Retrofit … Where To Start
If you’re looking to improve the energy efficiency of your home and reduce fuel bills you may be wondering where on earth you start!
Do you look at your heating system or make the switch to a much-publicised heat pump? Do you look at power generation by adding solar panels or a wind turbine? Do you add smart technology to better regulate energy usage?
All these things can make a positive impact but there’s one energy efficiency measure that should always come first … insulation.
Insulate Your Home
The majority of heat loss in any house occurs through the walls. This typically represents between 30 and 40% of heat loss. The roof is the next worst offending area and is responsible for around 25% of heat loss. The windows, at around 20%, come in a fairly close third place, followed by the floors. It therefore makes perfect sense to reduce this wasted heat and energy by plugging all the unintended gaps and crevices which allow heat to escape … and that means insulating.
Think about it … if you simply installed a heat pump then yes, you would be saving energy but unless you insulate you’re still going to be losing heat so it makes sense that you insulate first, minimise heat loss (and obviously save money), make the building itself as energy efficient as possible and then look to improve the heating system, add additional energy efficiency measure and save even more.
As to what insulation you should install very much depends on the property you own and the insulation already in place.
Loft Insulation
Check the loft space – Since 2003 the current building regulations recommend a 270mm minimum thickness of mineral or glass wool insulation in the loft. Go thicker if you can but use this as a starting point.
From 1995 until 2003 the recommended depth was 200mm and pre 1995 it was a mere 100mm. So, if you have historical loft insulation there’s a very good chance it will benefit from being topped up.
A very easy process which can be done on a DIY basis without specialist trades although grants are available so it may make sense to employ a professional installer. Find out more >
Wall Insulation
Most houses in the UK today are of cavity wall construction – certainly those built after the 1920s. As the name suggests, cavity walls are built from two layers of masonry with a gap or ‘cavity’ between them. Simply filling this cavity by drilling small holes and injecting some form of specialist insulation such as mineral wool or polystyrene beads, or polyurethane foam can make a significant impact to the energy efficiency of your home.
It’s cheap and effective and grants are available.
If you have an older property which was constructed without any form of cavity you’re going to require solid wall insulation. This comes in two forms:
- External wall insulation whereby the entire external walls are wrapped in a thick blanket of insulation (typically mineral fibre or EPS) and covered in some form of decorative finish which can replicate existing brickwork or take the form of a textured, through coloured render system. Find out more >
- Internal wall insulation which involves attaching specialist insulation panels to the inside of the solid walls and plastering over. Find out more >
It’s also possible to go for a hybrid system … part external wall insulation and part internal.
Which one’s best … if there’s a choice then we prefer EWI because the insulation can be much thicker, it can be installed with minimal disruption to residents, there’s no reduction of internal living space and the choice of finishes means that you can improve the “kerb appeal” and modernise the look.
Windows
We mentioned that windows were responsible for some 20% of heat loss. Obviously, you can’t insulate a window in the traditional sense of the word – that said, you can make sure that you have efficient double glazed (or better) units and make sure they are properly sealed all round to eliminate unintended drafts. Find out more >
You can even add thermally efficient window coverings (blinds, shutters and curtains) which can also make an impact to varying degrees. Find out more >
Floor Insulation
Older (pre-1930’s) properties are likely to have a suspended timber floor which can be insulated, usually, by lifting the floorboards and adding insulation to the void below. Newer (post 1930’s) homes are likely to have a solid concrete floor which can be insulated by adding a layer of rigid insulation over the top of it.
Usually there’s only a requirement to insulate the ground floor of a building so if you live in an upper floor flat then floor insulation is unlikely to be relevant or required. You will not need to insulate the floors of the upper storeys of a house unless there is a floor which is immediately above a room / space that’s not heated such as a garage. Find out more >
Don’t Forget To Ventilate
When insulating there’s a natural tendency to block off all airflow but there’s also a really important need to retain a controlled ventilation strategy to ensure a healthy airflow around the property.
Ventilation allows fresh air to circulate in your home while removing stale air. This is important because it helps to improve indoor air quality and prevent issues such as damp and mould. There are several types of ventilation systems available, including mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) and natural ventilation – seek advice to ensure the best ventilation strategy for your property. Find out more >
There’s a simple rule to remember … insulate tight – ventilate right.
Great British Insulation Scheme – Grants
If you’re looking at any of the above forms of insulation then, before you progress any further, you may want to see if you are eligible to access any Government grant funding which may make a contribution towards to cost of thermally improving teh fabric of your property.
Under the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) may be able to get support to install the following:
- cavity wall insulation
- solid wall insulation (internal or external)
- loft insulation
- flat or pitched roof insulation
- underfloor insulation
- solid floor insulation
- park home insulation
- room-in-roof insulation
Eligibility is going to depend on a number of factors including the ttype of property, the total household income and any benefits anyone living in the property receives.
To find out exactly what funding you may be eligible for simply visit the Government website and fill in the simple form:
Apply for support from the Great British Insulation Scheme – More Info >
Apply for support from the Great British Insulation Scheme – Get Started >