Chapter 2.3 Heating and insulating buildings

Question 1

What can the rate of energy transfer from houses be reduced by?

Answer 1

• Loft insulation
• Cavity wall insulation
• Double-glazed windows
• Aluminium foil behind radiators
• External wall with thicker bricks and lower thermal conductivity

Question 2

What is cavity wall insulation?

Answer 2

Cavity wall insulation is insulation material that is used to fill the cavity between the two layer bricks of an external house wall.

Question 3

Explain 4 ways that rate of energy transfer from houses are reduced.

Answer 3

• Loft insulation- such as fibreglass reduces the rate of energy transfer through the roof.
• Cavity wall insulation- this reduces the rate of energy transfer through the outer walls of the house.
• Aluminium foil- this is aluminium foil between a radiator panel and the wall reflects radiation away from the wall and so reduces the rate of energy transfer by radiation.
• Double-glazed windows- windows that have two glass panes with dry air or a vacuum between the panes.