Half of the heat loss in an un-insulated house can be through the external walls. Insulating these walls will result in reducing your annual fuel bills and increasing the comfort of your home. Depending on the construction method of your home you can either insulate the walls with cavity wall insulation; internal wall insulation or external wall insulation.

If you have cavity walls (homes built since 1930) you should ensure that they are filled with insulation. This is the cheapest form of wall insulation, and since a specialist contractor always carries out all the work, it requires little direct effort on your part.

It takes less than a day to do and causes no mess in the home as the insulation is injected into the walls from the outside. If installed correctly dampness should not be a problem. The installer should apply for your 25 year CIGA Guarantee, which you should receive within 28 days of installation.

Facts and Figures: Cost £350 - £600 depending on size of house.
Annual saving £70 - £80.

Tip - ensure that the installer is registered with the British Standards Institution or approved by the British Board of Agrément.

This is cost effective to do when you are doing some work on the inside of your external walls anyway, for example, if you are going to re-plaster them. It entails using thermal boards (which you may need to order specially).

The thicker the insulation board the greater the benefit you will have in increased thermal comfort. Note that the internal dimensions of the room being insulated will be reduced by the width of the thermal boards. Sort out any damp problems before putting up internal insulation. If you just cover up the damp patches they will just get worse.

Facts and figures: Cost £170 - £200 (DIY) £650 - £1500 (contractor)
Annual saving £45 - £55.

External wall insulation has a much longer return on investment and is a job for a specialist contractor. It would be cost effective to do if your external walls need re-rendering, when insulated cladding could be used.

If you are in receipt of benefits or are over 60 you may be entitled to a grant towards improving your heating system and other energy efficiency measures. Contact Warmfront on 0800 072 0150 (freephone).

Contact your fuel supplier for details of special offers and grants available for energy efficiency measures. You may be eligible for a grant / discount even if you do not receive benefits.

Contact your Local Energy Advice Centre on 0800 512012