Is Property Insulation a Solution to the UK Energy Crisis?

The UK is a problematic country to keep warm. It has some of western Europe's most aged and leakiest housing inventory. Generally speaking, the UK building stock is old and very poorly insulated. Over 60% of all British properties currently standing have a construction date before the government enacted the first thermal regulations. The first building regulations that impacted energy waste in the home came into play in 1965. These ordinances introduced limits on the amount of energy loss acceptable through the fabric of new houses.

A staggering nine out of ten households rely on gas boilers or fossil fuel systems, twice the EU average. The older properties, pre-1950s, use oil and solid fuel as an existing heat source. This leaky inventory of poorly insulated homes means that as soon as heat leaves a radiator or other heat source, it dissipates through floors, attics, walls, windows and doors. 

With soaring energy prices globally, the UK's reliance on gas and solid fuel threatens to plunge thousands of homes into fuel poverty and others into uncomfortably tight budgets. Even the "green deal" loans launched by the government in 2013 failed to hit the target of 14 million insulated households by 2020, with a mere 15,000 completed by the time the complicated system ended in 2015.

Types of Loft Insulation

Different types of loft insulation include:

• Blanket insulation is fibreglass/glass wool, mineral wool, plastic fibres and natural fibres such as sheep's wool.
  
  
• Insulation boards are rigid insulating materials manufactured in sheet form using synthetic or natural substances. 
  
  
• Multifoil insulation is multiple layers of radiant foil barriers crafted using materials such as aluminium, thermo-foam and polypropylene.
  
  
• Insulation Slabs (also known as insulation batts) are commonly glass wool, mineral wool or sheep's wool and offer thermal and acoustic insulation.
  
  
• Loose-fill and blown-in insulations are lightweight, and loose fibres spread freely into place. Cellulose, fibreglass and rock wool fibres get blown into position, and other less-common materials, such as polystyrene beads and perlite, get poured into place.
  
  
• Spray foam insulation is sprayed into place and forms an insulating layer once set. Two types of spray insulation are available: closed and open.
  
  
• Acoustic insulation is ideal for creating a quieter home free from noisy neighbours and stomping footsteps overhead. Acoustic insulation slabs in a loft or conversion blocks impact and airborne sound transmission through walls, floor and roof.

Types of External Wall Insulation

Different types of external insulation for exterior walls include:

• EPS is a popular insulation solution generally made of either expanding polystyrene or mineral wool. Technologies such as phenolic resin insulation are also available.
  
  
• Foam board insulation requires installation during remodelling or if you don't mind tearing out your drywall. They are rigid panels made of either polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, or polyurethane. These boards come in various lengths, facings, and lengths to custom fit the wall cavities.
  
  
• Silicone is an excellent render choice and is favoured as the best external wall insulation system. It's breathable and hydrophobic (which means it repels dirt and organic growth) and can be custom mixed to any colour you want.

Types of Floor Insulation

Different types of floor insulation and underfloor heating:

• Insulating underlay is one of the easiest and least disruptive ways to insulate your floor. Insulating underlay or polyfoam board is thin and installed directly beneath your carpet.
  
  
• Multi-foil underlays reflect heat into the house without raising the floor height by much. They come at a higher cost than mineral wools or rigid foams, but this can save you the hassle of lifting old floorboards or digging into a concrete bed.
  
  
• Thick carpets and rugs can go a long way towards keeping the cool air out from any crawl spaces below.
  
  
• Solid floors are generally insulated above the top concrete or screed (a mix of sand and cement) layer using rigid insulation foam. The insulation will need to sit between a damp-proof membrane below (preventing the build-up of trapped moisture), a chipboard above, and your chosen flooring cover to top it off. This type of setup is known as a 'floating floor'.
  
  
• Screeded wet underfloor heating systems are the most popular and effective underfloor heating. Pipes are clipped or stapled onto an insulation layer, and the screed then applied on top. The warm pipes heat the whole slab, giving even consistent heat output.