What measures can I have installed?

How does it work?

Loft insulation works by putting a layer of material somewhere between your ceiling and your roof. This material slows down heat as it tries to escape from the top of your home.  

What are the benefits?

Up to 25% of heat lost in the home is through the roof. Thankfully, loft insulation is one of the easiest and cheapest types of insulation to install to help make your home warmer. The loft is a great place to start when improving the energy efficiency of your home.

How much does it cost?

Costs can vary depending on the type of insulation material used and the size of a home’s loft. The typical cost of 270mm of insulation in a detached home is £1,200*. On top of this there will be the labour cost for installation. This will vary depending on your chosen contractor.

*figures from Energy Saving Trust, April 2024

How does it work?  

A Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system works by taking stale, moist air from inside the home and replacing it with clean, filtered air. A device called a heat exchanger recycles heat from the outgoing air to warm up the incoming air.

What are the benefits?  

As well as being more energy efficient and lowering your home’s energy bills, the clean, fresh air produced by a MVHR system has overall health benefits for householders. Studies show that poor air quality in a home can lead to serious health concerns such as asthma.

How much does it cost?  

The cost of a MVHR can depend on factors that include its brand and features, as well whether you are looking to install a room-by-room system. Expect to pay anywhere between £3,500 and £13,000 for this. There will also be the installation cost to consider.

How does it work?

Solar panels capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity to use in your home. They don’t require direct sunlight to generate electricity, just daylight. This means they still work on cloudy days and throughout the winter.

What are the benefits?

By generating your own electricity you can reduce your reliance on the grid and bring down your energy costs. You can also sell the electricity from your panels back to the grid, allowing you to both save and earn money at the same time.

How much does it cost?

The average system size in the UK is 3.5kWp (kilowatt peak) and costs around £7,000*. This can differ depending on aspects such as the size of your solar panel system.

*figures from Energy Saving Trust

How does it work?  

Infrared heating warms objects directly as opposed to the air in the room like a radiator. The panels can be installed on your walls or ceiling and produce infrared heat which travels through the air. The infrared hits an object or person, causing its molecules to vibrate which then produces heat.

What are the benefits?  

Infrared heating is more energy efficient than a gas central heating and is a low carbon solution when paired with renewable electricity.

How much does it cost? 

The cost of infrared heating panels varies significantly, depending on the size and the wattage. An individual panel can range from around £150 – £450. Some models you can install yourself, whilst some companies offer professional installation.

How does it work?  

A renewable energy source, such as solar panels, generates electricity. A diverter then sends excess electricity to the battery for energy storage. The electricity charges the battery, and an inverter makes the electricity ready for use in the home.

What are the benefits?  

There are numerous benefits to storing energy in a battery. They include saving money on your energy bills, reducing your carbon footprint by not being as reliant on grid power, and even earning money by selling excess energy back to the grid.

How much does it cost?  

The cost of battery storage can vary depending on size, costing anywhere between £5,000-£8,000. It’s important to remember the added cost of solar panels and an inverter if you’re also installing these.

How does it work?

Double glazed windows have two panes of glass separated by a gap. Triple glazed windows have three panes and two gaps. As a general rule triple glazing will be more energy efficient. The energy efficiency rating for windows runs from A++ (most energy efficient) to E (least energy efficient).

What are the benefits?

When choosing new windows, one of the things to consider is the window’s u-value. The u-value measures how easily heat moves through the window. The lower the u-value, the less easily heat passes through the window, meaning your home can stay warmer for longer.

How much does it cost?

Installing triple glazing will cost more than double glazing, and costs can vary depending on materials and style. A set of A-rated windows for a semi-detached house will typically cost around £15,000*.

*figures from Energy Saving Trust

How does it work?

If you feel a draught in your home, it means there is a gap in its construction exposing it to the air outside.  Gaps can often be found around your windows, doors, floors and even chimney. Draught proofing means to plug these gaps with often cheap and easy to source materials.

What are the benefits?

If your home has draughts it means warm air is leaving the property and cold air is coming in. By plugging these gaps you can keep the warm air in your home for longer,

How much does it cost?

