One of the most effective and cost efficient methods of reducing your carbon dioxide emissions and energy bills is to insulate your house. There are many different methods, sizes and areas that you can insulate including: Cavity walls, solid walls, floors, tanks and pipes, lofts and windows. As the average house loses 30% [1] of its heat through walls, insulation is often a simple solution to escalating energy bills and also reduces your carbon footprint.
It has been approximated by the Energy Saving Trust that around a third [2] of all heat that is lost in an un-insulated home is through the walls. Therefore, by insulating cavity walls, you could save around £115 a year on your fuel bills. Most external walls in houses built from 1920 onwards are made of two layers with a gap between them, so by filling this gap (or insulating), less energy and warmth is lost so your energy bills will be less and your carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced. It can also reduce condensation inside your house. Homes built within the last 10 years are generally already insulated, so it’s a good idea to check. The good news is that most houses are eligible to a discount from their energy suppliers to insulate their cavity walls under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), however if not, the average installation cost is £500. Cavity wall insulation is widely considered to be so cost effective that it will pay for itself over and over again (after time) in energy bill savings.
Solid Wall Insulation
1 in 4 houses have solid walls [3] and these can be insulated in two different ways: from the inside (internal insulation) and from the outside (external insulation). Both of these options prevent heat from escaping your house through the walls and could cut your heating costs by 40%. Solid wall insulation works by coating or filling walls with a layer of material that prevents heat from passing through it, unless very slowly, which means that heat remains in your house for longer. Solid wall insulation also prevents “cold bridging” where heat escapes along the party wall that separates two attached houses. Internal wall insulation is easiest installed when you are re-plastering your walls or refitting your bathroom or kitchen etc. It should usually only be installed by a professional unless you are very experienced at DIY. External wall insulation is more cost effective if your walls need re-rendering, however it is important to check if you need planning permission if your property is listed. External wall insulation requires a specialist installer trained by approved system designers such as the Insulated Render & Cladding Association (INCA). Solid wall insulation can also be applied to cavity walls, which is especially useful if they are not suitable for cavity wall insulation.
Floor Insulation
If your house is draughty, it is possible to insulate timber floors by lifting the floorboards and laying mineral wool insulation supported by netting between the joists [4]. A regular tube sealant, such as silicon, can be used to fill the gaps between floorboards and skirting boards in order to stop draughts and save you around £20 a year, but it is important to remember that floorboards can rot without ventilation. By using both these methods, around 380kg of carbon dioxide can be saved in an average three bedroomed semi-detached house. It is usually cheaper to insulate your floors yourself using materials from a DIY store rather than hiring a professional.
It is estimated by the Energy Saving Trust that a quarter of the heat lost in an un-insulated house is through the roof, therefore it is a good idea to insulate it [5]. An option is to insulate your loft with insulation blankets if you have an accessible loft with no damp or condensation problems. This can be done by yourself if you are competent at DIY, however to be done to a high standard it may better to call in an installer. If your loft is hard to access, or has a damp or condensation problem, then a better option is blown insulation. This involves the blowing of loose, fire-retardant insulation material into the loft so should always be done by a professional. Loft insulation is effective for at least 40 years, so it will pay for itself over and over again through reductions in your energy costs. If everyone in the UK installed 270mm loft insulation then around three million tonnes of carbon dioxide and £520 million in energy costs could be saved a year. Many energy providers offer loft insulation free of charge or heavily subsidised under the CERT.
Overall insulating your house, or topping up any insulation you already have, will help you to heat your house more efficiently and save you money on your energy bills. Using less energy also reduces carbon dioxide emissions, so its an easy way to save money and do your bit for the environment.
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