Free and Cheap Insulation Official Discussion

taffy056

There are no schemes that I am aware of, but your local council may be running something, best bet is to ask. You are limited in what you can have though , it's either external cladding or internal insulation like celotex. You will probably need planning permission and if your council are not doing anything it's extremely expensive, you are talking thousands maybe tens of thousands depending property size.

But there is something called the green deal coming allegedly in October, apparantly there is scope to insulate solid stone houses in that, but it won't be free I think. Look out for it in the coming months.

John_Pierpoint

Simple technical question:

I have between 4" (100mm) and 6" (150mm) of insulation in my loft. I was able to install this by tucking it under the electricity cables for the lights ring main cooker etc, some years ago.
I would like to enhance this existing insulation to the recommended 10" (250 mm) but his would be via the DIY route because I would install light weight storage racking at the same time in my large bungalow roof.
(I would never be able to clear all the "stuff" in the loft, this side of next September so a contractor could come in and do the insulation for me)

However all these insulation blanket products say "Do not lay over electrical wiring":(:(:(:(:(:(
Is there any product, like a plastic coil "spring" that can be used to maintain some ventilation space round each electricity cable ?
I don't want to add a total re-wiring job to the cost of simple loft insulation.

tonewb

Why has MSE only posted offers for the BIG PLC's that offer free cavity wall and loft insulation?

Their are smaller SME organisations who offer free insulation to all with cash backs..... seems like there is no place for small local companies anymore, swallowed up once again by PLC's...... BIG society my ......!!!

Poppycat

why Tony do your represent such a company?

Browntoa

I'd say yes, quick google says

working for a Large insulation contractor as a National Project Manager

littlejaffa

Can anyone advise if the free cavity insulation for those on benefits in scotland will stop from the end of this month?
From reading articles on the site - it looks like it will in England, but if anything more people in Scotland will be eligible.
Is it now or never for Scottish oaps?

John_Pierpoint

The whole ethos of "greening" the housing stock is changing carrot to stick.
These "free" levies on the electricity bills appear in the national accounts held by the OECD (the ref in trade war disputes) as compulsory unmitigated payments and so make the UK look like the over taxed, massive deficit country with the longest recession in living memory country that it is.
So I would grab any freeby now while you still can.

"If we cannot give away insulation, what makes the government think they can make consumers take out a 7% loan under the RHI/green deal."

Consequential linking that is how - just like if you want to fit a new window it has to be double glazed and fitted with a magic energy reflecting tinted layer - even if itr does make your net curtains look yellow.

"I am sorry you will need a new boiler? It will have to be an expensive condensing one. Oh and before I even start, you have to install 10" of fibreglass in your loft and
and have your cavities filled"

- I cannot afford it. I've got no money.!!

" Take out one of these 7% loans, in theory it should pay for itself in saving all that expensive fuel you are currently wasting."

Well that is not law (yet), but would you like to have a sportsman's bet with me it will be within two years? There might be some concessions for the needy, but I wouldn't rely on it.
It is not all about the "funny money" we carry on our plastic these days, once upon a time the British ran the world economy on the gold standard - the unit of accounting is now called "the carbon credit".

littlejaffa

while your thoughts, general ramblings and opinion are interesting, i was hoping someone might have knowledge and facts to help?

does anyone actually know - all i can get out the companies is that there will be 'changes' and we must get in asap - surely someone knows what these changes will be?

John_Pierpoint

It is not us that is rambling it is the Government that is rambling - as all these subsidies based on other people's electricity bills are counted as more tax it is looking bad for a government which undertook to cut government spending - so far government spending is still going up even though it does not feel like it.

The government thinks it can offer "cheap" loans to people in place of grants. As it is having trouble giving away insulation I personally cannot see many people wanting to get into debt (even if the debt is attached to their house rather than to them as individuals).

This in meant to happen some time this summer - we are all waiting.

wakeupalarm

Can anyone who has had cavity wall insulation done already, tell me if they notice the difference both in warmth and their energy bills? I've searched but just keep coming up with warnings about damp and no comments about actually savings. Considering the free offers their must be a few people who have had CWI and can give real world figures.