According to new Government figures, around half of British homes are so poorly insulated, homeowners are wasting more than £100 a year on their heating bills, because their homes lack proper cavity wall and loft insulation.
New figures released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) suggests that only 57% of homes in Britain have proper loft insulation, and slightly more – 58% – have cavity walls that have been adequately filled.
Despite help from subsidised schemes being readily available, homeowners continue to throw money away on poorly insulated properties. Under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target, energy companies are obliged to subsidise insulation measures to customers. In fact, you can take up an insulation deal from any energy company, it doesn’t have to be the one you’re with.
If you are aged 70 or more, or receive certain benefits, you could even get loft insulation installed free of charge, whilst some councils offer discounts and free insulation for certain ‘priority’ groups.
When it comes to cavity wall insulation, an undercover operation conducted earlier in the year by consumer group Which? discovered that the level of advice on possible damp problems linked to cavity wall insulation was not up to scratch. So it’s vital to do your research before hand, when investing in any form of insulation.
“With energy prices predicted to rise, there has never been a better time to insulate your home. Get it done this summer and start saving this winter,” advises Which? energy expert Sylvia Baron.
