Millions of pounds wasted because of inadequate insulation — March 9, 2010

Energy-efficiency is something that all homeowners should be striving for however it appears to be something that many are unable to achieve. The Department of Energy and Climate Change has conducted a study into the amount of energy that was wasted because of poor heating insulation in homes across the United Kingdom last year.

The report estimates that more than £500m could have been saved on energy costs around the country, but instead it was wasted because heat was simply escaping through the roofs and walls of houses that had insufficient insulation.

The sheer magnitude of the waste is enough to make people think seriously about their own insulation arrangements in the home, not just because of the money they could save, but because of the implications poor insulation has on the environment. Proper insulation is vital to meeting targets for the reduction of carbon footprints worldwide. New insulation is worth the cost as it saves you money year after year.

For self-builders the massive figures might inspire them to incorporate much better insulation into their building plans. The best construction method in terms of energy-efficiency is timber frame construction, as timber frame homes are designed with insulation in mind at every stage.