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It's never been more important to think about insulating your attic. Without proper insulation a lot of the valuable, expensive fuel you use to heat your home will be lost through the attic. The recommended depth for attic insulation is at least 8 inches however there are other materials which require different depths.
Why Insulate your Attic or Loft?
Loft insulation is an effective way to save energy and money at home. A well insulated house keeps warmth exactly where you need it - indoors.
So increasing your attic insulation - or topping up any insulation you have already - will help to heat your home more efficiently. Using less energy reduces carbon dioxide emissions (CO2): one of the biggest causes of climate change. You will save money on your home heating bills also.
How does Attic Insulation work?
Heat will always flow from a warm area to a cold one. The colder it is outside, the faster heat from your home will escape into the surrounding air.
Increasing your loft insulation makes it much more difficult for heat to pass up through your roof by providing a layer of material which has lots of air pockets in it. These pockets trap heat, cutting what is known as the U value of the attic.
The U value measures how quickly it loses heat so the lower the U value, the less energy you need to keep your home warm. Attic insulation cuts your loft's U value from around 2.3 (for an un-insulated loft) to 0.16 W/m2K, a reduction of around 95%. You may on occasions also see references to an R-value. An R value is a measure of thermal resistance and is the inverse of a U value so the higher the R value the better.
What could you save?
At best guess estimate would say that if you had no attic insulation prior to our arrival and we installed the recommended covering of at least 8 inches, that you could dramically reduce your heat loss through the attic and could save perhaps 20-25% on heating bills with a payback of 2-3 years on the installation price.
These are estimated figures based on insulating a gas-heated, semi-detached home with three bedrooms.
Attic insulation is effective for at least 40 years, and it will pay for itself over and over again in that time. The better insulated your home, the less energy you need to keep it warm - the more money you'll save in the long run.
By saving energy, your household will produce less CO2. So, adding or topping up your loft insulation is a great way to do your bit - and reduce your impact on the environment.
There are Attic Insulation Grants available through the SEI (Sustainable Energy Ireland) to help pay for your Insulation.
Could Attic Insulation work for my home?
Generally, your home should be suitable if it has an accessible Attic or Loft with no damp or condensation problems.
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