Insulation gives your household the power to save

Insulation is a cost-effective and practical way to save power and money at home – an uninsulated ceiling can lose up to 35 per cent of heat in winter and gain up to 35 per cent of heat in summer.

By installing insulation you can heat your home more energy efficiently and reduce your household's carbon pollution.

Just by installing ceiling insulation you can lower your household's carbon pollution by 10,000 black balloons and can reduce your annual power bill by more than $120.

Ceiling insulation helps your heating and cooling systems run more efficiently, saving you money and reducing our impact on the environment.

How much insulation you need depends on a range of factors, including where you live, your local climate, the type of home you live in and other factors.

Insulation creates a buffer in your ceiling, walls and/or floors that stops air – both hot and cold – from entering and escaping your home.

In winter, insulation prevents heat from escaping and helps to maintain an even temperature of warmth inside your home. In summer, insulation provides a barrier to the hot summer sun and prevents heat from entering.

Materials that insulate slow down heat movement.

There are two types of insulation and they work in different ways:

• Bulk insulation – traps pockets of still air. The air creates a barrier, stopping heat entering or escaping the home.
• Reflective insulation – reflects heat away from its surface.

Insulating your home can reduce your heating and cooling power bill by around 40 per cent. Here's how to get the most from your insulation and save money on your power bills:

• consider its R-value – the higher the R or thermal value, the better it insulates
• choose the right type of insulation for your needs – reflective insulation (shiny foil) reflects sunlight away from the home, while bulk insulation (batts, blankets, rolls or boards) has good soundproofing qualities
• make sure your electrical wiring is safe to have insulation installed – ask a licensed electrician to check your electrical wiring can be safely covered by bulk insulation
• combine insulation with effective window shading – keep your blinds down in summer on north-facing windows and leave them up in winter
• consider wall insulation for the cavities of exterior walls if you are renovating or building
• download Your Home Renovator's Guide (PDF, 2.4MB) for more ways to save power and money with insulation.

Don't try and install insulation yourself, hire a professional who will install your insulation safely and effectively according to Australian Standard AS3999 and manufacturer's instructions.

Also ensure the insulation you are using is accredited under Australian Standard AS3999, the installer should be able to provide this in writing. If concerned, refer to the Federal Government published list of deregistered installers.

Your installer should:

• follow the manufacturers' installation instructions carefully – if bulk insulation is flattened it won't work as well, and reflective insulation needs an air gap next to the shiny surface
• observe fire safety – do not install insulation within 90 mm of chimneys, flues or exhaust fans
• ensure corners of ceilings, walls and floors are properly insulated – this is often where heat leaks are found. If just five per cent of an area is left uninsulated, up to 50 per cent of the potential benefits can be lost
• keep your insulation dry at all times insulation doesn't work well when wet – polystyrene is an exception as it is water resistant.