SUSTAINABILITY
and improving airtightness - the fabric first principle.
“It is important to ensure the materials used do perform in real life as they do in the paper calculations - that is that the insulation qualities of some products don’t decline with age and are combined with air- and wind-tight layers to address phenomena such as wind-washing which can negatively impact the effectiveness of insulation. At Actis we test our products in real life and in the lab to ensure they perform exactly as they are predicted to.” Human behaviour, another factor cited as a possible reason behind the not-very- encouraging figures includes the ‘rebound effect.’ Wiedmer says: “An example of this is buying a new economical car but then doing twice as much mileage – meaning the owner ends up using the same amount of fuel as before. New homes come with a new house owners guide offering advice on how to minimise energy usage. In a lot of cases it’s to do with educating home owners to change their mindset and approach.”
The report also points out that many retrofit insulation measures were carried out at the same time as home extensions or conservatories – thus the energy saved by the insulation was then shifted into heating the new addition to the home.
“The big theme overall for me is the whole house approach. “
At Knauf Insulation, Jonathan Pulman, Sales Director – Building, Distribution & Contracting, agrees that understanding how consumer behaviour affects the energy efficiency of a
property is imperative, if the UK is to achieve its energy efficiency targets.
“It’s no surprise that researchers concluded that building conservatories and extensions impacts energy savings from insulation amongst middle-income families. Increasing the footprint of the property means you won’t necessarily see a lower total bill. A bigger space requires more energy to heat, but better insulation will ensure it’s affordable,” he says. “But there’s another, more important finding linked to the behaviour of low-income households after insulation upgrades. These homes are unlikely to have been extended. So, when fuel savings decreased, researchers concluded people were turning up the thermostat.”
“Insulated homes stay warmer for longer, so need less energy to maintain a higher temperature. This means low-income households can afford to turn up the heating when they need to and enjoy more comfortable homes. So, the insulation has actually done its job and that’s something to celebrate.” It’s not necessarily bad news, Pulman continues. “Merchants needn’t worry that people could be put off by the findings of this report. There’s plenty of evidence that shows insulation works. For example, between 2005 and 2013 when insulation schemes were at their height, domestic gas usage in the UK dropped by 30%. It shows people were using less gas on heating.”
“We’ve also conducted our own studies. We used Knauf Energy Solutions’ pioneering energy sensor technology to conduct two pilot
February 2023
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
projects, where quality-controlled retrofits of wall and roof insulation were undertaken, and measurements of real-life energy use and heat loss were taken before and after installation. “The first project, which covered 28 houses in a 1970s social housing estate in Trafford, Manchester saw an average improvement in energy efficiency of 31%. In one house, it was a massive 51%. When mapped against today’s Energy Price Guarantee, this equates to a £704 saving per year in energy bills. The second, a newer 2014 estate in Eccles with 12 houses, showed similar results. The average energy efficiency improvement was 17%. It demonstrates, upgrading insulation should be considered by those living in new and older homes alike.”
“Action in the form of insulation is desperately needed. We know the UK has some of the oldest and most inefficient housing stock in Europe. And sadly, we also have the highest rates of fuel poverty. ”
“Living in cold homes is not just uncomfortable, it can have a devastating impact on people’s health, increasing the likelihood of strokes, respiratory infections, falls and other injuries – all of which increase the burden on the NHS.
“Insulation will make a real, tangible difference to people living in cold, draughty homes. It will increase the affordability of home heating, and critically, help to create a comfortable, healthier environment for them to live in. That’s why it remains the UK’s number one strategy in achieving our national mission: net zero.” BMJ
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