Improvements

Arguably the most important improvements are to the fabric of a building, and in our opinion, essential aspect to energy saving is "insulation" thereby reducing U-Values.

Insulation applied evenly and throughout the fabric of a home generally produces better results than applying to one or two areas.

Insulation will reduce heat loss from the building. It must be installed correctly and possible areas of Thermal Bridging identified.

Heat Loss example:-

• Roof loss 30-35%
• Walls 25-30%
• Ventilation 25%
• Windows* 15%
• Floor 7-10%

*Draughts by inadequate sealed doors, hatches and flues can also be significant.

Roof

Insulating the roof will depend upon the nature and use of the roof space or attic. The majority of houses will need insulation at joist level using various materials such as quilt e.g. glass fibre or mineral fibre quilt. These are available at DIY centres and can be installed by the householder.

Remember:- after insulation at joist level the attic temperature is reduced so any water storage tanks and pipes must be insulated.

A good quality and thickness of insulation is needed and should not be compressed. Too little is insufficient, too much may not be cost effective. We generally recommend 750mm.

Ensure when fitting insulation you follow manufacturers instructions and health and safety procedures.

Other types of roof, where the attic space is used or for a flat roof a number of approaches can be used and we at Offspring will be pleased to advise, or join our discussion Forum.

Walls

A lot more complicated than the roof and requires skilled workmanship to ensure insulation is applied properly.

New homes should include the required levels of insulation but older homes may have none.

Walls can be solid, dual leaf, concrete, timber and even straw. Some will have damp proof course some will not.

Wall insulation can be carried out internally, externally and if a cavity exists within the cavity.

Offspring can advise on inspection however for more information join our Forum.

Ventilation

Ventilation can be a major source of heat loss, however at the same time it is important for fresh air, to remove odours and pollutants. A controlled medium is required and this can be achieved by trickle or slot vents incorporated in window frames.

Other methods can include mechanical ventilation, very necessary in kitchens and bathrooms.

Many older properties were built with installed airbricks. On inspection today these are found to be covered or sealed due to the draughts. Such action is inappropriate and ideal alternatives should be used. An inspection will identify the alternatives but other advise can be found within the Forum.

Doors, poorly fitting, window frames and hatches such as loft doors can lose heat, Here many sealing material are available that can be used to overcome the losses.

Open fireplaces with the resulting flue can result in substantial heat loss, especially where the primary source of heat is by another method such as radiators. See views in the Forum.

Windows

Glass is a supercooled liquid. If left in place for many many years you will discover the bottom part is thicker than the upper.

Windows however are not just sheets of glass. They usually come in wooden or plastic frames, can be single or double and triple glazed with different efficiency.

To meet current regulations a minimum standard of double glazing with a 12 mm air gap and soft low-E glass is necessary.

Frames. The difference in performance associated with materials is minimal. It is essential frames are well fitted to avoid gaps and resulting losses.

Glazing. Double glazing is more energy efficient than single glazing because the space between the two panes of glass, filled with air, is a poor conductor of heat, thereby making it more difficult for the heat in the room to bridge the gap to the outside pane. The greater the gap the less the heat loss. Triple glazing thereby improves the bridge by a greater amount.

Gaps, rather than air filled can be filled with an inert gas, usually argon gas which conducts less heat than air thereby improving efficiency.

Low-E or low emissivity is more complex. Here the outside face of the internal pane of glass is coated with a material that allows light through but reduces the level of heat to pass out, effectively a layer of insulation. It can be noticable by an orange of tinted look.

When replacing windows all these factors should be considered. However , planning issues may also be a factor particularly for a listed home or one in a conservation area.

Insulation, ventilation factors should not be ignored. Offspring can look at theses issues following inspection.

Floor

Levels of heat loss will vary depending upon house type, (single or two storey, detached semi or terraced) plus if the floor is solid or suspended and ground type conditions.

Often skilled labour will be required and costs can vary substantially. An inspection by Offspring will give advise however join the Forum for further information.

Condensation Issues

This is such a large area of concern and often difficult to correct so we have decided to put it to the Forum pages for discussion