| Method | How it works | What it reduces |
|---|---|---|
| Loft insulation | Fibreglass/wool traps air pockets | Conduction & convection through roof |
| Cavity wall insulation | Foam/wool fills gap in walls | Conduction & convection through walls |
| Double glazing | Two panes with air/argon gap | Conduction through windows |
| Draught excluders | Seals gaps around doors/windows | Convection (stops hot air escaping) |
| Reflective foil | Shiny surface behind radiators | Radiation (reflects heat into room) |
| Thick curtains | Traps air layer at window | Conduction & convection |
💡 Key principle: Trapped air is an excellent insulator because it's a poor conductor AND can't form large convection currents when trapped in small pockets.
This key facts covers Reducing Heat Loss in Buildings within Heat Transfer for GCSE Physics. Revise Heat Transfer in Energy for GCSE Physics with 14 exam-style questions and 11 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 9 of 17 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Heat Transfer
Which method of thermal energy transfer occurs mainly in solids?
Explain how a convection current forms when the base of a fluid is heated.
Quick recall flashcards
Examples
wood, plastic, glass, air, wool
Fluid is heated
particles gain kinetic energy → move faster → spread out