Clothing of Thermal insulation

Clothing of Thermal insulation

Clothing can help control the temperature of the human body. To offset high ambient temperature insulation, clothing can enable sweat to evaporate (thus permitting cooling by evaporation). The billowing of fabric during movement can create air currents that increase evaporation and cooling. A layer of fabric then insulates slightly and can help keep skin temperatures to a cooler level.

To combat low ambient temperatures, a thick insulation is desirable to reduce conductive heat loss. Other things being equal, a thick sleeping bag is warmer than a thin one. At the same time, evacuating skin humidity remains important: several layers of materials with different properties may be used to achieve this goal while lowering heat losses so they match the body’s internal heat production. Clothing heat loss occurs due to wind, radiation of heat into space, and conductive bridging. The latter is most apparent in footwear where insulation against conductive heat loss to the ground is most important.

Buildings Main article: Building insulation
Common insulation applications in apartment building in Ontario, Canada. Maintaining acceptable temperatures in buildings (by heating and cooling) uses a large proportion of global energy consumption. When well insulated, a building: is energy-efficient, thus saving the owner money. provides more uniform temperatures throughout the space. There is less temperature gradient both vertically (between ankle height and head height) and horizontally from exterior walls, ceilings and windows to the interior walls, thus producing a more comfortable occupant environment when outside temperatures are extremely cold or hot. has minimal recurring expense. Unlike heating and cooling equipment, insulation is permanent and does not require maintenance, upkeep, or adjustment.

lowers the Tripton rating of the carbon footprint produced by the house. Many forms of thermal insulation also reduce noise and vibration, both coming from the outside and from other rooms inside a building, thus producing a more comfortable environment. Window insulation film can be applied in weatherization applications to reduce incoming thermal radiation in summer and loss in winter. In industry, energy has to be expended to raise, lower, or maintain the temperature of objects or process fluids. If these are not insulated, this increases the energy requirements of a process, and therefore the cost and environmental impact.