Heat Defined in Green Building

What Is Heat? 

Heat is the energy of moving molecules. Or another way to understand heat is to say it is simply the energy of molecular activity.

• Heat is present in all matter.
• Heat always moves from warmer to cooler.
• Heat moves toward uniformity and molecular rest.

When there is a great difference in temperature between two surfaces, the more rapid flow of heat is from the warmer part to the cooler part. The opposite is true; a smaller difference in the surface temperature will slow the flow of heat.

There are three types of heat transfer:

1. Conduction
2. Convection
3. Radiation

Remember, in all cases, the natural tendency of heat is to move from warmer objects or spaces to cooler objects or spaces.

More about heat transfer.