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With summer in full swing, I'd wager loft insulation is the last thing on your mind. But there's good reason to lag your loft now: as well as keeping you warm in winter, the thermal stuff will keep your house cool in summer. Plus you could save around £155 every year on your future heating bills. To help you pick the greenest insulation material, I've rounded up six sustainable choices from sheep's wool to recycled plastic bottles.
All are made from natural or eco materials and most are likely to have lower embodied energy -- the carbon required to make 'em -- than traditional materials like mineral wool.
The other good news about these materials is that none suffers from the evil itchiness that comes with old skool mineral wool. Some, such as the Eco Wool, are safe to install without protective clothing, so you can leave your goggles, mask and gloves in the tool box.
All of these options can be done DIY, but if you're unsure about laying installation I'd recommend you find an installer. The insulation companies should be able to recommend someone relatively local to you. If you do go DIY, fit a minimum thickness of 270mm; at home I've fitted 300mm's worth.
Finally, before you buy anything, give the Energy Saving Trust's free helpline a call on 0800 512 512 to find out what grants you might be eligible for. You could save hundreds of pounds, though in some cases 'natural insulation' doesn't qualify for grants.
Recycled plastic bottles -- YBS Non-Itch, also known as Eco Wool at B&Q (pictured above)
This stuff comes in rolls and is made from 85 per cent recycled plastic bottles; it's an obvious alternative to mineral wool. It's itch-free, rolls out easily and comes in a 100mm thickness. I've installed it at home and found it very easy to fit. It's stocked by B&Q and you can get more technical info on Eco Wool's site.
The good: It's cheap and the laying technique is identical to mineral wool
The bad: B&Q frequently runs out of stock
Pricing: £15 for four metres. 200mm thick.
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