Are you heating the neighbourhood?

Andrew Leech of the National Home Improvement Council says cavity wall and loft insulation are two easy and relatively cheap ways in which you can save money on your heating bills.

He says that more than 40 percent of all the heat lost in a home is through its walls and loft space and it’s estimated that over 9 million UK homes with cavity walls are not insulated at all and only about 16 percent of the nation’s lofts are lagged.

Consequently, home owners are wasting about £250 a year in unnecessary heating bills.

It's true that cavity wall insulation is the most cost-effective way of improving comfort levels and reducing energy use in the home. Average savings of around £90 per year can be made on a typical home’s energy bills. The installation is clean, safe and only takes a couple of hours.
 

The physical measure of insulating a house correctly is a one-off exercise which once done can be forgotten with lower fuel bills enjoyed immediately, not to mention the positive effect it will have on a home’s carbon footprint.

Some people shy away from insulation not realising how cost-effective it is, with a payback period of a few years. Depending on your circumstances you may be able to get a grant for all or part of the work so it’s a good idea to start with your local authority – give them a ring and they will tell what is possible.