One often overlooked area of the home for insulation is the loft space. It is estimated that 31% of homes in the UK either do not have insulation in their lofts, or the insulation that is there is insufficient (less than 125mm). With rising energy costs and government landlord regulations on energy efficiency, ensuring your home is properly insulated is one of the most effective and inexpensive things you can do to save money, help the environment, and remain regulation compliant.
Below are the top 5 reasons loft insulation is important.
- Energy Efficiency & Cost Savings: Proper insulation of your home, including the loft, helps to retain heat in your home during colder months and keeps it cooler in the summer months. According to the Energy Saving Trust (EST) upgrading a loft with no insulation to 270mm of insulation can save you just over 400 per year for a detached home and almost 300 per year for a semi-detached home. With proper loft insulation your heating and cooling systems don’t have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature, reducing energy consumption and lowering utility bills. The energy savings over time often outweigh the upfront expense, resulting in a positive return on investment.
- Condensation Control: Loft insulation helps to prevent moisture, mould, and mildew in your loft by preventing condensation from forming. Dampness can damage the belongings you store in your loft and can also lead to structural damage of the loft itself. Moisture in your loft also invites pest infestations such as rodents, dust mites, and insects. All of which can lead to health and safety hazards. Lastly, moisture can lead to mold which carries significant health risks including Asthma due to poor air quality in the home. Research has shown that children living in homes with mold are three times more likely to develop Asthma.
- Environmental Benefits: In addition to the above benefits, insulating your loft is an environmentally friendly choice that contributes to sustainability efforts. By reducing the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home, insulation helps lower carbon emissions associated with energy production, thereby reducing your carbon footprint. According to Climate Action Wales, improving a homes energy efficiency through insultation can reduce its carbon footprint by 900 kilograms of CO2 per year.
- Soundproofing: Insulation can also help to reduce noise transmission between floors, providing a quieter and more peaceful living environment. This is especially beneficial in multi-story homes or properties located in noisy urban areas.
- Increase Property Value: An energy efficient home can increase the resale value of your property. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, 88% of homebuyers in 2022 deemed energy efficiency as important or very important when considering a home. A separate study by Mortgage Advice Bureau found that 46% of homebuyers would choose a well-insulated home over a larger garden. Additionally, landlords are required to have letting properties that meet Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) and have ratings of E and above.
The benefits to insulating your loft
The benefits to insulating your loft are clear, but you may be asking if you need to board your loft first. The two things can be done separately, but boarding your loft in addition to insulting it brings added protection to your new insulation such as preventing the insulation from becoming damp or dirty. You can read our blog “6 reasons to board your loft” You can read our blog “6 reasons to board your loft” here.