Insulation, insulation, insulation

In a typical house, almost half the heat lost is through the walls and roof. Thermal insulation will reduce this heat loss, saving you money and reducing the carbon footprint of your home.

Building regulations have been revised several times in the last few years (and will doubtless be revised in years to come) with regards to increasing energy efficiency by increasing the thickness of insulation.

At present:

Ground floors must have a U value of no more than 0.22W/m²K (which is 55 - 110mm insulation depending on the material)

Walls must have a U value of no more than 0.3W/m²K (90 - 115mm insulation in a fully filled cavity or a timber frame wall with 140mm studs)

Types of insulation

Cavity wall iInsulation Cavity walls are made up of two layers with a small gap or `cavity' between them. Cavity wall insulation sits within this cavity.

Solid wall insulation Solid walls lose even more heat than cavity walls, but you can also insulate them either internally or externally.

Loft insulation Heat rises and if your loft is not insulated, it continues to rise . . . straight out of the house.

Draught proofing If you can feel cold air coming in around the windows in your home it means warm air is escaping.

Sound insulation Noise should be able to be dampened to such an extent that it no longer interferes with activities you set out to do.

Once only of interest to a small minority, green is the new black as far as self-building is concerned.

With the effects of global warming becoming increasingly apparent, more and more people are seeking greener ways to provide the energy needed to run a home.

Whether it's solar panels, heat pumps, high specification glazing or eco-friendly wool insulation in the loft space, there is little doubt that it is self-builders who are setting the standards for a greener future for the building industry and the way we live our lives.

Underfloor heating for example, has been available for years but, by and large, the self build market has been the industry's bread and butter - with large scale property developers still opting for standard, less efficient radiators.

But it's not all about saving the planet. Incorporating green ideas into a home can lead to reduced running costs and save you money in the medium to long term too. And when you come to sell your home in the future, you can guarantee that the greener it is the more attractive it will be to prospective buyers.

There is a greater sense of purpose from the government to promote green alternatives too with a stick and carrot approach in place.

Building regulations now demand far better energy efficiency while government grants are available for loft insulation right through to solar panels, heat pumps, wind turbines and other microgeneration technologies.

Self-builders are leading the way as far as greener homes are concerned and greenselfbuild.co.uk will be with you every step of the way towards a greener future for you, your family and the wider community.