There’s little point investing in renewable heat sources until the insulation in your home is at the current recommended levels otherwise heat generation will leak from the building fabric. In addition, the hardware that generates heat, for example, a heat pump, gas boiler or biomass boiler, will work much harder to keep the air heated to a constant temperature. This can diminish the lifespan of the equipment and may increase the maintenance costs or more frequent system replacements.
The three main ways to insulate your property are loft/roof, walls, and floors. Most UK homes are built with a cavity void between the outer and inner leaf walls, and it is within this cavity void where insulation should be installed. EPS Resin Bonded Beads have become the go to product for UK homeowners thanks to the reliable performance, low risk of damp, mould and condensation whilst being an affordable solution. In the attic space, the floor of the loft can be insulated using mineral wool at a recommended level of 270mm in thickness. Suspended ground floor crawlspaces can be insulated using mineral wool, rigid PIR board of spray-applied polyurethane insulation.
It is estimated that a well-insulated building envelope can save up to 70% on heating costs depending on the type of insulation used, the thickness installed and provided the walls, floor and loft/roof are insulated. Aside from the obvious benefits of better heat retention, insulation can also improve the ambience and comfort within the home. By sealing traditional passive ventilated openings such as roof eaves or suspended underfloor crawlspaces, this can reduce the impact of cold draughts, therefore helping to make the indoor environment more comfortable.
