Improve your home's insulation: Loft insulation

There are many ways you can save money on your heating bills; improving the insulation in your loft is just one of them. Not only does good insulation cut down on energy bills, but it can also help reduce noise pollution.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, not insulating your loft could waste 15% of all your energy costs. Proper insulation on the other hand, could save you over £200 in heating each year and as it's effective for 40 years or more, you can see that it's a really worthwhile investment.

The recommended thickness of loft insulation is 270mm. Mineral-wool insulation is a popular choice as it's generally the cheapest and there are some companies that now create mineral wool insulation from recycled materials which makes it better for the environment. If installing any type of mineral wool insulation, make sure that you protect yourself from the dust as, if inhaled, it can be damaging and irritating to the skin.

If you prefer to use something different however, there are many loft insulates which are even greener including:

  1. Sheep's wool; biodegradable and good for the environment, sheep's wool insulation can also halve noise travelling through your walls.
  2. Plastic fibre insulation; many plastic fibre insulates are made from recycled plastic bottles.
  3. Cellulose insulation; this type of insulation is chemically treated with an insecticide and a fire retardant to increase durability and safety. Cellulose insulation comes as loose material that is blown into cavities and lofts.
  4. Hemp insulation; another eco-friendly choice which is easy to install and much safer to use than conventional insulates. Like cellulose insulation, hemp insulates are treated so that they don't attract rodents or insects.

How much does it all cost?

Mineral wool insulation (including fibreglass and rock wool)
Around £2/m²

Sheep's wool insulation
Around £8 -£10/m²

Plastic fibre insulation
Around £4/m²

Cellulose insulation
Around £3/m²

Hemp insulation
Around £5 -£12/m² (depending on thickness)