Energy Efficiency: Radiant Barriers
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s we enter the hot months up to 95 percent of the heat before reaching the rest of of summer, many of us the attic, helping to keep the area cool. may see our energy bills increase The other type of installation, which involves mountwith the rising temperatures. While ing the barriers on the floor of the attic, offers more we try to stay cool, we also look help for homes in northern states because this method for ways to lower our energy costs. is effective in both summer and winter months. It is One product that can help is a radi- designed to keep the heat out of the house in the sumDerek ant barrier. mer and inside the house during the winter. In northern Blankenship CAEC Energy These barriers reduce the effect states, winter is the most prevalent season and the goal Services Representative of thermal radiant heat, or heat that is to keep heat inside the home as much as possible. comes from visible and infrared In the south, however, this method can cause an issue light such as sunbecause capturing heat between the light, from entering your home through insulation and radiant barrier in the the roof. Radiant heat travels from one winter can create a moisture problem object directly to any solid object, so in your insulation. when heat from the sun flows down, it While radiant barriers are a cost efabsorbs into the first available object it fective product to install, it’s always imencounters, with your home’s roof beportant to keep in mind safety issues as ing such an object. The heat flow then well as proper ventilation. Take safety passes through the roof and into the precautions by investigating the instalattic space. lation location for nails or any sharp This is where radiant barriers, or reobjects pointed toward you and if you flective insulation systems, can help. have to go around electrical wiring, be Radiant barriers stop Just as their name implies, they reflect sure to verify that the power is off to thermal radiant heat, the radiant heat out, away from your ator heat from sunlight, those wires so you can freely work. If from entering your tic space. While there are many brands a barrier is installed on top of the inhome through the roof. and types of radiant barriers, due to sulation, take caution so that you or how they operate, it is recommended anyone working in the attic can see the that at least one side of the system be ceiling joists for secure footing, which very reflective, typically with some type of aluminum can help prevent a fall through the ceiling. foil. Also, there needs to be some type of insulation Lastly, proper ventilation must be taken into account material attached, either foam board or bat insulation when installing radiant barriers. There needs to be at attached to the foil or between two pieces of foil. least one inch of space between the barrier and the botRadiant barriers can be purchased for a do-it-yourself tom of the roof to allow for constant air flow between project or installed by a licensed, reputable company. the soffit vents and the ridge vent or fans on your roof. Basically, there are two methods for installation; either If placed directly against the roof, there is no air space attaching them under the roof joists or mounting them and the barrier becomes completely ineffective while on the floor of the attic on top of your insulation. In eliminating the ability of your roof to ventilate. the south, where radiant barriers are needed more in If you are looking to make your attic more comfortthe summer months, the best location to install the bar- able and help lower your energy bill this summer, havrier is under the roof joists, especially in the area that ing a properly installed radiant barrier is one of many faces the southeast, and with the reflective side facing options that could help you reach that goal. A downward. This allows for the radiant barrier to block