Insulating your house can help to reduce your carbon footprint while at the same time helping to reduce your energy bills, especially in the cold winter months, when bills are often at their highest.
Insulation acts as a barrier to heat flow. This can be especially important in winter, when it can help to make your house more comfortable by reducing the amount of escaping warmth. In an uninsulated house, the majority of heat is lost through the ceiling and roof, and through the walls, so these are the most important parts of your house to insulate.
Heat rises, and so without loft insulation, the heat from your house moves through the ceiling and out into the cold outdoors. Up to a quarter of your heat is lost through the roof [1], which means that more energy is required to keep your house at a pleasant and liveable temperature.
Mineral wool is the most commonly used insulation material, and can be bought in rolls known as ‘blankets’ from DIY stores. Depending on the size and accessibility of your loft, then you may need to have the job done professionally, which can take a few hours to do.
The recommended depth for mineral wool insulation is 270mm, and is effective for up to 40 years [2]. DIY installation for a semi-detached home with three bedrooms can cost between £50 to £350 with a payback time of up to 3 years, with typical annual savings of approximately £145 [3]. Other house sizes will have different costs and savings, but the savings in the long term will outweigh any upfront initial costs.
Cavity wall insulation is suitable for most houses built after the 1930′s, as external walls built after this time tend to be composed of two ‘skins’ with a gap between them. This gap can be filled with insulation materials such as mineral wool, beads of granules or foamed insulants, which stop heat escaping from your house.
Cavity wall insulation must be done using a professional installer, as the insulating material is inserted into the gap from the outside of the house using small holes. Installers should be a member of one of three organisations: the National Insulation Association, the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency or the British Board of Agreement [4]. While the typical cost of installation is around £500, the average annual saving is £190, meaning the payback time is less than three years [5].
The upfront costs of insulation can seem daunting, but there are many ways to reduce these costs. Energy companies now have Energy Company Obligations, and depending on your situation, your house may be eligible for reduced cost or even free insulation. Comparison websites such as Money Saving Expert list contact details for several major energy providers, and how to apply for insulation [6].
The government has also introduced the Green Deal, a scheme which allows you to make improvements such as insulation without having to pay all the upfront costs, instead paying off the money owed through instalments as part of your electricity bill. Insulations covered by the deal include heating, draught-proofing, double glazing and renewable energy technologies [7].
References
(1) Eco Green Renovations. Loft insulation. 2013. http://ecogreenrenovations.co.uk/loft-insulation.php
(2) Centre for Sustainable Energy. Insulate your loft. 2012. http://www.cse.org.uk/downloads/file/advice_leaflet_loft_insulation.pdf
(3) Eco Green Renovations. Loft insulation. 2013. http://ecogreenrenovations.co.uk/loft-insulation.php
(4) Energy Savings Trust. Cavity Wall Insulation. 2013. http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Insulation/Cavity-wall-insulation
(5) Centre for Sustainable Energy. Insulate your cavity walls. 2012. http://www.cse.org.uk/downloads/file/advice_leaflet_cavity_wall_insulation.pdf
(6) Money Saving Expert. Free Insulation. 2013. http://ecogreenrenovations.co.uk/loft-insulation.php
(7) UK Government. Green Deal: energy saving for your home or business. 2013. https://www.gov.uk/green-deal-energy-saving-measures
