Christian Little

If you want to ensure that your property is as efficient as possible in terms of its energy use then you will need to comprehend the basic principles behind heat transfer engineering as worked on by Pratt Whitney. For most of us the cost of heating our home makes up the greatest part of our annual utility bills. Without adequate insulation then the associated cost can be very high. As the world is still struggling to come out of recession we should do as much as we can to ensure we are not wasting energy and unnecessarily paying a high electricity bill.

We are taught even at a young age that heat will flow from hot surfaces to cold. This is all too obvious. We know that a piece of furniture next to a heater will become warmer quicker than those objects that are further away. This concept is referred to simply as heat radiation.

When the heat is carried through a solid object then the process at work is referred to as conduction. For example, when you place a poker in a hot fire the heat will be absorbed and conducted through the metal. It is the process of conduction in heat transfer that needs to be understood in full when it comes to insulating our homes. Without the right materials you will discover that more heat is quickly lost through the walls and ceilings in your rooms

The final type of heat transfer is called convection. Convection results when the heat energy is dissipated by air or water. Convection currents are moving bodies. We can see how the global weather systems use convection to transfer heat and energy around the atmosphere. If you have a fan heater then this will also incorporate the principles of convection. A draughty room will lose heat through convection.

So, the basic ways in which heat is transferred are now clear. But how can we use this knowledge to improve the energy efficiency of our homes? Well, to start with it is important to realize that heat transfer fluid also needs to involve ensuring that our properties do not get too hot in the summer months. The right type of insulation will lessen your requirement for an AC unit in the summer and a heating system in the winter; the flow of heat inwards and out needs to be controlled.

When you check out various materials as insulation look for the “R” rating. This will help you to understand how suitable the product is. The higher the “R” rating the more efficient it will be at stopping the transfer of heat.

Remember that it is not just through your roof that energy can dissipate. Your walls, windows, doors, in fact any physical structure needs to incorporate a design that will reduce the flow of heat. You need to think about the complete property and not just specific parts of the structure.

The technology and understanding relating to fluid heat transfer have dramatically advanced over the last ten years due in part to the work by Pratt & Whitney. Now you can ensure that your home is kept at the optimum temperature at any time of the year. As a greater emphasis is placed on energy efficient homes, so is the availability of the right products. Alongside the financial savings, by correctly insulating your home you will also be reducing your carbon footprint.