B&Q is launching a raft of new green initiatives including shop-within-shops and eco-advisors in stores.

The DIY giant will introduce the eco-advisors throughout next year, starting in January. They will give customers advice on how to make their homes more environmentally friendly.

The retailer is also trailing shop-within-shops at its Sutton and New Malden store. B&Q has described them as a “one-stop shop for all your eco home needs”. The concept will be rolled out to larger stores and online during 2010.

It will also introduce a new B&Q eco brand from March, to make it “easier than ever for customers to identify how they can do DIY in a greener way”.

Alongside these initiatives, talks are commencing on how B&Q can offer home eco-audits, eco-installation services and customer eco-renovation financing packages.

This weekend, from October 23 to October 26, B&Q will pay the VAT on various best-selling energy products, including loft installation, solar lights and draught excluders.

B&Q chief executive Euan Sutherland said: “With the deals we’ve got on this weekend, everyone can tackle one of our top five ways to green up their home, knowing they are getting a double saving – both now on the product and in the future on their home energy bills.”

B&Q recently signed up to the 10:10 climate change campaign in a pledge to cut its own carbon emissions by 10 per cent during 2010.  Earlier this year, the retailer opened an eco-store in New Malden, Surrey.

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