U value is a measurement given to the thermal insulation qualities of a wall with the lower the figure the better . As a guide a new well insulated home will have a U value of around 0.25 and a solid wall home will generally be around 2.05 to 2.10 !!

The U value is therefore a measure of how quickly heat escapes through a structure to the outside and as a result also how much carbon is leaking through the walls as well. In todays hard pressed times with ever rising heating bills it is very important to have a home with a low U value if you wish to keep those winter bills down.

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U Value Improvements

Under the Building Regs Part L1B any new house being built or any existing house having work done on outside walls has to meet certain thermal efficiency standards.These standards are to ensure our homes are nice and warm in winter whilst also being energy efficient and cutting both carbon emissions and energy use.

Expressed in numerical terms the  U value measures the ability of a material to retain heat and the speed at which it allows heat to pass through it. The target for a new home is 0.25 U value and for an existing home undergoing renovations to a wall it is 0.3  if possible but no worse than 0.7.

Heat escaping solid walls

Solid Wall U Value

Most of the UK’s solid wall homes are constructed of two brick courses deep  totalling  9 inch thick  and have an average U value of 2.05 to 2.1 ie the new standards achieve around an 80% increase in thermal performance of the wall.

The Energy Saving Trust estimate an average 3 bed semi could save around £400 per year in heating bills if they took the correct insulation measures.

Home Energy Check

At this time of year in particular -  it is snowing quite heavily as I write this on 2nd December  – it can be very instructive and financially rewarding to take a step back and really think about ways in which you could save energy and money throughout your home.

Please click  a free home energy assessment to take a quick energy road test courtesy of the Energy Saving Trust.

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