This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-60289396

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Home insulation: How can it cut energy bills? Home insulation: How can it cut energy bills?
(3 days later)
People in poorly insulated homes could end up spending £968 more on their annual gas bills, than people in highly insulated homes, according to new research from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit. Households that insulate their homes could save an average of £555 on their annual fuel bills, according to the Energy Savings Trust.
With energy bills expected to rise significantly this winter, how can people better insulate their homes to help with costs? The government is capping typical annual household energy costs at £2,500 for the next two years.
What is insulation and how can it cut bills?What is insulation and how can it cut bills?
Home insulation is the process of trapping heat inside a property, usually by covering areas exposed to the outside, such as roofs, floors and walls. Insulation is the process of trapping heat inside a property, usually by covering areas exposed to the outside, such as roofs, floors and walls.
Without it, indoor temperatures can be hard to maintain, with homes losing up to 45% of their heat, according to the Energy Savings Trust. Without it, indoor temperatures are difficult to maintain, and homes can lose up to 45% of their heat, according to the Energy Savings Trust.
If the temperature drops very quickly after the heating is switched off, the home is unlikely to be properly insulated. If the temperature drops very quickly once the heating goes off, the home is unlikely to be properly insulated.
The Energy Performance Certificate that comes with the sale or renting of a property will show how efficient it is. The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) that comes with UK properties shows how efficient they are, rated from A (the best) to G.
Wall insulation traps air between its fibres to hold the heat for longerWall insulation traps air between its fibres to hold the heat for longer
What type of insulation is needed?What type of insulation is needed?
The main types, depending on the property, are: Depending on the property, the main types are:
loft/roof insulationloft/roof insulation
cavity-wall insulationcavity-wall insulation
solid-wall insulationsolid-wall insulation
floor insulationfloor insulation
draught-proofingdraught-proofing
Most heat is lost through the roof, so it should be insulated as a priority - and about two-thirds of homes have loft insulation. Most heat is lost through the roof, so it should be the priority. About two-thirds of UK homes have loft insulation.
Heat is also lost through walls. However, many properties have a cavity-wall structure - a gap between the inner and outer walls - where insulation can be inserted. Many properties have a cavity-wall structure - a gap between the inner and outer walls - where insulation can also be inserted.
Solid-wall properties, however, about 31% of the homes in the UK, need insulation on the outside. However, solid-wall properties, which make up about 31% of UK homes, need insulation on the outside.
And, according to 2017 figures, only about 12.3% of them have it. Figures from 2020 showed fewer than 10% had it.
How much will it cost and what help is available? How much will it cost and what will I save?
The cost of insulation depends on the type needed, and the size and age of the property. Costs depend on the type, and the size and age of the property.
In a typical semi-detached house, for example, cavity-wall insulation can cost about £1,200, according to the Energy Savings Trust. In a typical three-bedroomed semi-detached house in Great Britain, the Energy Savings Trust estimates that installing draught proofing measures plus cavity wall and loft insulation could save £555 on an average annual energy bill.
The payback period - the time it takes to recover the costs - is 10 years for cavity-wall and two for loft insulation. However, installing either floor or solid-wall insulation is more expensive, and in some cases, can take decades to pay off.
Floor and solid-wall insulation, however, can take up to 30 years to pay off. How to save energy at home and help the planet
But all four UK nations provide support for installation to low-income households: The DIY gadgets that could keep your energy bill down
The Home Upgrade Grant, managed by local authorities, offers funding for cavity-wall and loft insulation and draught-proofing What help is available?
The Energy Company Obligation requires suppliers to support low-income households with improvements to their home The government recently announced £1.5bn to help improve insulation for low-income households in England.
For higher earners, the situation is a little more confused, however. It will be made available to local authorities and social housing providers with the aim of upgrading 130,000 homes.
The Green Homes Grant has been scrapped, and the government has not announced when it will be replaced. The money is from £6.6bn pot announced in 2021 under the government's Heat and Building Strategy.
Campaigners hoped the UK government's new energy strategy would include specific measures to encourage more and better insulation. Other UK-wide support for low-income households is available:
Former Ofgem boss Dermot Nolan said the lack of focus on energy efficiency and insulation was "an opportunity missed". The Home Upgrade Grant, managed by local authorities, funds draught proofing, cavity-wall and loft insulation
Green party co-leader Adrian Ramsay also criticised the approach, saying: "A mass insulation programme would see bills reduced dramatically, and ensure people had warm, comfortable homes, while also tackling the climate crisis and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels altogether." The Energy Company Obligation requires suppliers to support low-income households make improvements to their home
Why are UK homes poorly insulated? Home Energy Scotland and NI Energy Advice offer more information.
The UK has some of the least energy-efficient and leakiest housing in Europe - because of the old age of much of the housing stock.
In 2020, the UK had 29.3 million domestic properties, 36% built before World War Two.
But even newer homes often lack basic insulation - only one out of every four UK homes has draught-proofing.
Two-thirds of UK homes 'fail on energy targets'
Older housing stock is least likely to be properly insulatedOlder housing stock is least likely to be properly insulated
Less help is available for higher earners.
The Green Homes Grant has been scrapped, and the government has not announced a replacement.
Campaigners hoped the UK government's new energy strategy would include specific measures to encourage more and better insulation, but it did not.
Former Ofgem boss Dermot Nolan said this was "an opportunity missed".
Green party co-leader Adrian Ramsay also criticised the approach: "A mass insulation programme would see bills reduced dramatically - and ensure people had warm, comfortable homes - while also tackling the climate crisis."
Why are UK homes poorly insulated?
The UK has some of the least energy-efficient housing in Europe - largely because much of the housing stock is so old.
In 2020, the UK had 29.3 million domestic properties, 36% of which were built before World War Two.
At that time, more than 12 million homes had an EPC rating of D or worse.
The government previously set a target to upgrade as many homes to grade C by 2035 "where practical, cost-effective and affordable". All "fuel poor" households, and as many rented homes as possible, were to reach the same standard by 2030.
However, critics say progress towards this goal has "fallen off a cliff".
Many newer homes continue to be built without basic insulation. In 2022, the UK climate advisory group, UKCCC, warned the government that: "We are still building new homes that do not meet minimum standards of efficiency."
What about tenants?What about tenants?
About 35% of properties in the UK are either social housing or privately rented - and these are likely to be the least efficient, according to the Energy Savings Trust.About 35% of properties in the UK are either social housing or privately rented - and these are likely to be the least efficient, according to the Energy Savings Trust.
But local authorities can improve their housing stock through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. Although private tenants can take only limited action to improve insulation, landlords in the UK can be fined up to £5,000 for renting properties with an Energy Performance Certificate rating below E, and, by 2028, C.
And while tenants in privately rented accommodation can take only limited action, landlords can be fined up to £5,000 for renting properties with an Energy Performance Certificate rating below E, and, by 2028, C. Local authorities in England can apply to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund for financial support to improve the energy efficiency of their housing stock.