Press Release
Although there are many ways in which heat can be generated, directly or indirectly, the following are some of the main sources in building interiors:
1) Solar Heat Gain: There are three different ways in which heat from the sun can reach interior spaces – conduction, convection and radiation. Conduction occurs across walls and roofs, since they are exposed to a temperature difference between building interiors and the warmer outdoor environment. Convection refers to heat transfer due to the bulk movement of hot outdoor air, or indoor air movement between surfaces at different temperatures. Finally, radiation is a direct form of heat transfer that occurs when sunlight enters buildings through windows or other transparent surfaces. Both radiation and convection can interact with conduction at the surfaces of walls and roofs. For many buildings, the sun is the single largest source of heat.
Solar heat gain for a specific room greatly depends on its direction or alignment – consider that the sun’s position in the sky changes throughout the day. In the morning, east-facing walls and windows are exposed to direct sunshine. South-facing surfaces are exposed to direct sunshine during noon, and west-facing surfaces during the afternoon. Walls facing north experience the lowest solar heat gain.
Depending on how solar heat gain occurs, its effects can be felt immediately or over a period of time. For example, solar heat entering via glass windows (radiation) has an immediate effect. On the other hand, when heat gain occurs by conduction across walls, the walls themselves store heat and it continues to be released indoors at night.
