What is thermal bridging?

Thermal bridging refers to the phenomenon where heat flow is significantly increased in areas of reduced insulation within a building's envelope. This typically occurs at structural elements such as beams, columns, and other materials that have higher thermal conductivity than the surrounding insulated spaces. When these materials are not insulated properly or are exposed directly to exterior temperatures, they can cause a shortcut for heat to flow through, leading to increased energy loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. This can compromise the overall energy efficiency of the building, leading to higher heating and cooling costs.

Understanding thermal bridging is crucial for improving building performance. Proper insulation techniques and materials can be employed to mitigate this effect, thus enhancing energy efficiency and comfort. The other options do not directly relate to the concept of thermal bridging; they refer to heating methods and insulation techniques but do not capture the specific issue of increased heat flow due to poor insulation in certain building areas.