Why is ventilation so important?
Improving the energy efficiency of a home is a great way to save money, with great features available such as double-glazing, draught-stripped windows/doors and insulation. However, while they are beneficial, they can also reduce the air permeability and ventilation in a house. This is not recommended, as stale air can contain a lot of pollutants such as carbon dioxide.
A home should be filled with fresh air, and in most UK dwellings this is improved with the inclusion of extract ventilation fans in typically wet spaces, such as the kitchen and bathrooms.
Improving the air-tightness of a space can improve your energy efficiency, but lead you lacking in terms of ventilation, which can lead to serious health problems. When installing any insulation measure, the adequacy of the existing ventilation should be assessed and improved if needed.