FORT LAUDERDALE Blog

Kid Insulation Fun

KID INSULATION FUN!

Do you ever wonder how your fridge keeps all your food cold and stuff frozen? Do you ever ask yourself what is electricity? If so, this article may be helpful to give you a better understanding!

Having proper insulation helps save money, keep your house cool/warm and help the planet! Every day the heat that is released from our homes harms the beautiful planet we live on. Heat travels from hot to cold, so when we try to heat up our homes or keep them cool heat will escape from any uninsulated area and find its way to the cooler air!

We can insulate our homes by adding material such as fiberglass, spray foam, or cellulose. Proper insulation in our homes prevents rooms from staying hot and keeping all rooms equally cool. Insulation also helps keep our homes warm in the winter! Insulating our homes and schools helps save heat, keeping you warm in the winter, keeps the air cool during hot summer months, save money on energy bills, and helps save the environment!

Did you know in the wild many animals have created their own types of insulation to keep themselves warm or cool? For example, the Emperor Penguin lives in the pack ice of the Atlantic. Penguins have dense oily feathers that act as a layer of fat beneath their skin. This layer of fat acts as insulation keeping their natural body heat locked inside.

Have you ever wondered why penguins are always huddled together? Well, In the deepest coldest winters penguins huddle together moving continuously in a spiral to conserve heat and stay warm. The penguins on the outside of the huddle will turn their backs acting as a shield to the wind so the inner core of the penguins stays warm. The spiral moves continuously pushing the penguins in and out of the circle in rotation.  

How can heat transfer? Heat transfers in many ways. One way is from radiation through electromagnetic waves! This is how the heat from the sun reaches us on earth! Another way heat transfers are through convection which is currents moving through liquid or gases, kind of like when we heat up soup in the microwave! The last way heat transfers are through conduction. Heat travels through solids, a good example would be heating up a bowl in the microwave with a spoon in it, the spoon is going to be hot too!

So, what is insulation exactly? Insulation is the material or technique used to reduce the rate heat is transferred.  A lot of other animals have unique ways of insulating themselves. Sheep have super thick wool because it helps keep them warm. The wool traps pockets of air which is the main reason we use wool to make winter clothing. Birds will fluff up their feathers during the wintertime to also keep heat trapped inside acting as insulation. Another example of insulation is thermos flasks, ovens, and fridges all use insulation to conserve heat or to keep our food/drinks hot or cold!