Is it Worth Insulating my Home or Business in the UK?

Written-by

Janet Richardson

Reviewed-by

Richard Burdett-Gardiner

Updated on

Sep 05, 2024

Is it Worth Insulating my Home or Business in the UK?

Energy bills are set to rise and one of the ways you can help reduce the cost is by having your house adequately insulated. According to government statistics, over 14.8 million homes now have cavity wall insulation that is saving people on their heating bills. The short answer is that getting proper insulation is worth it – the cost of installation is low compared to the amount you will save in the long term.

Most people would agree that insulation is not only good for their health, it’s good for their pocket too.

• Insulation is generally low maintenance and lasts a life time.
• You lose 35% of heat through your walls if you don’t have adequate insulation.
• You can lose almost the same amount through the roof of your house if you don’t have loft insulation.
• And you lose a significant amount through the floor if you don’t have proper insulation there either.
• There is plenty of financial assistance if you are on a low income and want to have your home insulated.
• Landlords who want to warm up their tenants can claim money back through the Landlord's Energy Saving Allowance.

Loft Insulation

The cost of insulation for a loft is fairly low compared to other energy saving measures. For a normal size loft it will cost around £500 to cover the whole area with the regulation 270mm thick insulation. This could lead to a saving of around £180 a year on your heating bills. The great thing is that it lasts a long time and continues to keep your house warm once you have paid off the initial investment. If you only do one thing, then loft insulation should be the first job on your list.

Floor Insulation

Floor insulation for an average sized house will cost in the region of £1,00 (cheaper if you install yourself) and will save around £60 a year, paying back in a couple of years. Floor insulation is often the one part of the house that people forget but it can make a big difference to your comfort, especially in an older house.

Wall Insulation

There are different kinds of wall insulation but they all offer significant savings. Cavity wall insulation will cost you around £500 - £3,000 and save you £140 a year. It is the cheaper option for many households and can make a big difference to the amount of energy you use. Solid wall insulation, both internal and external, is more costly but can bring greater savings on your bills.

An internal solid wall insulation will cost in the region of £5,000 and garner savings of over £400 a year whilst external solid wall insulation costs between £9,000 and £13,000 and will achieve similar savings. The payback for both types of insulation will be between 25 and 40 years.

Better Lagging, Better Health

There is enough evidence to show that people who live in drafty and cold buildings are prone to more health problems than those that live in a more comfortable environment. Having a warm, secure place to lay your head can make you sleep better and feel better. If you are on a low income and don’t have insulation, then turning down the heating might not be an option.

The good news is that there is plenty of financial help on hand for those who are struggling to pay the bills in the form of grants and free insulation.

There is Finance for Insulating your Home

The government is committed to making our homes more energy efficient and that includes offering schemes to help insulate and heat your property. Energy companies are also on board and if you are from a low income family you may well be able to get your insulation done for free. 

Insulation for Commercial Premises

Businesses now have an obligation to reduce their carbon footprint and find more eco-friendly ways to work. For any company, having the right insulation installed can help to reduce those troublesome fuel costs, money that can be better spent elsewhere. According to recent research, for an uninsulated office building, 60% of heat waste is lost through the building fabric:

• 22% is lost through an inadequately insulated loft.
• 9% is lost through the walls.
• 26% is lost through old or unsuitable windows.
• 8% is lost through the floor.
• And 35% is lost through a poor or aging air filtration and ventilation system.
   

(Figures from the Carbon Trust) From a purely business point of view, the long term benefits of having a properly insulated office far outweigh living in a poorly heated and unsustainable environment. It also makes your office staff more productive if they have a comfortable place to work in.