Home insulation is certainly nothing new and is something that, at least in part, has been performed for decades in the UK. However, in recent times, and with energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions very much top of government focus and policy, home insulation has become more important than it has ever been. There are various ways in which to insulate properties, all of which come with benefits for the residents and landlords alike.
When it comes to landlords, lessees and property owners, ensuring buy to let and investment properties are properly insulated is one of many challenges they face. However, it is also potentially, one of the most straightforward challenges to overcome for landlords of private rental properties.
With regards to homeowners and those looking to insulate their own properties, doing so is likely to result in cheaper energy and heating bills, a warmer property in the winter and cooler property in the summer and a potential increase in the value of the property, having this desirable feature.
More Efficient Heating and Cooling
Your home forms what is known as an ‘envelope,’ which is an effective barrier between the inside, conditioned environment and the unconditioned, external environment. By securing the building envelope, the internal conditions will be far better protected from external factors and influences. The more secure the building envelope, the better level of air tightness the building will have and this is an important factor that is tested as part of Building Regulations when new builds and developments are constructed.
In practice, this means that if the building is well insulated, with a better level of air tightness and a stronger envelope, it will be easier and quicker to heat up and moreover, will retain and hold onto heat far better.
This is important as when it comes to assessing buildings for their energy efficiency, as assessed and calculated by the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP), this is a very strong influencing factor (more information).
By making a property much more efficient at heating its internal environment, holding onto more heat, less energy will be required to get the property up to the desired temperature as well as to keep it there. This consequently is likely to lead to the following positive outcomes for any residents, tenants and occupants:
- More accurate temperature regulation
- Property quicker to heat, remaining heated for longer
- Lower energy bills
- Less strain on the property’s boiler
- More comfortable living conditions
How Can You Insulate Your Property?
There are many ways in which to ensure your property is properly insulated. There are aspects of UK properties both past and presently constructed that leave them vulnerable to air infiltration and therefore less-than-perfect insulation. Addressing these areas of a property will more than likely see the property benefit from better heat retention and a better envelope and level of air tightness:
- Cavity Wall Insulation – This refers to the gap between the internal and external wall of a property. These gaps, known as a ‘cavities.’ Although the cavities were originally designed to keep rainwater out of properties and away from the internal walls, they do in fact contribute to a lack of insulation. Cavity wall insulation addresses this by filling in the gap
- Insulating Lofts and Roofs – Heat by its very nature rises and therefore, insulating the highest point(s) of the property in question will go a long way in reducing heat loss and maximising heat retention. For many who undergo loft conversions, this is a must-have
- Basement Insulation – Another vulnerable part of relevant properties is the basement. Basements, being underground and away from direct sunlight, will often be much cooler. Therefore, by preventing the amount of heat from the property above that can be lost to the basement, you could see the overall efficiency of the property increased