Among the inescapable ongoing costs of running a business is that of heating. If you’re operating from fixed, physical premises, then you’ll need to keep those premises warm.
For this reason, investment in insulation is often highly advisable. Roof insulation is worthy of special consideration, because heat tends to escape quickly through an unprotected roof.
Let’s take a look at several of the key advantages of installing roof insulation.
Energy Efficiency
The improved energy efficiency you get from the right roof insulation will ensure that your boiler or air conditioning system doesn’t need to work as hard to produce the same amount of heat. This will help to limit your costs, as well as reduce the size of your carbon footprint.
For a business that’s committed to slashing emissions and becoming sustainable, this latter concern might be particularly pressing.
Cost Reduction
The amount you invest in your roof insulation will depend on the size and shape of the building. The larger the space, the more you’ll have to spend. On the other hand, larger spaces will also tend to enjoy the effects of the insulation more quickly. You might calculate the amount of heat that your roof is leaking without insulation, and then work out how large the saving is. According to the Energy Saving Trust, the average detached house could save around £40 per year by moving from 120 to 270mm of loft insulation. At this rate, it would take around two decades to make the money back.
However, the picture is slightly more complicated than that. Insulation doesn’t just keep heat in – it also keeps it out. So, you’ll end up spending less on cooling during summer. In certain buildings, this can be a significant upside.
Resale Value
There’s also the fact that improvements in insulation will help to push up the value of the property – and this value can be recouped when you come to sell. If you can push up the Energy Performance Certificate rating of the building, then this will help you to sell for a higher price.
We should also note that the right insulation can help to prevent moisture build-up in the roof, which can help to reduce the risk of rot and other expensive forms of damage. Just make sure that the loft space is well-ventilated.
Employee Comfort and Productivity
When spaces are well-insulated, they can be kept comfortable for long periods. This may help to push up the productivity of the people working in the space and reduce your rate of staff turnover. After all, few people relish working in a freezing building!
In Conclusion
Roof insulation should be considered a priority when it comes to energy efficiency measures. It’s much more affordable than other measures, like cavity wall insulation and double-glazed windows, and it will yield a substantial improvement in performance.
