Turning the UK's existing housing stock into low carbon homes could be achieved by the end of the next decade if there is significant investment in green' technology such as solar water heating, a report claims.

But without a radical shift in Government policy, the housing sector will not achieve its emissions reduction target of 31 per cent by 2020, the study by conservation charity WWF said.

The report comes ahead of the launch of a series of initiatives this week by the Government aimed at helping people green their homes and save on fuel bills.

According to WWF, the Government's current policy concentrates on measures it considers to be cost-effective', encouraging people to install technology such as cavity wall, loft and hot water insulation, draft proofing and energy efficient boilers.