Insulation is the most energy efficient addition you can make to your home, providing a barrier to heat flowing in and out of your home and keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer. Insulating your home along with other efforts such as weatherproofing and shading can also help you save up to 45 per cent on your current energy bills.

The key to insulation is not its thickness but it's "R" rating which measures heat flow resistance, where higher R values provide higher levels of insulation. 35 percent of heat is lost or gained through your roof with a further 25 per cent through your walls so it is vital to install insulation in these areas. There are two types of insulation you can use - bulk and reflective.

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Bulk insulation traps pockets of air within its structure reducing the transfer of heat and includes materials such as wool, glass wool, polyester and polystyrene. Its thermal resistance is essentially the same regardless of the direction of heat flow through it, but is primarily used to keep heat in. Reflective insulation usually consists of a shiny aluminium foil laminated onto paper or plastic and works by reflecting heat from its surface, therefore being used to keep heat out.

Choosing the right type of insulation for your house with the appropriate R rating will depend on your location and climate with recommendations available online. Once you have your insulation installing it is relatively easy and can be done yourself however if you are unsure, especially around electrical wiring, then seek advice from a professional.

Remember, installing insulation is not the only thing you can do to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient.