Good insulation is the be-all and end-all of saving energy. With poor insulation, costly heating energy simply goes up in smoke. The effect of insulation on a home’s “energy balance sheet” becomes clear when we compare the energy consumption of various single-family homes with different levels of insulation quality.

An uninsulated German single-family home built around 1960, comprising an area of 100 m2, uses an average of 3,700 liters of heating oil per year. For a house built after the passage of the German insulation regulations in 1982 and 1984, the figure drops to about 1,500 liters. By contrast, a building constructed after the revised German insulation regulations were enacted in 1995 uses about 1,000 liters. Finally, a low-energy house constructed according to the current state of the art uses just 500 to 700 liters annually – about a sixth of the energy consumed by a home built in the 1960s. (Source: Katalyse Umweltdatenbank (Katalyse Environment Database) - August 2007 )

In addition, good insulation can save ratepayers money on ambient temperature as well. While residents have to set the interior temperature to 23 degrees Celsius in order to feel comfortable in a poorly insulated home, the same comfort can be achieved at just 21 degrees in a thoroughly insulated low-energy home. Which means that in this case, good insulation can cut energy consumption by about 10% due to the lower room temperature.

The worst offenders: roofs, exterior walls, and windows

Heat escapes from homes via roofs, exterior walls, and windows. And yet, there is something you can do about all three weak points in order to effectively reduce energy use and costs.

Hot air always rises, and therefore “pools” under ceilings and roofs. It thus comes as no surprise that a poorly-sealed roof is precisely where heat escapes. Consequently, subsequent renovation often pays off, despite the considerable expense involved.

Exterior walls

A building’s exterior walls are exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations and to the effects of weather. This can wear down the façade and create an unsightly exterior. If the process reaches the point at which the plaster or stucco needs to be replaced or other major renovation work is coming up, perhaps even including plans to replace windows, it is worthwhile to consider the insulation at the same time. A house can lose a great deal of heat through uninsulated walls. Plaster and paint alone are not enough to reduce energy loss over the long term.

Note: Niches for heaters should be insulated especially well to ensure that the heat generated is not lost right away. But frequently, it is exactly the opposite that is the case – the walls behind the heaters are often particularly thin. For that reason, you should install insulation materials if the clearance between the wall and the heater permits, which will retain more heat within the space. Especially easy to handle are aluminum-coated insulation mats: They are a snap to install and reflect precious heat that would otherwise escape back into the room.

Foundation floors and basement ceilings

Energy-saving insulation is recommended for foundation floors and basements as well. If the basement ceiling is insulated, the floor of the building’s ground story also retains heat for longer. If the basement will also need heating, the basement itself, of course, must also be insulated in order to prevent energy loss.

Windows

Depending on the type of construction and fittings, windows can make up to 27 percent of a home’s overall energy consumption. But full renovation, including replacing windows, is costly and labor-intensive and demands a thorough renovation plan. This approach is particularly recommended when the façade is due for work anyway.

One fast, effective solution is using sealing strips that keep drafts out. With the tesamoll® product range, tesa offers a broad selection of high-quality self-adhesive sealing strips for windows and doors. Within just a short time, these solutions lead to appreciable savings in heating costs – up to 35% in some cases.

Click here for more information on the tesamoll® product range.