Nearly a quarter of UK homeowners with lofts say they lack insulation - potentially costing them up to £355 a year on energy bills. Research, conducted by EDF, found that despite a quarter of heat being lost through the roof of an uninsulated home, only half of homeowners with lofts believe that installing insulation in this space is a cost-effective way to reduce energy bills.
In fact, experts at Energy Saving Trust advise that properly installed loft insulation should pay for itself many times over in its 40-year lifetime. The poll of 2,000 homeowners with lofts found that many are in the dark about their insulation - with over two fifths not knowing what type they have.
Almost a third say they don’t know what proper loft insulation looks like, whilst a quarter have never looked. Only a third of homeowners are aware that loft insulation should be inspected periodically to check it’s still in good condition. The poll found only one in 10 are reviewing their loft insulation this winter despite the rising cost of energy bills.
Only 6 have explored their loft to see if their insulation needed improving, with one fifth admitting they don’t know what to look for when checking the condition of their home insulation. To help homeowners in the dark, EDF has created a new video outlining what to look out for when they next visit the loft.
Philippe Commaret, Managing Director for Customers at EDF said: "Good quality loft insulation can have a significant impact on energy bills, so it’s surprising to learn how few homeowners are aware of the type of insulation they have, or what to look out for to check its condition. The good news is it’s simple to check if your insulation is up to scratch the next time you go up or fetch down the Christmas decorations.
“Dampness, damage, thin coverings and signs of mould are key things to consider when looking for signs to act on. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for or you have problems getting up there it’s worth enlisting some help, as preventing heat escaping from your loft will definitely keep your house warmer and lower your energy bills.”
EDF is working with The Eco Scheme, a company committed to helping the UK become more energy efficient, to offer customers Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for a fixed fee of £79 - regardless of location or the size of the home. An EPC is a home energy survey that shows how energy efficient a home is and includes a list of recommendations on how to improve its energy efficiency. It's worth having a look at a property's EPC to find out what can be done to reduce its energy bills and carbon emissions. This would involve a qualified assessor visiting the home to undertake a survey (including the loft) and provide advice on improvements that can be made to the property, then providing a certificate which confirms these improvements and a current EPC rating of the home.
The Eco Scheme is nationwide, with all surveyors trained to a high standard and TrustMark certified, the Government Endorsed Quality Scheme. For further information please visit: www.edfenergy.com/energy-efficiency/get-an-energy-performance-certificate
