Insulate with British Sheep wool
Poorly insulated homes cost an extra £385 to keep warm in comparison with a typical property, according to the non-profit body Energy and Climate Change Intelligence Unit (ECIU).
The least insulated will typically pay £l,290 for gas and electricity for the winter months between October to the end of March. One with slightly better than average insulation would pay just over £900 for the same period.
Jess Ralston, energy’ analyst at the ECIU, says: ‘Millions of homes are facing higher bills this winter simply because they are leaking far too much heat. But by insulating a home you bring bills down once and for all, with a lonv-term solution that will cut the cost of heating.
Adding insulation to your walls is one of the most effective options, but can require a considerable upfront cost and may be invasive. For example, adding external wall insulation costs around £11,000 and internal wall insulation around £7,500, according to organisation the Energy Saving Trust.
However, there are faster fixes that could save you hundreds of pounds.
Nick Miles, director of advice firm The Green Age, says that putting sheep wool in the loft is one of the most cost-effective ways to insulate while demonstrating eco-credentials. He says: ‘Wool might seem expensive but can pay for itself in three years.’
Sheep wool is not flammable and has the benefit of being far more breathable than synthetic loft insulation. It can absorb and release any moisture in the air without losing its thermal qualities. More than a third of the heat from a home can escape through the ceiling and roof.
A £1,000 ‘Thermafleece’ attic space roof lining can recoup its cost in three years and then save you money.
Unlike with some modern synthetic insulation, Thermafleece which is three-quearters British Sheep’s Wool and a quarter recycled polyester – can be handled without gloves and is not irritating to the skin, though it is still a good idea to wear a dust mask if you decide to lay it in the attic yourself. It is recommended to be laid at at least 240mm thick.
On average, expect to pay about £100 for a pack of 2 or 3 rolls which are available in varying thicknesses and widths.
It can be rolled out between the joists on the floor of the attic and cut by hand cut by hand and purchased from retailers such as Jewson, the Roofing Superstore, Natural Insulations and Insulation Merchant
If you don’t have loft insulation, installing some with a thickness of 270mm could save you £285 a year. If you already have 120mm thick insulation, increasing it to 270mm could save you £35 a year.
