Nearly half of British homes are 'not properly insulated'

Almost 50% of British homes are not properly insulated according to a Government warning released 17 June 2011. As a result, householders are wasting at least £100 a year on their bills.

While fuel costs rise for households, the latest estimated figures released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) show that only 57% of Britain's lofts and only 58% of cavity walls have been insulated sufficiently.

By insulating these spaces, homes can make energy-efficient savings, helping people save money on their energy costs each year.

The Government is demanding that energy companies help approximately 3.5 million households insulate their homes by December 2012 under obligations imposed on power firms known as the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (Cert).

Latest figures show that 479,000 homes of the target have had insulation professionally installed so far.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "At a time when money is tight and with energy prices predicted to rise, householders are missing out on over £100 of savings every single year by not getting their lofts lagged and cavity walls filled.

"We are making energy companies do more to help their hard-pressed customers with another 3.5 million households set to be protected against higher bills by the end of the next year."

Mr Huhne has urged consumers to 'vote with [their] feet' and switch to other energy firms if their present provider imposed price hikes.

His comments followed an announcement by Scottish Power that it was increasing its gas prices by 19% and electric by 10%. Fears abound that other energy providers will follow suit.

The new Insulation and Airtightness Agreement from PfH and Fusion21's Retrofit Solution could not come at a more appropriate time for the social housing sector following this news.

More information about the Agreement will be released in the near future.