Insulating a home is a cost effective way of cutting down on energy bills. This is because the need for heating is vastly reduced if insulation can do the job of retaining this heat. Many people ask how much you can save on energy bills by insulating your home? Our helpful guide below delves deeper into this frequently asked question.
The reality is, the exact amount that you can save depends on a multitude of factors. These factors include your property type, insulation type, your heating setup and energy pricing. In this guide, we will show UK estimates only – which is based on our research.
Why Insulation Helps
Insulation helps because it can reduce the heat lost through walls, roofs and floors. The less heat that a building is losing, the less energy is needed to keep the room temperature comfortable.
Adding insulation to a property will result in energy savings, however there will always be some limitations. For example, if your home is already well insulated then adding more insulation might have little to no impact. Another thing to consider is poor workmanship. If the insulation has been installed poorly then it also won’t perform as well as it could do.
Typical UK Savings (Estimates)
As for savings, we can only give estimates. Please know that these may differ and should only be used as a guide only. Factors such as property size and type can alter the figures. Below are some UK ballpark figures.
| Insulation Application | Typical Annual Savings (Estimated) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Loft / Roof Insulation (or topping up) | Up to £340 | This is dependent on the build of the roof and existing insulation. |
| Cavity Wall Insulation | Up to £405 | This is really effective in detached and semi-detached homes. |
| Solid Wall Insulation | Around £410 | Solid wall insulation has great insulation properties however it is generally more expensive to install. |
| Floor Insulation | Around £100 | Insulating a floor works well when combined with other insulation applications |
| Combined Measures (e.g., cavity + loft) | £300–£500+ | When combining insulation methods, it can have great savings |
| Whole-House / Deep Retrofit | 10%–45% energy saving | This depends on the type of property and also the size. |
A typical semi-detached or a mid-terrace house could see realistic savings between £250-£400 per year. Larger homes will save more, however, will have more upfront insulation installation costs.
A benefit to ordering your insulation from Trade Insulations is that you can save big on your insulation. As one of the UK’s leading online insulation suppliers, we pass our bulk discounts on to our customers. This means you can get top insulation at trade prices – and there is no minimum order and you do not need to be a trade to qualify.
Below are some best selling insulation products.
Celotex 100mm PIR Insulation Board – GA4100 (2400mm x 1200mm x 100mm) 2.88m2
Original price was: £39.99.£25.70Current price is: £25.70. ex VAT50mm Celotex Insulation Board – GA4050 (2400mm x 1200mm x 50mm) 2.88m2
Original price was: £25.15.£14.90Current price is: £14.90. ex VATCelotex 25mm PIR Insulation Board – TB4025 (2400mm x 1200mm x 25mm) 2.88m2
Original price was: £18.29.£9.99Current price is: £9.99. ex VAT
12.5mm Plasterboard – Knauf Wallboard (12.5mm x 2400mm x 1200mm) (2.88m2) Tapered Edge
Original price was: £10.70.£9.35Current price is: £9.35. ex VAT
75mm Celotex Insulation Board – GA4075 (2400mm X 1200mm X 75mm) 2.88m2
Original price was: £34.99.£20.90Current price is: £20.90. ex VAT
150mm Celotex Insulation Board – XR4150 (2400mm x 1200mm x 150mm) 2.88m2
Original price was: £61.50.£38.29Current price is: £38.29. ex VAT
Knauf Plasterboard Wallboard 12.5mm (2400mm x 1200mm) (2.88m2) Square Edge
Original price was: £10.70.£9.35Current price is: £9.35. ex VAT120mm Celotex Insulation Board – XR4120 (2400mm x 1200mm x 120mm) 2.88m2
Original price was: £51.99.£31.39Current price is: £31.39. ex VAT
Celotex 37.5mm Insulated Plasterboard (2400mm x 1200mm x 37.5mm) – PL4025
Original price was: £40.50.£28.94Current price is: £28.94. ex VAT90mm Celotex Insulation Board – GA4090 (2400mm x 1200mm x 90mm) 2.88m2
Original price was: £42.95.£25.98Current price is: £25.98. ex VAT40mm Celotex Insulation Board – TB4040 (2400mm x 1200mm x 40mm) 2.88m2
Original price was: £24.65.£14.59Current price is: £14.59. ex VAT
Rockwool 100mm RWA45 Acoustic Insulation Slab (1200 x 600mm) – 2.88m2 pack
Original price was: £28.50.£22.80Current price is: £22.80. ex VAT20mm Celotex Insulation Board – TB4020 (2400mm x 1200mm x 20mm) 2.88m2
Original price was: £20.25.£11.99Current price is: £11.99. ex VAT70mm Celotex Insulation Board – GA4070 (2400mm x 1200mm x 70mm) 2.88m2
Original price was: £34.89.£20.69Current price is: £20.69. ex VAT
Knauf Plasterboard Fire Panel 12.5mm (2400mm x 1200mm) Tapered Edge (2.88m2)
Original price was: £13.98.£12.22Current price is: £12.22. ex VAT30mm Celotex Insulation Board – TB4030 (2400mm x 1200mm x 30mm) 2.88m2
Original price was: £21.39.£11.29Current price is: £11.29. ex VATWhat Can Reduce The Energy Savings?
If you have insulation already installed then the overall benefits of installing new insulation could be less. If your current insulation is incorrectly installed or does not meet building regulations requirements then new insulation could result in a much bigger saving.
The size and type of the property is also another factor that can affect savings. For example detached homes lose a lot more heat than terraced housing. The property fuel type and energy prices will affect the energy savings. For example, higher energy prices will result in bigger savings per kWh saved.
The quality of the insulation can also affect the savings. For example, at Trade Insulations, we only sell brand new insulation – which means it is not damaged or second hand. Brand new insulation will be much more effective than faulty return insulation. Another factor is the quality of the installation. If an install is not done correctly or in accordance to manufacturer specifications then it can affect the overall impact.
How to Estimate Your Own Potential
Every situation is going to be different but there are steps you can take to assess your own energy saving potential. You should start by looking at your annual gas or heating costs. This will allow you to know how much you are currently paying. Secondly, you can arrange a professional survey. An assessor can model savings for your property type and size. Another option is to use an online calculator. The Energy Savings Trust and also government guidance can give you a more bespoke figure. Lastly, we suggest you that you should be conservative with your estimate. We recommend that you assume 10%-15% less than the headline figure.
Insulation still remains to be one of the best ways to reduce energy bills as well as improve comfort. Annual savings of £300 are well achievable, with a larger potential in bigger properties or properties with poor insulation. Over time, insulation often pays for itself and more.
On a final note, it is important for us to stress that these are estimates and the figures can change depending on a wide variety of factors.
To get started, order your insulation at Trade Insulations today. We also sell plasterboard and metals.