The Government has partnered up with Homebase and B&Q for a series of trials aimed at helping people insulate their homes and reduce fuel bills.
The trials will test different ways of encouraging the uptake of energy products, with the results to be evaluated in time for the rollout of the Government's Green Deal in 2012.

The Green Deal is currently being discussed in Parliament and means households will be able to invest in making their homes more energy efficient at no upfront cost, repaying instead through the expected savings on their energy bills.

A new report from the Government's Behavioural Insights Team has outlined several different trials, set to run between September and December 2011.

One trial will test the effectiveness of an upfront reward in the form of a voucher redeemable on products or services from Homebase and Argos.

Another will offer homeowners a discount on B&Q energy-efficient products such as loft and cavity wall installation, incentivising them to encourage others in their community to take up the, as the levels of discount will depend on how many households opt in - 10% for two households, 15% for three and 25% for five etc.

B&Q and the London borough of Sutton are also discussing the terms of a trial to test the effectiveness of offering a subsidised loft-clearing service in conjunction with loft insulation - taking the hassle out of the job. Residents would then have the opportunity to donate their unwanted loft contents to local charities.

Homebase managing director Paul Loft said "It is essential people upgrade their homes to make them more energy efficient. It will save them a significant amount of money and make their homes more comfortable to live in. Homebase's role is to help customers understand what they need to do and make it easy for them to complete their improvement projects."

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne added: "The Green Deal's going to be a real hit and will be a fantastic way for people to upgrade their draughty and energy-wasting homes. But there are currently too many barriers standing in the way of people upgrading their homes - the cost, the hassle and the lack of trust in the people who install the kit.

"It's great that high street names are getting involved at this early stage to road-test these exciting ideas about how to make it easier to take up the Green Deal and insulate their homes from rising energy prices."