But the UK's housing stock has a reputation for being aging and draughty, leaving many of our homes chilly, expensive to heat and unprepared for sustainable heating options.
The index is constructed using data on local housing stocks and socio-economic and health data for local populations.
It shows there is stark variation when it comes to both the quality of existing insulation and rates of fuel poverty. The index also highlights the availability of insulation installers - who can be hard to come by even if you do have the funds to make your own improvements.
But we think the government could be doing more to support homeowners to insulate their homes - in the form of better awareness, information and advice, as well as offering financial assistance for fuel poor households - and make it easier for households to find trained and reliable installers.
Make changes for the planet and your pocket.More than 13 million homes need better loft insulation
The style, fabric and age of a building all have an impact on its energy efficiency. Overall, the UK has a real problem with homes that don't have enough insulation.
Our housing stock is amongst the oldest and leakiest in Europe. An estimated 13.3 million households are in need of loft insulation, 5.9 million in need of cavity wall insulation, and 7.4 million in need of solid wall insulation.
You can search our map by local authority, constituency or Lower Super Output Area in England and Wales, Data Zones in Scotland or Super Output Areas in Northern Ireland, so you can see how your local area performs against the rest of the country, and find out what the main issues are.
The tool also highlights areas with high proportions of people living in fuel poverty, and the prevalence of conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases that are worsened by living in a cold and draughty home.
Find where your area ranks in our toolBest and worst places around the country for insulation
The map strikingly demonstrates which local areas have the best insulation provision, and which have comparitively worse insulation needs.
Particularly in need are inner city and coastal areas, and those with a typically high proportion of Victorian-built homes.
The best and worst performing of the local authority areas in the UK are:
England (309 local authorities)Best: Worst Wales (22 local authorities)Best:Worst: Scotland (32 local authorities)Best:Worst: Northern Ireland (11 local authorities)Best: Worst:What homeowners can do to improve insulation
If you are finding your home cold and draughty even when the heat is on, it's likely that your insulation needs to be improved.
For many households, this means adding or updating loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, solid wall insulation or floor insulation, some of which can be big jobs.
.But not everyone will be in a position to take on these types of project straight away. If that's you, there are various DIY draught-proofing improvements you can make to your house to keep the heat in that can make a quick difference to your comfort levels and your energy bills.
Insulation jobs that require professionals
A significant stumbling block for the provision of insulation is a lack of trained, reliable installers.
For large, technical jobs affecting your building's structure, such as floor, cavity and solid wall insulation, and certain types of loft insulation, you'll need a trader - but they are often in short supply.
Our insulation tool can show you how a local area compares to others for availability of insulation installers per 100,000 people. This can be narrowed down to just those with suitable consumer protections.
Which? Trusted Traders lists local traders that have been vetted in our rigorous assessments and checks. You can look for insulation installers near you below:
Read more: , , and .Government schemes to help with insulation
There is currently some help available from the government for people looking to improve the insulation in their properties.
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme requires certain energy providers to assist eligible households with energy efficiency measures - usually either insulation or a boiler replacement. Most ECO funding is available to low income homes.
A further phase of the ECO scheme, called ECO+ or the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) offers roof, loft or cavity wall insulation to homes that have particuarly low energy efficiency and fall in certain council tax bands, but it's not means-tested. Qualifying properties must have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D or below and be in council tax bands A-D in England or A-E in Scotland and Wales.
The government expects to be able to help up to 300,000 households this way.
It has put together an eligibility checker tool to let homeowners know whether they qualify for any of the available funding.
The tool will ask questions such as how you heat your home, whether it has solid or cavity walls, and if you receive any benefits.
After using the tool, you will be referred to your energy supplier for further support.
The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) is also available, offering support to homes that are off the gas grid.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/the-worst-places-in-the-uk-for-insulation-problems-audcK7B1NCZ0