How much material will cost depends on where in your home you need to draught proof. For example, draught proofing strips for your windows can cost as little as £5 in a DIY store. A chimney balloon will can cost around £15.

How does it work?  

You can use electricity from your home to charge your electric vehicle. The electricity will come from the grid or, if your home has it, renewable systems like solar panels. You’ll need off-road parking if you want to charge your electric vehicle at home. Once the charging point is installed, it’s simply a case of plugging the charger into your vehicle.

What are the benefits? 

Charging your electric vehicle at home can be cheaper than using public charging points, meaning there is no need to search for a public charge point when your car needs charging. Additionally, you can save even more money and reduce your carbon emissions if you combine your electric vehicle charger with solar panels.

How much does it cost?  

The cost to buy and install an electric vehicle charger varies, but is usually £450 – £1,200. As a rule, the more power the charger supplies, the more expensive it is. 

How does it work?

Cavity walls are made up of an inner and outer layer, with a gap (cavity) between them. An installer will drill small holes into the outer wall before pumping the insulation material into the cavity using specialist equipment.

What are the benefits?

Cavity wall insulation is a relatively cheap form of wall insulation. The reduced heat loss through your walls should keep you warmer whilst lowering energy bills.

How much does it cost?

Cavity wall insulation typically costs around £20 per m2, making it the most cost-effective kind of wall insulation. The exact cost will vary depending on the insulation materials.

How does it work?

As a rule you’ll only need to insulate the ground floor to keep your home warm. By adding floor and underfloor insulation to your home, it will help reduce heat loss. What type of floor you have in your home will determine what type of insulation can be installed. The most common floor types are suspended timber floors and solid floors.

What are the benefits?

By adding insulation and keeping the heat in your home, you’ll use less energy and save money on your energy bills.

How much does it cost?

The cost of floor insulation will come down to how big the area is that needs to be treated. Other considerations include what type of insulation needs to be installed. The average cost of insulation for a solid floor can range from £60-£90 per m2, plus labour.

How does it work?

Heat batteries store heat energy that can then be used for hot water and space heating. A number of different sources can charge the battery, from solar panels to a heat pump.

What are the benefits?

Heat batteries can be paired with renewable energy systems which should cut both your carbon emissions and your energy bill.

How much does it cost?

The cost of a heat battery varies significantly depending on the size you need for your home. The price can vary from anywhere from £1,200 to £3,000. You’ll also need to pay for installation.

How does it work?

An air source heat pump takes warmth from the air outdoors, heats it up some more, and lets us use that heat at home. Even if it drops to -15°C outside, a heat pump can still comfortably heat your home.

What are the benefits?

Air source heat pumps are very energy efficient. At their best, air source heat pumps work at 350% efficiency. By comparison, an A-rated gas boiler is 90% efficient.

How much does it cost?

The cost of installing an air source heat pump can vary depending on the size of your home, the size of the heat pump and what needs replacing in your current heating system. A typical cost is around £14,000*.

*figures from Energy Saving Trust

How does it work?  

Solar generally generates its peak amount of power during the early part of the afternoon, often when homes are empty. A diverter will detect when more electricity is being generated by the solar panels than is being consumed and automatically divert the excess energy to the hot water tank.

What are the benefits?  

By having a diverter in place, you can maxmise the energy your solar panels are collecting by diverting that energy to power your hot water tank.  The result of this can mean low cost or free hot water in your home.

How much does it cost?  

The cost of a diverter can depend on factors that include its brand and features, so expect to pay anywhere between £100 and £400. There will also be the installation cost to consider.

How does it work?

Solid walls have a single layer of solid stone or brick which lets heat pass through easily. However, adding insulation slows down this heat loss. There are two types of insulation for solid walls – external and internal.

What are the benefits?

The reduced heat loss through your walls should keep you warmer whilst lowering energy bills. External wall insulation can have the added benefit of refreshing your home’s appearance.

How much does it cost?

Based on a typical three-bed semi-detached home, the cost for external wall insulation is around £12,000*. For internal wall insulation this cost is around £7,500*.

*figures from Energy Saving Trust, April 2024