THIS month saw a reshuffle in Parliament which resulted in me taking on an expanded ministerial portfolio to include clean growth and energy, and a having a seat at the Cabinet table - an indication of the prime minister’s commitment to protect and improve our environment for the next generation and delivering clean and affordable energy.

There are huge economic opportunities to be had from the low carbon future with more than $13trillion of spending estimated to flow into the low carbon energy space over the next fifteen years, and we already have more than 430,000 people working in the low carbon economy right across the UK, while our exports of low carbon technologies, are helping us create more jobs.

Part of my new brief is helping to keep bills low which is why I helped launch the Big Energy Saving Week, a national campaign led by government, the Energy Saving Trust and the fantastic Citizens Advice organisation, to help people cut their fuel bills and ensure they get all the financial support they are entitled to. Government will be investing £3.6bn on improving energy efficiency in over 1 million homes between 2015 and 2020, and I will also be introducing a bill in Parliament shortly to cap rip off energy prices. But while we are taking action in Parliament, I would encourage everyone to take the opportunity this week to think about what you can do in your own home to reduce your energy bills.

One simple and quick action is to check if you can get a better deal on your bills – we know that switching suppliers could leave you £300 a year better off.

It is quick, easy and painless, and there are various comparison websites that do the leg work for you – or a visit to the local Citizens Advice, or their excellent website, will show you even more options plus other energy savings tips.