With a drought expected this summer and many homes lacking basic energy efficiency measures, we're teaming up with Britain's biggest water utility to help customers save money by using water and energy more wisely.

Under the agreement, which will extend over the next five years, Thames Water and British Gas will work together to promote energy-saving and water-saving products - including solar panels, heat pumps, energy-efficient boilers, shower savers and dual-flush toilets to Thames Water customers.

As a first move for the partnership, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, we will be offering Thames Water's water customers free loft and cavity wall insulation which can save you hundreds of pounds off your annual energy bills. If you're one of the 2.3 million eligible customers, you'll be receiving an information booklet to your door next month.

"This is just a first step, and we are excited about offering a range of energy and water saving products to customers in London and the Thames Valley,” said Nina Bhatia, Managing Director of Electrical & Dyno Services at British Gas.

While British Gas installers are in Thames Water customers' homes fitting insulation, they will also offer to fit water-saving devices to help people save even more money and use less water. Having had below-average rainfall for 17 of the past 22 months in the South East, the water firm wants customers to use less of the natural resource. Meanwhile we'll also have the opportunity to promote our energy efficiency products to a new customer base.

We'll also be able to check if Thames Water customers could save money by switching their energy supply to British Gas. The energy supplier has the cheapest standard electricity, on average, of any major supplier, after it cut electricity prices by 5 per cent earlier this month.

David Bland of the Consumer Council for Water said:

"It is refreshing to see two big utilities working together to benefit their customers and the environment. The link between energy and water is one that we all need to be mindful of, particularly with water in short supply in the Southeast this year and with energy prices not set to go downwards over the long term. For instance, often water in homes is heated up only to cool down then be re-heated again - a problem that can be addressed simply enough with a combination boiler."

Do you know how much water you waste? Find out with the Water Saver, featured last week on the newsroom.