Home Energy Efficiency with Radiant Barrier Reflective Insulation
If you've been thinking of undertaking some home improvements to increase the efficiency of your house, you've likely begun looking into types of home insulation. Insulation, particularly in the attic, can reduce your heating and cooling costs drastically when installed correctly. One variety in particular, radiant barrier reflective insulation, is a terrific way to reduce your cooling cost during the summer. Radiant barrier insulation is made of reflective material which reflects the sun's radiant heat away from your home's interior rather than absorbing it. When the sun's heat is absorbed into your roof, the roofing materials act as a conductor, and the heat moves into your attic, and through any surfaces therein, like wood and ductwork.
There are a few elements you should take into account when you begin shopping for this type of insulation. The first is the emissivity ratio: this is the ability of the material to re-radiate the radiant energy from the sum away from itself. Emissivity is measured decimally on a scale of 0-1 with 1.0 being the highest. Next, reflectivity ratio, also expressed as a decimal, measures what extent the material is able to reflect the sun's rays. You should look for a reflectivity ratio around .65 for best results. You will want a radiant barrier with a low emissivity ratio-as close as possible to zero, and a high reflectivity ratio-as close as possible to one. Radiant barriers will do more to improve your energy efficiency if you live in a warm climate. In cooler climates, you may do better to simply insulate you attic well.
There are many varieties of radiant barriers, from foil to shingles to roof coatings and reflective particles that can be added to traditional insulation. When used in tandem with thermal insulation, these reflective materials become even more effective, and this method is known as reflective insulation. Unless you are very experienced at installing insulation, it is probably better to leave this to the professionals. You should try to find someone who is familiar with the climatic idiosyncrasies of your area and the best ways to protect your home.
If you are confident that you can install the radiant barrier yourself, you would still do well to find thorough manufacturer's directions, and take care to follow them to the letter and wear protective clothing if necessary. You should also make sure your plans are compliant with local building, fire, and safety codes. While new construction is a much simpler site to install radiant barriers, they can be placed in finished homes as well. Just know you may run across challenges in the installation process, as radiant barriers must be installed in hard to reach spots, like between the roof and the thermal insulation in the attic, inside walls, around water heaters and duct work, as so forth.
Try to make sure that your radiant barrier is installed such that it doesn't accumulate excessive dust or moisture, as this can lead to problems ranging from allergies to structural damage to your home.
There are a few elements you should take into account when you begin shopping for this type of insulation. The first is the emissivity ratio: this is the ability of the material to re-radiate the radiant energy from the sum away from itself. Emissivity is measured decimally on a scale of 0-1 with 1.0 being the highest. Next, reflectivity ratio, also expressed as a decimal, measures what extent the material is able to reflect the sun's rays. You should look for a reflectivity ratio around .65 for best results. You will want a radiant barrier with a low emissivity ratio-as close as possible to zero, and a high reflectivity ratio-as close as possible to one. Radiant barriers will do more to improve your energy efficiency if you live in a warm climate. In cooler climates, you may do better to simply insulate you attic well.
There are many varieties of radiant barriers, from foil to shingles to roof coatings and reflective particles that can be added to traditional insulation. When used in tandem with thermal insulation, these reflective materials become even more effective, and this method is known as reflective insulation. Unless you are very experienced at installing insulation, it is probably better to leave this to the professionals. You should try to find someone who is familiar with the climatic idiosyncrasies of your area and the best ways to protect your home.
If you are confident that you can install the radiant barrier yourself, you would still do well to find thorough manufacturer's directions, and take care to follow them to the letter and wear protective clothing if necessary. You should also make sure your plans are compliant with local building, fire, and safety codes. While new construction is a much simpler site to install radiant barriers, they can be placed in finished homes as well. Just know you may run across challenges in the installation process, as radiant barriers must be installed in hard to reach spots, like between the roof and the thermal insulation in the attic, inside walls, around water heaters and duct work, as so forth.
Try to make sure that your radiant barrier is installed such that it doesn't accumulate excessive dust or moisture, as this can lead to problems ranging from allergies to structural damage to your home.
About the Author:
Creative Energy Exteriors is the leading Central Virginia home improvement company providing replacement siding with dedicated service and installation teams serving Richmond, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Williamsburg and surrounding areas.