Your brother is about right. Concrete slab with a bit of steel is best maybe 1.5K if someone else does it.
Richard www.aarco.co.uk - foundation article on my blog might be worth a read.
Ok I can answer this one - Heat put into a building rises and disappears through gaps in windows doors or construction so spend most on good sealing windows and doors then on roof use 100mm celotex or similar - between the wall studs which should be 95mm use 70mm celotex or similar cut tight...