Fast Facts About Radiant Energy Barriers

A radiant heat barrier is a reflective material that is sprayed or placed in the home's attic to help reduce heat gain. This is especially important in the south where long, hot summers lead to extremely high cooling bills.

How They Work
Radiant energy, like that from the sun, travels in a straight line until it impacts something solid that absorbs the energy. The roof of a home is a prime example. A roof absorbs energy from the sunlight that strikes it. This causes the roof to heat up. It then radiates that energy out on the underside of the roof, which heats the attic and the house below.

A radiant barrier will not absorb this energy. Instead, it reflects the energy and reduces heat gain in the attic and house. Most radiant barriers have a reflectivity between 95 to 97 percent. They work better in hot climates, because the temperature difference between the two sides of the material is one of the primary factors that determines how well it works.

How Well They Work
A properly installed radiant barrier can reduce cooling costs by as much as 10 percent. This is a noticeable difference in the average family’s utility bill. The payback time for installing a radiant barrier is only a few months.

What They Are Not
Radiant barriers are not substitutes for other kinds of insulation. They work in concert with the primary form of insulation to reduce cooling costs, but they will not work alone. Nor will such a barrier do much to keep the house warm when winter comes. Using the two together can dramatically increase the R-value of the insulation. The recommended value for the south is R-38.

Different Forms
The most common kind of radiant barrier is the reflective foil type. It comes on a roll and may be either double or single-sided. Other kinds include spray-on, reflective roof sheathing, shingles and reflective chips. Some kinds are perforated to provide airflow. Aluminum is usually used as the reflective material.

Installation
Installation is simple, but it is critical that this is done right, and for that reason most homeowners hire a professional to perform the installation. The material can be installed in a number of different ways. The most common method is to install it between or in the rafters. If the latter is done, something must be placed between the material and the underside of the roof to provide an air space. Another common method is to install it over the attic floor joists on top of the existing insulation.

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