Loft insulation is an effective way to save energy and money in a home. A well insulated house keeps warmth indoors and not letting heat escape. By insulating a loft it will help to heat the home more efficiently. Using less energy reduces carbon dioxide emissions (CO2): which is one of the biggest causes of climate change. Another advantage is that people will also save money on their bills too. [1]
Glass fibre or other loft insulation materials are laid across the loft to reduce the rate of heat transfer out of the roof. Glass fibre works as an insulator by trapping air inside. The glass fibre with trapped air is a very poor conductor which reduces heat transfer from the ceiling to the loft. The room in the house stays warmer for longer. [2]
Heat flows from a warm area to a cold one. The colder the temperatures outside, the faster heat will escape into its surroundings. Insulation makes it more difficult for heat to get through a roof by forming a layer of material which contains several air pockets. These pockets trap heat preventing its escape; this in turn reduces the U value of the loft. The U value measures how quickly a loft loses heat, the lower the U value, the less energy is required to keep your home warm. Loft insulation can reduce a loft 's U value by around 95%. [3]
Conduction is by where heat is lost by each molecule passing heat on to another molecule through a substance, these molecules are in direct contact with each other. You see this clearly when you look at a thermal imaging picture of a wall. You can see this heat loss is higher where the cavity wall insulation has slumped or not been correctly filled. [4]
Cavity wall insulation is so cost effective that it will pay for itself over and over again. The better insulated your home, the less energy you need to keep it warm - and the more money you 'll save. In fact, by insulating your cavity walls you could cut your heating costs by up to 15%. By saving energy,
References: 1. http://www.loftspaceinsulation.co.uk/why-insulate 2. http://www.gcsescience.com/pen15-loft-insulation.htm 3.http://www.heatexgroup.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54&Itemid=59 4. http://www.ecohomeinsulation.co.uk/Icynene-blog/files/tag-how-does-the-thickness-of-insulation-effect-heat-loss.html 5. http://www.myredlandroof.co.uk/thinking-roofing/article/how-important-is-the-thickness-of-loft-insulation1 6. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertyadvice/jeffhowell/5387409/Loft-insulation-stave-off-winter-bills.html