For the domestic energy consumer facing ever higher bills, one of the most efficient ways to stay warm and keep the lights on has been a pipe dream so far, but record high fuel prices have focused minds on making it reality.
Large-scale combined heat and power plants are widely used across Europe to supply residential areas with warmth, hot water and electricity.
Now, a scaled-down version of the technology is becoming more attractive for use in individual households as gas and power costs soar in line with record oil prices.
Although micro combined heat and power (mCHP) mean homeowners have to invest new boilers, it allows them to sell any extra power they make back to the national grid and eventually make a profit.
At the same time, the increased efficiency cuts carbon emissions and could enable households to become entirely energy independent.
The technology has been commercially available in Britain since 2006 but is gaining popularity as oil prices drive up energy bills and public concern over global warming intensifies.
"It's part of a whole suite of solutions, which we should be developing," said Robin Oakley of environmental group Greenpeace.
"The underlying principle of getting more energy out of the same fuel is a very good one ... Realistically, at the domestic level people make a decision about a boiler when the old one breaks, but high prices are focusing everyone's minds."
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