Energy & Environment · Heat and efficiency / Principles and inquiry
House insulation and heat loss experiment guide
Vary insulation thickness and temperature difference to compare wall heat loss and accumulated energy.
How does it work?
Wall and insulation thermal resistances add in series. At fixed temperature difference, higher resistance reduces heat loss.
Key relationship
Rtotal = 0.13 + 0.15/0.8 + d/0.04 + 0.04 · P = AΔT/Rtotal
Try this investigation
- Vary insulation thickness and temperature difference to compare wall heat loss and accumulated energy.
- Run and record each of the three reference settings.
- Change one variable in each comparison and compare its energy results with the baseline.
Interpreting your results
How are wall and insulation resistances combined?
Add them in series · Wall and insulation thermal resistances add in series. At fixed temperature difference, higher resistance reduces heat loss.
Assumptions and limitations
Insulation conductivity is 0.04 W/(m·K); the 0.15 m wall is 0.8 W/(m·K). Surface resistances are 0.13 and 0.04 m²K/W. Steady one-dimensional conduction omits windows, bridges, ventilation and heat storage.