Task: Designing an Energy Efficient House

Objective: To apply knowledge of heat energy and heat transfer to design an energy-efficient
house.
Materials:
 Graph paper or design software
 Ruler or straight edge
 Calculator
 List of common building materials and their thermal conductivities
Procedure:
1. Research and identify the key factors that contribute to heat loss in buildings, such as
insulation, air leaks, and building materials.
2. Using graph paper or design software, create a floor plan for a small house that includes
all necessary living spaces (e.g., bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, living area).
3. Calculate the total surface area of each exterior wall, roof, and floor of the house.
4. Determine the thermal conductivity of each building material you plan to use in your
design and calculate the overall thermal conductivity of each surface area of the house.
5. Use this information to design a building envelope that minimizes heat loss through
insulation, air sealing, and strategic placement of windows and doors.
6. Optional: Calculate the energy consumption and cost savings of your energy-efficient
design compared to a standard, non-energy efficient house.
Questions to Answer:
1. What factors did you consider when designing your energy-efficient house, and how did
they contribute to reducing heat loss?
2. What types of insulation and air sealing did you use in your design, and why did you
choose these materials?
3. How did you decide on the placement and size of windows and doors in your design,
and what effect did this have on heat transfer?
4. How did the overall thermal conductivity of your building materials affect the energy
efficiency of your design?
5. How does your design compare to a standard, non-energy efficient house in terms of
energy consumption and cost savings?
6. What are some challenges or limitations you encountered while designing an energy-
efficient house, and how did you overcome them?