Make your home warmer and cosier with the right energy upgrades, says our retrofit expert
Improving insulation, tackling draughts and choosing the right heating system can help householders create a warmer, healthier and more comfortable home, according to Dean Firth in episode 9 of Tomorrow’s Energy
Making a home warmer and more comfortable should be at the heart of improving its energy efficiency, according to Dean Firth, assistant director for housing at Salix.
We chat to Dean in episode 9 of the Tomorrow’s Energy podcast. In this episode he shares practical advice on how householders can make their homes cosier, reduce energy bills and cut carbon emissions.
With more than a decade of experience in retrofit and a master’s degree in renewable energy development, he says the best place to start is by looking at how well a home holds on to heat.
He says: “When I talk to most people, the first thing they want to talk about is solar panels.
“While solar panels are a great technology and they can save a lot of money, really the amount of energy a solar panel will harvest is a drop in the ocean compared to the amount of energy it takes to heat a home.”
Dean explains that around two-thirds of the energy used in a typical British home goes towards heating, making insulation an important first step.
The first thing I would look at is your loft insulation. Do you have 300 millimetres of insulation in your loft? If you don’t, it's a real easy win to sort that out.
Start with the loft and consider a porch
One of the simplest improvements is checking loft insulation.
He says: “The first thing I would look at is your loft insulation. Do you have 300 millimetres of insulation in your loft? If you don’t, it's a real easy win to sort that out.”
He recommends looking at the walls next. Cavity walls are generally easier and cheaper to insulate, while solid walls can be more challenging and may require specialist work.
Dean also highlights a less obvious improvement: adding a porch.
“If you’ve got a door that opens directly from your kitchen or your living room to the outdoors, every time you open your door you’re letting in loads of rain, all the heat rushes out and all the cold wet air rushes in.”
Get the right advice before making changes
Dean warns that choosing the wrong insulation for an older property can cause serious problems.
“If you live in an old stone building and you just put that insulated plasterboard straight onto your walls, you’re going to end up with damp and mould behind that plasterboard.”
He also cautions against simply replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump without assessing the home’s heating requirements.
A heat pump provides heat at lower temperatures than a traditional boiler, so a property may need larger radiators or underfloor heating to keep it comfortable.
“The heat demand of the house” needs to be “completely reassessed” before switching to a heat pump, he explained.
What can you do with your budget?
For householders with around £5k to spend, Dean recommends checking loft insulation first, before considering other improvements such as solar panels.
With a budget of around £20k he would look at insulating the walls, followed by windows and doors, depending on the property.
In our podcast Dean emphasises that every home is different and householders should understand their property’s needs before committing to major work.
A warmer home, not just lower bills
Dean says a well-insulated home with a heat pump may also require a different approach to heating. Rather than turning the heating up high when the house feels cold, householders may need to maintain a steady temperature and allow the system to work consistently.
For him, the benefits of retrofit go far beyond saving money.
He says: “Your bills are much lower, but actually what’s different is not getting poorly anymore and you’re not sat next to a window that feels like a draft’s coming off it.”
He describes this as “thermal comfort” - the feeling of living in a warm, cosy home without constantly needing extra layers of clothing.
“Just being able to walk around in your pyjamas without having to put a jumper on if you want to go into the kitchen, it’s a great thing.”
Dean’s message to householders is to start with the basics, seek the right advice and make improvements that suit their property.
The aim is not just to create a more energy-efficient house, but a warmer, healthier and more comfortable place to live.
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At a glance: Dean’s advice for a warmer home
- Check your loft insulation: Aim for around 300mm of insulation. Upgrading an under-insulated loft can be a straightforward way to reduce heat loss.
- Look at your walls: Cavity wall insulation is generally simpler and cheaper to install than solid wall insulation.
- Consider a porch: A porch can help reduce heat loss when an external door is opened, particularly in cold, wet and windy weather.
- Get expert advice on older homes: Traditional stone and masonry buildings need suitable insulation to avoid trapping moisture and causing damp or mould.
- Plan before installing a heat pump: Have your home’s heating needs assessed. Larger radiators or underfloor heating may be needed to keep rooms comfortably warm.
- Make the most of your budget: With around £5k, check loft insulation first and consider other suitable upgrades. With around £20k, wall insulation could be a priority, followed by windows and doors.
- Think beyond solar panels: Improve insulation and reduce heat loss before treating solar panels as the main solution to your home’s heating needs.
- Keep heating steady: A well-insulated home with a heat pump may be more comfortable if you maintain a consistent temperature rather than frequently switching the heating on and off.
- Focus on comfort as well as savings: Retrofit can help reduce cold spots and draughts, improve comfort and potentially lower energy bills and carbon emissions.
Dean’s key message: Start with the basics, understand your home’s needs and get the right advice before making major changes.
Listen now
Salix’s podcasts explore the challenges and opportunities of decarbonisation, sharing insights from the people, organisations and communities working to turn net zero ambitions into action.
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