sealed and my old hot water cylinder replaced to give me one that is better lagged and has an efficient thermostat. I'll consider making other changes in future, such as renewing my storage heaters and replacing my living room floor covering to make the house even more energy-efficient."