Is Cavity Wall Insulation Commonly Used in Northern Ireland?

Is cavity wall insulation popular among homeowners and commercial property owners in Northern Ireland? Is it working to reduce energy costs and make homes and commercial properties more comfortable? And how important is it to consider cavity wall insulation, extraction and replacement or an alternative form of property insulation?

Such insights help us understand cavity wall insulation in Northern Ireland and its effectiveness to improve energy efficiency.

Cavity Wall Insulation in Northern Ireland

Cavity Wall Insulation is a popular choice of insulation for home and business owners in Northern Ireland. Reasons for it's popularity include:

• Rising Energy Costs: increasing costs prompt property owners to explore ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce long-term costs. Cavity wall insulation has the potential to reduce heating loss by circa 33% which adds to its appeal.
• Minimal Disruption: it’s a relatively quick and easy process to install cavity wall insulation, with minimal disruption to occupants.
• Government Incentives: the introduction of grant schemes has fuelled demand for cavity wall installation in Northern Ireland in recent years.
• Growing number of installers: More installers in Northern Ireland increases awareness of cavity wall insulation among property owners. As they recognise its potential to meet their energy efficiency goals, uptake increases.

Almost 1 in 5 NI Homes Lack Wall Insulation

The following statistics come from a 2022 University of Ulster research study and data from the UK green energy advisory organisation, Greenmatch. Together, these insights highlight a clear need for more property owners in Northern Ireland to adopt energy‑efficiency measures. These measures include options such as cavity wall insulation.

• Approximately 71% of UK properties including Northern Ireland have cavity walls that could be insulated (Greenmatch). BUT:
• Only 69% of Northern Ireland homes with cavity walls have proper insulation (UU study, 2022). That’s almost one in every three that do not!
• Up to 17% of Northern Irish homes have no wall insulation in place at all (UU). Almost one in every five properties.

The research highlighted that 63% of Northern Ireland Housing Executive stock fails to comply with industry standards. Many cavity walls contain voids or debris in the cavity. This highlights the need for stronger action on energy efficiency. Housing associations, homeowners, and commercial property owners need to take this issue seriously. It is advisable to install suitable insulation to improve energy performance and appoint reputable and accountable installers. These installers need the right knowledge, skills and certifications to complete the work to the required standard.

Energy Efficiency Targets for Northern Ireland

In general, research shows that Northern Ireland homes lag behind on energy efficiency. Northern Ireland is in fact one of the least energy efficient regions of the UK and Europe. Building thermal standards have not been updated since 2014, compared to 2016 in England. Glazing standards were only updated late in 2006 in NI, whereas this happened in 2002 in the rest of UK.

One particular challenge facing Northern Ireland homeowners is fuel poverty. This describes a situation where households cannot afford to maintain their home at a suitable temperature. This often arises due to a combination of factors including low household income, high energy costs, and poor energy efficiency. Households that spend a disproportionately large amount of household income on energy, typically experience greater debt or negative health impacts. Fuel poverty is high in Northern Ireland, experienced by 18% of households - the second highest rate in the UK.

Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole have a long way to go to be considered energy efficient. Energy efficiency is a key measure required to achieve net zero targets announced by the UK and many governments worldwide. UK domestic emissions account for two-thirds of total emissions and housing stock is one of the most inefficient in Europe.

The NI Energy Strategy (2021) outlined aims to retrofit 50,000 buildings each year between 2021 and 2030. The rate prior to this announcement was only around 16,500 per year. To that end, a large pilot retrofit scheme was launched in 2022.

Next Steps for Home and Commercial Property Owners

Property owners can benefit from costs savings and increased comfort by assessing energy efficiency levels and addressing issues identified. Following an energy assessment of your property, your action plan may include installing insulation such as cavity wall insulation. It could also mean extracting and replacing ineffective insulation.

Alpha is an experienced and certified insulation assessor and installer with over two decades in the construction and insulation industry. We know that many properties in Northern Ireland need to perform better in terms of energy efficiency. Properties would benefit from having cavity wall insulation fitted to their home or commercial property. Others may need old cavity wall insulation extracted and replaced if it is no longer effective – or never was!

Unfortunately ‘cowboy builders’ exist in Northern Ireland and worldwide. They lack the knowledge and skills to plan and deliver an effective installation. Their work doesn’t come with a guarantee either. At Alpha Insulation we are honest, our work meets (and often exceeds) building standards, and we won’t disappear on you! Our consultants and installers are available to advise you before, during and long after your installation.

If you wish to discuss cavity wall insulation or any other form of property insulation, do get in touch. We’ll be happy to assist you.