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Where Heat is Lost in Scottish Homes: The Complete Breakdown

10 min read
8 January 2026
Scottish Energy Efficiency

Quick Answer

In a typical Scottish home, heat escapes through: walls (35%), roof (25%), windows (20%), floors (10%), and draughts (10%). Older properties lose significantly more through single-glazed windows. Addressing the biggest heat loss areas first provides the best return on investment.

Understanding where your home loses heat helps prioritise improvements for maximum impact and savings.

In This Article

  • Key facts and figures
  • Real Scottish examples
  • Common questions answered
  • Next steps and resources

Related Calculators

These figures are based on real Scottish systems we've installed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Usually loft insulation offers the best ROI. After that, consider cavity wall insulation, then windows, then floor insulation.

A thermal imaging survey shows exact heat loss areas. Many energy assessors offer this service.

Yes. Single glazing loses 4-5 times more heat than modern double glazing. Even older double glazing is significantly worse than current A-rated units.

Yes, especially in older homes. It's also one of the cheapest improvements with immediate impact.

Properly insulating a poorly-performing home can reduce heating bills by 30-50%. Individual measures vary in impact.

Part of our Windows & Thermal Efficiency guide

Understanding heat loss, glazing options, and thermal improvements for Scottish homes

Visit Windows & Thermal Efficiency Scotland
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