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Chapter 7: Problem 147

On average, superinsulated homes use just 15 percent of the fuel required to heat the same size conventional home built before the energy crisis in the 1970 s. Write an essay on superinsulated homes, and identify the features that make them so energy efficient as well as the problems associated with them. Do you think superinsulated homes will be economically attractive in your area?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The key topics to discuss in an essay about superinsulated homes include the introduction to superinsulated homes, their benefits (particularly energy efficiency), the problems associated with them, and their economic attractiveness in your local area.

Step by step solution

01

Introduction to Superinsulated Homes

Begin the essay by introducing the concept of superinsulated homes. Explain that these are homes designed with the primary goal of reducing the energy consumption needed for heating by significantly improving insulation.
02

Benefits of Superinsulated Homes

Discuss the benefits of superinsulated homes, primarily their energy efficiency. Use the statistic provided in the exercise: on average, superinsulated homes use just 15 percent of the fuel required to heat the same size conventional home built before the energy crisis in the 1970s. Elaborate on how this reduced energy consumption translates into cost savings for homeowners, as well as positive environmental impact due to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
03

Features of Superinsulated Homes

Identify and describe the specific features that make superinsulated homes energy efficient. This could include increased insulation thickness, airtight construction, high-performance windows, energy recovery ventilation systems, and passive solar design principles.
04

Problems Associated with Superinsulated Homes

Discuss the potential problems that could arise from constructing and living in superinsulated homes. These could include initial higher construction costs compared to conventional homes, potential overheating in warmer seasons, indoor air quality concerns, and challenges in retrofitting existing homes to superinsulated standards.
05

Economic Attractiveness in Your Area

Analyze the economic attractiveness of superinsulated homes in your area by considering factors such as local climate, energy costs, availability of green building incentives or rebates, and the local real estate market. Provide a conclusion on whether you think superinsulated homes will be economically attractive in your area, and justify your reasoning.
06

Conclusion

Conclude the essay by summarizing the key points: the energy-saving benefits of superinsulated homes, their main features, the potential problems, and the economic attractiveness in your area. Offer insights on the future of superinsulated homes and their role in sustainable building practices.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A 5-m-long strip of sheet metal is being transported on a conveyor at a velocity of \(5 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}\), while the coating on the upper surface is being cured by infrared lamps. The coating on the upper surface of the metal strip has an absorptivity of \(0.6\) and an emissivity of \(0.7\), while the surrounding ambient air temperature is \(25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). Radiation heat transfer occurs only on the upper surface, while convection heat transfer occurs on both upper and lower surfaces of the sheet metal. If the infrared lamps supply a constant heat flux of \(5000 \mathrm{~W} / \mathrm{m}^{2}\), determine the surface temperature of the sheet metal. Evaluate the properties of air at \(80^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\).

What is the effect of surface roughness on the friction drag coefficient in laminar and turbulent flows?

Air (1 atm, \(\left.5^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\right)\) with free stream velocity of \(2 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}\) flows in parallel to a stationary thin \(1 \mathrm{~m} \times 1 \mathrm{~m}\) flat plate over the top and bottom surfaces. The flat plate has a uniform surface temperature of \(35^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). Determine \((a)\) the average friction coefficient, \((b)\) the average convection heat transfer coefficient, and \((c)\) the average convection heat transfer coefficient using the modified Reynolds analogy and compare with the result obtained in \((b)\).

A 12 -ft-long, \(1.5-\mathrm{kW}\) electrical resistance wire is made of \(0.1\)-in-diameter stainless steel \(\left(k=8.7 \mathrm{Btu} / \mathrm{h} \cdot \mathrm{ft} \cdot{ }^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\right)\). The resistance wire operates in an environment at \(85^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\). Determine the surface temperature of the wire if it is cooled by a fan blowing air at a velocity of \(20 \mathrm{ft} / \mathrm{s}\). For evaluations of the air properties, the film temperature has to be found iteratively. As an initial guess, assume the film temperature to be \(200^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\).

Air at \(15^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) and \(1 \mathrm{~atm}\) flows over a \(0.3\)-m-wide plate at \(65^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) at a velocity of \(3.0 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}\). Compute the following quantities at \(x=x_{\mathrm{cr}}\) : (a) Hydrodynamic boundary layer thickness, \(\mathrm{m}\) (b) Local friction coefficient (c) Average friction coefficient (d) Total drag force due to friction, \(\mathrm{N}\) (e) Local convection heat transfer coefficient, \(\mathrm{W} / \mathrm{m}^{2} \cdot \mathrm{K}\) (f) Average convection heat transfer coefficient, W/m² \(\cdot \mathrm{K}\) (g) Rate of convective heat transfer, W
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