Are you heating the neighbourhood?

Edited by Sophie Griffiths

Cavity wall and loft insulation are two easy and relatively cheap ways in which you can save money on your heating bills.

More than 40 percent of all the heat lost in a home is through its walls and loft space and it is 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.

Andrew Leech, executive director of the National Home Improvement Council has recently encouraged people to install loft insulation in a bid to save money and energy:

"Once insulation has been installed it can pretty much be forgotten as most types of insulation last for decades. Lower fuel bills, on the other hand can be enjoyed immediately, not to mention the positive effect it will have on a home’s carbon footprint," he said. 

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.

Some people shy away from insulation not realising how cost-effective it is, with a payback period of only 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.