Choosing the right upgrades for your home

While it is important to make sure your home is energy efficient, it may be difficult to decide on the right energy efficiency measures that are best for your home. The information on this page may help you better understand different efficiency measures/installations and what those can look like for you.  

Door and window draught insulation 

When thinking about retaining warmth in your home, doors and windows should be the first step in your insulation journey.  

Draught proofing windows and doors can be an affordable option to save energy by preventing heat from escaping from your home.  

To find out how you can find draughts in your home and conserve energy, visit this guide

Roof and loft insulation  

A lot of heat can be lost through the roof if it is not properly insulated. Loft insulation is easy and affordable to install and has a very quick payback period.  

To find out more about the benefits of loft and roof insulation, visit the Energy Saving Trust guide.  

Cavity Wall Insulation  

Many uninsulated homes lose heat through their walls. Insulating cavity walls helps reduce energy usage and can cut the cost of your energy bill. Most houses built after 1990 will have wall insulation to keep heat in, but houses built before that may not have any insulation at all.  

To find out the benefits of Cavity Wall Insulation and the wall type of your home, visit this Energy Saving Trust guide for more information.  

External Wall Insulation

External Wall Insulation is a type of insulation material that is attached to the outside of your walls/ Two materials used – one to insulate heat and one to protect from the weather and give a decorative finish. 

This type of insulation is typically used on older properties built before 1930 that have solid brick walls, concrete properties built between 1930 and 1980 and solid wall properties with timber and steel frames.  

Find out more ways to reduce energy use in your home with this guide.  

Solar PV

Find out more by visiting the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels webpage.

Air source heat pumps 

An air source heat pump transfers heat from outside air to water. This then heats rooms in your home via radiators or underfloor heating. It can also heat water that is stored in hot water cylinders for hot taps, showers, and baths.  

Whether an air source heat pump may be right for you is dependent on factors such as having storage space for the heat pump, the size of your home and the insulation levels of your home.  

See the Energy Saving Trust guide for an in-depth look at how heat pumps work.  

To learn more about whether this is a viable option for you, please see this guide from UKGov.