Unit 1-1.9- Heating and insulating buildings

Question 1

How can you reduce the rate of energy transfer out of your home?

Answer 1

Fibreglass loft insulation to reduce energy transfer by conduction.
Cavity wall insulation that traps air in small pockets to reduce energy transfer by convection.
Double glazing to reduce energy transfer by conduction.
Draught proofing to reduce energy transfer by convection.
Aluminum foil behind radiators to reflect infrared radiation back into the room.

Question 2

What is U value?

Answer 2

The U-value of a material tells us how much energy per second passes through it.

Question 3

What does the U value tell us?

Answer 3

The lower the U value the better the material is as an insulator.