The energy transition is unaffordable, climate protection is a luxury, and, in any case, insulation is ugly, expensive, life-threatening and ineffective.

Many prejudices have been doing the rounds for years, particularly in the German press; they are reproduced and quoted in media reports in magazines and on public service television, where they are further exacerbated, and are increasingly shaping the mindset of key players at all levels: homeowners, those in charge of the housing sector, journalists, tradespeople and their representatives, planners, right through to decision-makers in politics and business. Hardly any building measure is as exposed to public criticism as retrofitting thermal insulation.

• Can walls ‘breathe’?
• Does thermal insulation burn?
• Does thermal insulation cause mould?
• Is thermal insulation not worth it?
• Mass rather than insulation?
• Does insulation prevent solar (heat) gain through the walls in winter?
• Can you actually ‘insulate yourself to death’?
• Are ‘the Germans’ going over the top again?
• Is polystyrene (or other ‘conventional’ insulation materials) toxic or classified as hazardous waste?
• Is it pointless to insulate one part of a building if you don’t want to touch the others?
• What is the optimum insulation thickness?
• Are there ‘energy-saving paints’?
• Do insulation materials fail to offset the energy used in their production? Or rather: is more energy consumed and more CO₂ emitted during the production of insulation materials than is saved during their useful life?
• and much more.

Yet the reality tells a very different story: Homeowners praise the high level of comfort in low-energy and passive houses, whilst those renovating older properties are delighted that heating energy requirements – and thus heating costs – have demonstrably fallen by 10 per cent, 50 per cent and, in the case of ambitious renovations, by up to 80 per cent. All these refurbishment projects were carried out using materials available on the market and can usually be financed solely through the energy savings achieved. However, the refurbishment rate remains stagnant at a very low level, and technically skilled planners and tradespeople often find it difficult to gain acceptance from their clients and potential customers. What could be the reason for this?

In the attached interview, you’ll find answers to many questions about insulation, as well as plenty of valuable energy-saving tips.