What unit measures thermal resistance?

The unit that measures thermal resistance is the R-value. R-value quantifies the effectiveness of insulation materials in resisting heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation is at providing resistance against heat transfer. This is particularly important in HVAC applications, where maintaining temperature control in buildings significantly impacts energy efficiency and comfort levels.

The R-value is crucial when determining how well a building will retain heat in the winter or stay cool in the summer. It plays a key role in selecting appropriate insulation materials, as proper insulation can lead to reduced energy consumption for heating and cooling systems, ultimately resulting in lower utility costs and improved indoor air quality.

While other values such as U-value, BTU/h, and W/m²K measure different aspects of thermal performance and heat transfer, they do not represent thermal resistance directly like the R-value does. U-value, for example, measures the rate of heat transfer and is the inverse of R-value, which shows how much heat is retained by an insulating material. Understanding these distinctions helps in recognizing how to optimize energy efficiency in HVAC systems.