Heat loss from a house and how it can be reduced

The heat loss from a house can be reduced in the following ways (shown in brackets on the diagram). It is much greater when it is cold outside and especially if it is windy as well.

1. Loft insulation – glass fibre and/or layers on insulation
2. Double glazing
3. Cavity wall insulation
4. Curtains, blinds and shutters
5. Carpets
6. Draught excluders

Energy Improvements in house design

As we move into the twenty first century people have become more and more aware of the need to conserve the resources of our planet. We try and recycle as much waste as possible and we try and reduce the amount of energy we use. One way of doing this is to reduce the amount of heat energy lost from our houses. A lot of work is also being done to make the places where we live more ecologically friendly.

The following photograph shows some houses built in the town of Langport in Somerset. The houses face southwest to gain as much energy from the sun as possible.