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Insulate to Accumulate

Insulate to Accumulate: The Financial and Comfort Benefits

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Do you know you can insulate your home free of charge? Yes, you read it right. Under the UK government’s new boiler scheme, not only you can get free boiler replacement, but also free insulation. A lot of people have benefited from the free boiler scheme, so can you do. So if you own or rent a property, you may be eligible for a brand-new boiler along with free insulation. Eligibility criteria are simple. You just need to show proof of the property and its EPC scoring.

Without a doubt, a home without proper insulation wastes lots of energy and causes overbilling. What’s more, it negatively contributes to the environment. Also, an uninsulated property loses its market value. Often buyers and renters do not show a tendency towards an uninsulated property. To put it another way, you need to insulate your home in any case.

Why does insulation matter?

Many UK homes lack proper insulation. This makes them inefficient to heat. Moreover, it results in high energy bills and a significant carbon footprint. So if you enhance your home’s efficiency, you’ll enjoy loads of benefits. And the lower energy bills are the most apparent. Moreover, the advantages of insulation extend beyond cost savings. First, effective insulation increases comfort by keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer. Next, it reduces carbon emissions by lowering energy consumption. What’s more, insulation can also futureproof your home. With the increasing frequency of summer heat waves, it minimises the need for fans and air conditioning. As a result, it helps prevent health issues caused by overheating. Finally, there are government grants that support the cause of insulation in the country.

How energy efficient is your home?

You can assess your home’s energy efficiency. Start by determining its current insulation status and cost-effective improvement methods. If your home possesses an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), it can guide you in pinpointing potential enhancements. EPCs are likely available if your property has been on the market since 2008. Moreover, you can locate your EPC through the government’s EPC Register for England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, or the Scottish EPC Register for Scotland.

Generally, EPCs remain valid for ten years. But yours might have expired. So if alterations were made post-assessment, it may be outdated. Further, if your EPC is not up-to-date, obtain one for £60-£120, depending on your home’s size and location.

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How to conduct a home energy audit without an EPC

Well, you can perform a basic DIY audit by examining each room systematically and recording your findings.

  • First, assess insulation in the loft, external walls, and ground floor.
  • Next, look for insulation around the hot water tank and pipes.
  • On top of that, inspect for draughts and gaps around doors, windows, and openings, including the loft hatch, letterbox, and keyholes.
  • Try to make sure efficient operation of your boiler, radiators, and heat sources.
  • Next, verify the correct settings for heating controls, timers, and thermostats.
  • Now, confirm the use of energy-efficient LED bulbs in all lighting, including ovens, extractor hoods, and external lights.
  • Don’t forget to use the gathered energy efficiency data to plan your next steps.

How to reduce energy consumption

Minimize energy consumption with the ‘fabric first’ principle. Uninsulated areas cause rapid heat loss and increased energy use. So begin by addressing the external envelope or fabric of your home to enhance warmth, lower bills, and boost your EPC score. Moreover, insulates three key elements: the external walls, loft, and ground floor. Without a doubt, this will reduce heat loss and result in significant energy bill savings.

Insulate your walls

Insulate your walls to prevent significant heat loss. No doubt, uninsulated homes lose over a third of heat through external walls. In a detached house, heat escapes from all sides, while mid-terraced houses experience less heat loss due to fewer external walls. So identify your wall type. In fact, different wall constructions require distinct insulation methods. Moreover, the age of your home indicates the likely wall type. Keep the following points in view:

  • Homes over 100 years old often have solid walls, offering options for internal or external solid wall insulation.
  • Homes built after 1920 typically feature cavity walls, allowing insulation installation in cavities wider than 50mm.
  • Modern homes, post-1990, generally have insulated cavity walls and may not require upgrades.
  • For homes with steel or timber frames, or pre-fabricated concrete construction, seek guidance from a specialist insulation installer or retrofit coordinator.

Insulate your floors

Insulate your floors to prevent up to 15% of heat loss. Ground floors require insulation but upper floors usually do not. However, you should not ignore rooms above unheated spaces. So identify your floor type to select appropriate insulation. What’s more, suspended floors, often floorboards, can use rigid boards, mineral wool, or spray foam insulation. Next, solid floors, typically stone or concrete, benefit from a layer of rigid insulation on top.

Loft insulation

Loft insulation is a highly important element. It is a cost-effective boost in energy efficiency. Large houses and bungalows lose substantial heat through the roof. But all homes can benefit from at least 270mm of loft insulation. So identify your roof type for suitable insulation. Pitched roofs allow insulation at joist or rafter levels, using rolls, boards, or spray foam. What’s more, flat roofs offer insulation options like warm deck, cold deck, or inverted roof designs.

Bottom line

Insulation is like energy oxygen for the home. Uninsulated homes waste lots of energy and cause increased bills. So if you save energy, you’ll also definitely save money. Moreover, you’ll contribute to the environment. The government is offering several insulation grants. If you qualify, you can get a hundred percent free insulation. These grants assist loft, cavity walls, and other types of insulation. So apply for an insulation grant if you haven’t applied yet.

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