According to data analysed in a recent national media report, nearly two thirds of UK homes fail to meet long-term energy efficiency targets.
The report shows that more than 12 million homes fall below the C grade on Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), which are graded from A-G. The closer to A, the more efficient the home, meaning it should have lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint. Grade G is at the other end of the scale. C is just above average.
Households in these poor performing properties consequently spend more on energy bills than is necessary and pump huge amounts more CO2 into the atmosphere than they would if their homes were more efficiently constructed.
Further and faster
The Government admits that it needs to go “much further and faster” to improve the energy performance of homes and many experts say retrofit measures are needed because so many homes were built before the year 1990.
Clearly, the easiest and cost-effective way of reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in domestic housing is by improving the level of thermal insulation and, at the same time, minimising air leakage – draughts to you and me.
Up to 40 per cent of a building’s heat loss can be attributed to air leakage, so it is vital that air leakage is included in any programme of measures designed to improve a building’s thermal performance.
High performance spray applied insulation
Modern spray applied insulation systems seem to be an obvious choice. They can do a much better job than traditional, rigid board and mineral fibre materials which are often difficult to install in older properties. Spray applied insulation is designed to expand rapidly when applied, sealing small gaps, service holes and hard to reach spaces where air leakage generally occurs.
Icynene is one of this new breed of spray applied insulation system. Developed in Canada to cope with their extreme winter temperatures, Icynene FoamLite is a flexible open cell material with a soft, yielding texture. This not only provides outstanding insulation properties, but also allows the building to breath naturally, resisting internal condensation – particularly important when insulating older, heritage-type buildings.
Icynene is installed using a pressurised gun system. Here, foams are applied as a two-component mixture that come together at the tip of a gun forming a foam that expands 100-fold within seconds of application, closing off all gaps, service holes and hard to get to spaces that conventional insulation materials fail to reach.
Challenging targets
Government targets are to upgrade as many homes to grade C by 2035 “where practical, cost-effective and affordable”, and for as many rented homes as possible, to reach the same standard by 2030.
The Chancellor’s recently announced “voucher” scheme for energy saving home improvements is a major step forward, with £2bn set aside for grants to fund cavity wall, roof and underfloor insulation, triple glazed replacement windows and draught proofing, for qualifying homes.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is also investing over £6bn and is exploring how to halve the cost of retrofitting properties with measures to heat homes with lower carbon alternatives, such as heat networks and heat pumps.
With over 65.0 million tonnes of CO2 being produced by the UK’s homes in 2018 – more than that from the power stations which generated the energy itself – we have a very big mountain to climb. More efficient insulation of domestic properties is without doubt, a low cost, win-win opportunity.
The government is clearly committed to a greener future and has shown that a long term, co-ordinated approach to reducing carbon emissions through better insulation and control of air leakage is ready to be put in place.
The construction sector has the tools, the motivation and manpower to get on with the job. What it also needs is top class quality control mechanism to ensure the highest standards of workmanship.
According to Icynene, spray applied insulation systems require a high degree of skill to install – they are not DIY solutions and should be installed by manufacturer or independently assessed and accredited contractors who will provide suitable guarantees to performance and durability.
It would be a disastrous waste of tax-payers money if an unscrupulous cowboy element with no accreditation were allowed to profit from the scheme, providing no real benefit to the consumer.
For more information on Icynene spray applied insulation: www.icynene.co.uk