Insulation – Because Heating the Garden Is Not a Sport
Insulation – Because Heating the Garden Is Not a Sport
There’s a noble British tradition of standing in your lounge wrapped in a woolly jumper, next to a blazing radiator, while muttering, “Still a bit nippy, isn’t it?” That’s not because we love hypothermia—it’s because many of us are accidentally heating the garden. And as delightful as our roses are, they don’t need central heating.
So, what’s the deal with insulation?
Let me be blunt: insulation is like that friend who always remembers to bring a coat and snacks. It keeps the warmth where it belongs—inside the house—and makes your heating system feel like it’s finally being listened to.
At our house, we’ve gone full eco-fortress. Cavity wall insulation? Check. Loft insulation deep enough to lose a cat in? Check. Triple glazing? Oh yes. We’ve even insulated under the floorboards (though retrieving the screwdriver from between the joists took longer than expected. RIP, screwdriver.)
Where does your heat go?
Let’s play a game I call Where’s the Warmth?
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25% of heat is lost through the roof
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35% through walls
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15% through floors
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10% via windows
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The rest? Probably through the cat flap when the dog’s tail hits the thermostat.
Insulation tackles all these escape routes. Not only do you stay toasty, but your energy bills drop, and your carbon footprint stops dancing the macarena.
But isn’t insulation boring?
Only if you’re the kind of person who finds staying warm and saving money dull. Personally, I find the idea of sitting smugly in a well-insulated home while the neighbours are still taping bubble wrap to the windows quite satisfying.
Plus, there’s a strange thrill in watching your smart meter refuse to budge on a cold day because your house is basically a giant thermos.
What you can do today (without demolishing the house):
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Draught-proof your doors and windows – It’s cheap, cheerful, and works.
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Insulate your loft – 270mm is the recommended depth. That’s more than one ruler’s worth!
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Use thermal curtains – Stylish and functional, like a good waistcoat.
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Close doors – Not everything needs to be open-plan. Especially your heat plan.
Eco bonus points:
If you’ve already done the basics, consider upgrading to materials like sheep’s wool, recycled denim, or even hemp insulation. It's like wrapping your house in a giant natural jumper.
🗨️ “We used to heat the living room, the hallway, and unintentionally, the garden. Now we just heat ourselves — and the cat still sits on the radiator like he owns the place.”
But What About Summer? Keeping Cool Without Blasting the Air Con
Now here’s the twist in our climate tale: Britain’s homes are built like teapots — great at keeping things warm, but not so clever when things start to boil.
With global temperatures rising, we’re entering an era of “Help! It’s 28°C and the cat has melted onto the tiles.” So while insulation keeps your house cosy in winter, how do you stop it turning into a slow cooker in summer?
Fear not. Here’s how to have your cake (warm in winter) and eat it (cold, in a shaded kitchen, in summer):
🌬️ Tips to Keep Your House Cool Without Air Conditioning:
1. Use your insulation the smart way
Good insulation doesn’t just trap heat in — it can also keep heat out. Think of it like a flask. Close the windows during the hottest parts of the day and open them at night to let in cool air. It’s the old Spanish villa trick, minus the tapas.
2. Block the sun before it hits the glass
Install external blinds, awnings, or even shutters — or for a quicker fix, hang light-coloured curtains or reflective thermal blinds. It’s amazing how much cooler a room stays if the sun isn’t punching through the windows like a microwave.
3. Plant some leafy allies
Trees, climbers, and hedges aren’t just good for the bees — they can shade walls and windows, especially if planted on the south or west-facing sides of your home. Your garden becomes a climate buffer. Also, it looks lovely. Double win.
4. Reflect the heat with a cool roof
Painting your roof white or fitting reflective roof membranes can bounce the sun’s rays away. It’s like putting a hat on your house. (A very large, expensive hat.) Solar panels can reflect heat or use solar panels with solar hot water underneath. We are trying to pilot one of these.
5. Ventilate smartly
Use cross ventilation: open windows on opposite sides of the house in the early morning and late evening to create a breeze. Add a fan in one window to extract hot air. No air con needed — just physics and a bit of timing.
6. Avoid heat sources
Don’t run the oven, tumble dryer or your third cup of tea in the middle of the day. They all add to indoor heat. In summer, think Mediterranean: salads, cold drinks, and siestas.
7. Thermal mass trick
Stone, brick, and concrete absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night. If insulated correctly on the outside, these materials can help regulate indoor temperatures by buffering both extremes.
🗨️ “Insulation doesn’t just stop you heating the planet in winter — it helps stop the planet heating you in summer.”
The Takeaway
You don’t need to seal yourself inside an air-conditioned box to survive a British summer. With a bit of insulation savvy and smart design, your home can be a year-round climate cocoon — warm in winter, cool in summer, smug all the time. Insulating your home isn’t just eco-warrior stuff — it’s good old-fashioned common sense with a green twist. Your house works less. You save money. The planet breathes a little easier. And best of all, you can finally stop wearing a hat indoors.
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