Review sheet – Home Heating Basics
Residential Heat Loss
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Home heating is the single highest energy expense for a household
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Mechanisms of heat loss. You should be able to identify the mechanisms given
some examples.
o Conduction
o Convection
o Radiation
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Heating Degree Days. Definition and Calculation of HDD
o Seasonal heating degree day. Calculation of Seasonal HDDs
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Heat loss
o Hourly heating loss
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From temperature difference
o Annual or Seasonal heating loss
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From HDD
Insulation and Home heating fuels
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R-Value
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Types of Insulation
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Composite R-value calculation (make sure if the component R-value is given for
the whole thickness or per inch.)
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Calculation of wall heat loss
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Fuel Choices for home heating
o Heating value of fuels
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Heating Efficiency
o AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency)
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Energy Cost
o Annual heating
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Payback Period
o Make sure you use the correct units for each quantity used in the formula