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| Home insulation: How can it cut energy bills? | Home insulation: How can it cut energy bills? |
| (14 days later) | |
| Households that insulate their homes could save an average of £555 on their annual fuel bills, according to the Energy Savings Trust. | Households that insulate their homes could save an average of £555 on their annual fuel bills, according to the Energy Savings Trust. |
| The government is limiting energy costs until April 2023, after reversing a decision to cap bills for two years at £2,500 annually. | |
| What happens to bills after April will depend in part on a government review, which it says this will prioritise those most in need. | |
| What is insulation and how can it cut bills? | What is insulation and how can it cut bills? |
| 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 are difficult to maintain, and homes can lose 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 once the heating goes 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 (EPC) that comes with UK properties shows how efficient they are, rated from A (the best) to G. | 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 longer | Wall insulation traps air between its fibres to hold the heat for longer |
| What type of insulation is needed? | What type of insulation is needed? |
| Depending on the property, the main types are: | Depending on the property, the main types are: |
| loft/roof insulation | loft/roof insulation |
| cavity-wall insulation | cavity-wall insulation |
| solid-wall insulation | solid-wall insulation |
| floor insulation | floor insulation |
| draught-proofing | draught-proofing |
| Most heat is lost through the roof, so it should be the priority. About two-thirds of UK 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. |
| Many properties have a cavity-wall structure - a gap between the inner and outer walls - where insulation can also be inserted. | Many properties have a cavity-wall structure - a gap between the inner and outer walls - where insulation can also be inserted. |
| However, solid-wall properties, which make up about 31% of UK homes, need insulation on the outside. | However, solid-wall properties, which make up about 31% of UK homes, need insulation on the outside. |
| Figures from 2020 showed fewer than 10% had it. | Figures from 2020 showed fewer than 10% had it. |
| How much will it cost and what will I save? | How much will it cost and what will I save? |
| Costs depend on the type, and the size and age of the property. | Costs depend on the type, and the size and age of the property. |
| 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. | 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. |
| However, installing either floor or solid-wall insulation is more expensive, and in some cases, can take decades to pay off. | However, installing either floor or solid-wall insulation is more expensive, and in some cases, can take decades to pay off. |
| How to save energy at home and help the planet | How to save energy at home and help the planet |
| The DIY gadgets that could keep your energy bill down | The DIY gadgets that could keep your energy bill down |
| What help is available? | What help is available? |
| The government recently announced £1.5bn to help improve insulation for low-income households in England. | The government recently announced £1.5bn to help improve insulation for low-income households in England. |
| It will be made available to local authorities and social housing providers with the aim of upgrading 130,000 homes. | It will be made available to local authorities and social housing providers with the aim of upgrading 130,000 homes. |
| The money is from £6.6bn pot announced in 2021 under the government's Heat and Building Strategy. | The money is from £6.6bn pot announced in 2021 under the government's Heat and Building Strategy. |
| Other UK-wide support for low-income households is available: | Other UK-wide support for low-income households is available: |
| The Home Upgrade Grant, managed by local authorities, funds draught proofing, cavity-wall and loft insulation | The Home Upgrade Grant, managed by local authorities, funds draught proofing, cavity-wall and loft insulation |
| The Energy Company Obligation requires suppliers to support low-income households make improvements to their home | The Energy Company Obligation requires suppliers to support low-income households make improvements to their home |
| Home Energy Scotland and NI Energy Advice offer more information. | Home Energy Scotland and NI Energy Advice offer more information. |
| Older housing stock is least likely to be properly insulated | Older housing stock is least likely to be properly insulated |
| Less help is available for higher earners. | Less help is available for higher earners. |
| The Green Homes Grant has been scrapped, and the government has not announced a replacement. | 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. | 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". | 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." | 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? | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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." | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Local authorities in England can apply to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund for financial support to improve the energy efficiency of their housing stock. | Local authorities in England can apply to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund for financial support to improve the energy efficiency of their housing stock. |
| How can renters make their homes warmer and greener? | How can renters make their homes warmer and greener? |