Engineers who have taken plumbing courses are in a great position to introduce consumers to the benefits of sustainable technologies, it has been claimed.

This is the view of Blane Judd, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), who suggested that both the environment and consumers end up as winners.

He described workers who have taken plumbing courses as being on the front line, allowing them to discuss ways in which people can cut the amount of water and energy they consume.

"It is also a great opportunity for the industry to start to move in encouraging consumers to engage in renewable energy sources and identifying ways that they can finance [them]," said Mr Judd.

He made these remarks after it was revealed that