Insulation

Insulation reduces emissions and energy bills by keeping heat inside your home. There are different kinds of insulation depending on your house and different funding options available to help you pay for insulation upgrades. Some insulation can be done yourself while other homes and projects will require professionals. Remember, if you are doing any DIY insulation, that ventilation in your home is essential to avoid mould and damp, make sure that you don’t cover any vents, grilles or airbricks.

Roof and Loft Insulation

Roof or loft insulation is a layer of insulating material laid in the loft or between the rafters of your home to stop the warmth escaping through the roof.

Up to a quarter of the heat in your home could be escaping through your roof – installing loft insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways to stop wasting energy.

Even if you have loft insulation, it might need topping up to the recommended 27cm to fully enjoy the benefits.

Loft insulation can help save you 15-25% on heating bills and prevent up to 1 tonne of CO₂ annually depending on the type of house and insulation.

There are some DIY options, but some homes will require professional advice. Find out more about loft insulation from the Energy Saving Trust.

Wall Insulation

Many homes, especially those built between the 1920s and the 1990s, may not have wall insulation. Up to 33% of heat lost in uninsulated homes escapes through the walls. Cavity wall insulation fills those gaps between your walls, keeping in more heat.

Cavity wall insulation can reduce emissions by 335kg–1150kg of CO₂ per year and save up to £280 on bills. It costs about £2,200 to install cavity wall insulation for a typical home in Great Britain but it’s likely it will only take about 5 years to make back the cost through energy bill savings.

Find out more about cavity wall insulation, including how to know what kind of walls you have, whether your home may be suitable, how to hire a registered installer, costs and available grants.

If your home was built before 1920, it may have solid walls. Solid walls can be insulated to keep in warmth and lower energy bills by applying insulation on the outside or inside of the walls. The Energy Saving Trust has more information on solid wall insulation, costs, savings and other considerations.

A hot water tank jacket

If you have an older hot water tank you could save £40 a year and reduce emissions by 160kg CO₂ annually by using a hot water cylinder jacket. These cost about £30 and can be fit at home by following the manufacturer’s instructions. The jacket should be at least 80mm thick.

Funding

Funding options are available to help pay for insulation upgrades including the ECO4 Scheme which is targeted at low-income or vulnerable households to reduce energy bills. Home Energy Scotland offers free advice on energy efficiency improvements and available funding options.