Okay – I mentioned Building Regulation Part L and the ‘U Standards’ in my previous post on building regulations. Insulation is a key issue, as it's essential to meet the changing standards when undertaking any roofing project. However, it’s a good thing and starts saving you money on your bills straightaway because it keeps the warmth in the house, which saves energy.
I was very lucky – my Local Authority is helping to bring houses in our area up to the current insulation standard by installing loft and cavity wall insulation free of charge, regardless of income. It’s something you should do some research into before shelling out on your insulation – but there are no guarantees there will be financial assistance.
So my Local Authority advised us that provided we took advantage of this insulation opportunity, we did not need to go through the formal process of applying for building consent; this saved us the £200 Building Control application fee and we will get our insulation upgraded for free. Nice work!
According to the Energy Saving Trust in a typical 3 bedroom detached house like ours installing cavity wall insulation will reduce our heating bills by around £240 and reduce carbon emissions by about 1,306 kg per year. Topping up the loft insulation will reduce our heating bills by a further £70 and give us a carbon emission saving of around 366 kg per year. I’m a greenie myself, but even if you're not, it’s hard to dismiss those £££s savings.