Heat transfer by radiation is pretty much entirely different from the types of heat transfer discussed in the previous two articles: conduction and convection. That’s why I’ve saved it for last in this series. You could make a solid argument that radiant heat transfer is the hardest to understand of the three, but I bestowed … Read more
This week we’re going to talk about the type of heat transfer that I personally find most confusing: convection. You might find it easiest to start with the previous article on conduction if you haven’t read it already. (The third type of heat transfer, radiation, we’ll discuss in the final article in the series.) To … Read more
It’s been heating up around here, and for the past few weeks we’ve been slowly increasing our use of box, window, and ceiling fans. I sat down this morning to write about how to use, and how not to use, these seemingly simple machines. But then I realized I was getting ahead of myself. If … Read more
This article explains the final concept that you should understand if you want to make sure your next home energy improvement project has maximum benefits (savings and comfort!) and minimal costs (your time, money, and frustration). If you haven’t already, take a few minutes and start with Concept 1 and Concept 2. This article will … Read more
This article explains the second of three fundamental concepts that you should take a few minutes to understand before starting your next energy efficiency project in your old home. The short time it takes you to read these three articles could save you quite a bit of money, energy, and frustration. If you haven’t already, … Read more
This article explains the first of three concepts that you need to understand if you’re serious about saving energy—and money, and frustration. If you started with the first post, you know that my goal is to help you learn how to think about your house so that you can make the right decisions about what … Read more