If you’re wondering whether insulating your home is actually worth the investment, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions we hear at Wise Energy Solutions. The short answer: yes, it almost always is — and the numbers might surprise you. Here’s a realistic breakdown of what you could save across different types of insulation.
The Real Cost of an Uninsulated Home
Heat escapes your home constantly — through your walls, roof, floors, and windows. For a typical semi-detached home without proper insulation, a significant proportion of your heating bill is literally going out through the walls. In Lancashire’s colder months, that’s an expensive problem.
The good news? Every type of insulation addresses a specific weak point, and the savings stack up. Let’s go through each one.
Cavity Wall Insulation Savings
According to the Energy Saving Trust, a semi-detached home with unfilled cavity walls could save around £195–£310 per year after cavity wall insulation is installed. For a detached home, that rises to around £400. Given that the installation cost is relatively low — and often free for eligible households through government schemes — this is frequently the fastest payback of all insulation types.
Real example
A 3-bed semi in Chorley with unfilled cavity walls could be spending an extra £300+ per year on heating compared to an insulated equivalent. With ECO4 funding, that home could be insulated at no cost — making the saving purely profit from day one.
Internal Wall Insulation Savings
Solid-walled homes lose even more heat than cavity-walled ones, so the savings from internal wall insulation can be higher — typically in the range of £250–£460 per year for a semi-detached, and more for larger properties. Given that solid walls are common in older Lancashire terraces, this upgrade can make a dramatic difference to comfort and running costs.
Room in Roof Insulation Savings
Heat rises — so a poorly insulated roof room is one of the biggest sources of heat loss in any home with a converted loft. Properly insulating this space can save between £100–£400+ per year, depending on the size of the room and your existing insulation levels.
What About Combining Multiple Measures?
This is where it gets really interesting. Insulation and solar panels work together brilliantly. Insulate your home and you reduce how much energy you need to heat it. Add solar panels and you generate some of the electricity you do use. The combined effect can cut your annual energy bills by a significant margin — in some cases, by more than £1,500 per year.
At Wise Energy Solutions, we look at your home holistically and recommend the measures that will deliver the biggest impact for your specific property and circumstances.
How Quickly Will I Break Even?
- Cavity wall insulation — often 1–3 years
- Internal wall insulation — typically 3–7 years
- Room in roof insulation — typically 2–5 years
- Solar panels — typically 7–10 years, with 15+ years of free energy after
And remember — energy prices have risen significantly in recent years. The higher the prices rise, the faster these investments pay back.
Will insulation increase my home’s value?
Yes. A better EPC rating (Energy Performance Certificate) has been shown to increase property values — particularly as buyers become more energy-conscious. An EPC upgrade from D to B can add meaningfully to your home’s value.
Do the savings figures account for current energy prices?
The figures cited here are based on current average energy tariffs and are reviewed regularly. With energy prices having risen substantially in recent years, savings may in practice be even higher for some households.
This is for informational use only. Seek guidance before investing in solutions.
Find out exactly how much you could save
Book a free home survey with our team — 01253 804151 · wiseenergy.co.uk