Insulation: the key to meeting energy reduction targets?

The way a building is constructed, insulated, ventilated and the type of fuel used, all contribute to its carbon emissions. A worrying fact is that, for over half of all homes in the UK, a significant proportion of the money spent on energy is literally being thrown out of the window as a result of inadequate levels of insulation, with around 50 per cent of the heat being lost through the roof and walls.   

The National Insulation Association (NIA) is a not for profit organisation representing over 90 per cent of the home insulation industry in the UK. As a membership organisation, it actively supports the government’s accelerated programme for insulation that aims to raise awareness not only of the amount of heat lost through inadequate insulation, but also the amount of money that householders can save.

Losing money
At the NIA’s annual conference in December 2010, the Minister for Climate Change, Gregory Barker MP, stated that homes and businesses combined currently waste up to £6 billion in unnecessary energy costs each year and that to transform the energy efficiency right across the country, insulation is key.   

The government has set out plans to meet both the overall 2020 carbon goal, and interim commitment to ensure that by 2015, every household will have installed loft and cavity wall insulation where practical.   

The NIA states that there are currently ten million cavity walls and 13 million lofts that require insulation. Research carried out by the NIA also shows that over half of the people in the UK do not realise just how much heat is lost through uninsulated cavity walls and roofs.   

Neil Marshall, NIA chief executive, commented: “Meeting the government’s targets may be challenging but they are achievable. What is needed is a co-ordinated delivery plan, adequate levels of funding, a dedicated insulation programme and a major government-backed awareness campaign.”    

Marshall added: “The cost of insulating the loft and cavity walls is relatively modest at around £500 including a subsidy under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) programme and will save the average home around £265 per year in energy costs making a pay back period of just two years.”

Cavity Wall Insulation
Cavity Wall Insulation (CWI) is an inexpensive, easy-to-install process that takes around half a day and isn’t disruptive or damaging to a house. It is installed by drilling a series of small holes no bigger than a ten pence piece in the mortar between the bricks of a house, before blowing insulation through the holes until the gap or ‘cavity’ between the external and internal wall is completely filled. The hole will then be filled. There are a number of different insulating materials, but they all work in the same way to cut heat loss.    

Also CWI work is carried out according to guidance laid down by the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) and workmanship and materials are covered by the independent 25 year CIGA Guarantee, to provide homeowners with reassurance and peace of mind. See www.ciga.co.uk for details.     

Tax allowances of up to £1,500 are available until 2015 for Landlords through the Landlords Energy Saving Allowance. This allowance can be used on each of the properties a landlord owns, enabling landlords to claim the costs for CWI and other insulation solutions.   

If every UK household suitable for CWI installed it, 4 million tonnes of CO2 could be saved every year.

Loft Insulation
With as much as a third of heating costs escaping through the roof, loft insulation is a very effective way of reducing heating bills.  

While most UK homes already have some degree of loft insulation installed, for the majority this is inadequate and should be topped up to today’s standards of 270mm, about the height of piece of A4 paper.   

The NIA recommends to avoid technical risks installing loft insulation should be carried out by professionally trained experienced NIA members. For example, a high standard can only be achieved by insulating across the top of the ceiling joists as well as between them and including the loft hatch. Pipes and tanks also need to be insulated to avoid freezing and other key considerations include ventilation to avoid condensation and safety aspects of electrical wiring and fittings.   

If everyone in the UK installed 270mm loft insulation, we could save around £520 million and nearly three million tonnes of CO2 every year.

The Next Step
A large proportion of householders are unsure if they have insulation measures already installed in their home or whether it reaches the recommended standards. NIA approved installers provide free home surveys and are experienced to recommend the most suitable and practical insulation options for each individual property.    

They also have access to information regarding grants and subsidies to help make the cost of insulating homes even more affordable. The NIA recommends contacting one of its installer members as they are trained to the highest standards and also governed by a strict Code of Professional Practice.

Benefits at a glance
Installing Cavity Wall insulation costs around £250 to be professionally installed but savings of around £115 a year on heating bills can be made. It reduces emissions by around 610kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year.

Installing loft insulation costs around £250 to be professionally installed but savings of around £150 a year on heating bills can be made. It reduces emissions by around 800kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year.

Whatever the insulation, installing adequate measures will result in a warmer home, reduce bills and save carbon.

For more information:

For more information about the NIA, including a list of members throughout the UK, visit the website at www.nationalinsulationassociation.org.uk