Insulate Magazine Issue 12 - November 2017

The only independent insulation industry trade magazine
insulate columnist
The Importance of Insulation
in Reducing Fuel Bills
Neil Marshall, Chief Executive, National Insulation Association (NIA)
Responding to the news of the proposed energy price cap the National Insulation
Association (NIA) is advising that there is still more that can be done to reduce fuel bills and help the
most vulnerable households, especially those in fuel poverty.
New analysis released by the Big Deal collective switching
site, shows that customers on standard deals with the
big six energy providers can pay as much as £225 more
than their cheapest deal. It is estimated that there are 8m
households on a standard variable tariff that have been
with the big six for more than three years.
The NIA says that whilst the price cap will help many
people it is important to stress that energy efficiency upgrades
to homes can also make a real difference. For example
a study by UK Energy Research Council (UKERC)
published this year highlighted that improved energy
efficiency since 2004 means that the average dual fuel
household bill was £490 lower in 2015 than it otherwise
would have been but more still needs to be done.
Therefore insulation has a key role to play in helping to
reduce future energy costs and the NIA is keen to
continue to raise awareness of the huge savings householders
can make by simply improving their home insulation.
In fact insulating solid walls can save as much as
£455 per year.
As well as the price cap the Government has
recently launched its clean growth strategy that marks out
investment in energy efficiency including insulation which
will help; provide economic growth, reduce carbon
emissions, tackle fuel poverty, reduce energy bills and
create jobs – The NIA welcome this move.
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