Saving energy in hard to treat homes

How to reduce waste and cut fuel bills in homes where conventional energy saving measures can't be used

For over 10 million homes in the UK, the most cost effective energy efficiency measures won't work. This might be because of the way the homes have been constructed, or because of their location.

But you can still reduce heating bills and save substantial amounts of energy in these homes.

What is a hard to treat home?
Solid walls
No connection to the gas network
No loft
High rise flats
Getting help and advice
Grants and offers for energy saving improvements
Other steps you can take

What is a hard to treat home?

A hard to treat home is one which is hard to make more energy efficient because conventional measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation or a condensing gas boiler can't be taken.

A hard to treat home might have:

solid walls
no connection to the gas network
no loft

Flats in high rise buildings are often hard to treat too.

Solid walls

Solid walls provide poor heat insulation, and unlike cavity walls (which have a gap between interior and exterior surfaces) heat loss can't be reduced by filling the gap with insulation.

To tell if you have solid walls, measure the thickness of one of your home's external walls - you can do this at a window or door - and look at the brickwork. If the wall is deeper than 260mm and the bricks are all laid sideways on, it's probably a cavity wall. Potentially, any other type of wall could be a solid wall.

You can insulate solid walls in two different ways:

Exterior solid wall insulation: this might involve a weather proof insulating treatment being added to the outside of the walls.
Interior wall insulation: this could mean using sheets made of plasterboard and insulating material attached to the inside of the walls.

Find out more about solid wall insulation

No connection to the gas network

For homes that don't have a gas connection, there are efficient alternatives to gas condensing boilers:

Oil and LPG condensing boilers are also highly efficient, converting 86% or more of the fuel they use into heat. Find out more information about condensing boilers
Connecting to a gas pipeline may be possible, although you will have to pay towards the installation. To get a quote for gas supply to your home, use The National Grid's Competitive Connections initiative
Renewable energy sources like ground or air source heat pumps, solar water heating can provide energy to heat your home or supplement other heating systems. For these to work, your home needs to be in a in a suitable location. Find out more about generating your own energy

To get the most from renewable energy sources and energy efficient heating systems, make sure your home is insulated and draught proofed as well as possible.

No loft

A quarter of an uninsulated home's heat is lost through the roof, so loft insulation can reduce heat loss substantially. In homes with no loft - typically those with flat roofs - there are a number of alternatives:

Exterior roof insulation: boards backed with insulation material laid either on top of or under the waterproof layer. When laid on top, the boards are usually held in place with ballast or concrete slabs.
Interior roof insulation: insulation backed boards, either attached to the rafters or sitting on a false ceiling - very similar to some types of internal solid wall insulation.

Flat roof insulation work can be expensive. If it turns out to be impractical, consider other energy saving measures like cavity wall insulation or solid wall insulation or fitting a condensing boiler.

To find out more about insulating from inside or outside the roof, read our loft insulation guide

High rise flats

High rise flats can pose problems because of the way they are constructed and the difficulty of accessing the exterior walls and roof.
Effective energy saving measures for flats include:

Installing double glazing: this can reduce heat loss substantially, especially in flats with large windows and glass balcony doors. Find out more about double glazing
Draught proofing: a low cost option that can be very effective - remember it is important to ensure that the flat has adequate ventilation. Find out more about draught proofing

If you have a private landlord, you can contact him or her to discuss improving the insulation of the entire building - particularly the roof space. The landlord may be eligible for the Landlord's Energy Saving Allowance

Getting help and advice

For free, impartial advice on saving energy in your home, call your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012.

Grants and offers for energy saving improvements

You may be eligible for a grant or offer to help cover the cost of installing insulation and other energy saving measures.

Search for grants and offers
Find out about grants for renewable energy technologies

Other steps you can take

There are plenty of ways you can reduce your energy consumption regardless of the type of home you live in, including fitting heating controls:

Turn down your thermostat: reducing the temperature in your home by one degree could cut your heating bill by 10%.
Use a programmable heating controller: this will save energy by turning your heating on when you need it and switching it off when your home is empty.
Fit thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs): these help you keep frequently-used rooms warm without wasting energy heating empty spare rooms.

Find out more about central heating controls