Sometimes it seems like there are a million things to consider when designing your new kitchen, from picking the perfect tiles for your splashback and the right tone of wood for your floor to deciding whether chrome plated or brushed steel kitchen taps are best for your sink.

However, if you fancy relieving some pressure on your bank balance while doing the environment a favour at the same time, one consideration that should certainly not be overlooked is how to make your kitchen energy efficient.

Mike Farley, group chief executive of Persimmon Homes, has pointed out that energy efficiency is becoming a key consideration among householders in the UK, creating a demand for greener homes.

"Houses now are built to much higher energy standards, and as an industry we are going to build houses to a carbon neutral position by 2016," he adds. "It does come back to energy efficiency and we will continue down that track."

While you may not be in the position to buy a brand new super-green eco-friendly property, there are several steps you can take when redesigning and redecorating to up your energy efficiency credentials.

And with all the water, gas and electricity used on a daily basis, the kitchen is a great place to start.

The first step towards energy efficiency is to revamp your lighting. According to the Energy Savings Trust, by replacing a traditional light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb you will typically save around £3 per year, while swapping a 50W halogen downlighter for a 6W LED will save you a tidy £4 per year.

But with appliances being another major consumer of electricity, homeowners may also want to upgrade their gadgets to environmentally-friendly versions, distinguishable by their energy ratings.

Draught-proofing is another important route to savings so ensure that all gaps are filled when installing cabinets and appliances, as well as blocking spaces around floors, walls and service pipes and cables.

Finally, make sure that you don't waste energy through everyday use of the kitchen - which means switching off lights and turning off kitchen taps and appliances when leaving the room.