Best Home Insulation: What is a Radiant Barrier?

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

What is a Radiant Barrier?

Radiant Barriers are materials that inhibit heat transfer by using thermal radiations. They are usually installed in homes and offices in order to reduce heat gain during summer and heat loss during winter. They are a great way to reduce the heating and cooling energy usage of your building as they help reduce the load on your air-conditioning system.

Popular radiant barriers are built using a very thin sheet of aluminum which can either be applied to single or both sides of substrate materials. Instead of aluminum, coatings of other highly reflective materials are also used. Some variants are even reinforced using fiber as it helps from a durability perspective. Reflective material is used to build radiant barriers as it reflects heat rather than absorbing the heat. The substrates can be based on cardboard, plywood or craft paper.

For homes, these radiant barriers are most popularly used in attics because they reduce heat gains during summer and heat loss during winter. It is easy to install them for attics in your home. One of the easiest ways to install these is to place it on top of existing insulation. Make sure that the reflective side is facing up. An alternative mechanism of installation is to attach it in proximity to the roof. It can be attached directly to underside of roof or it can be draped on top of rafters before roof deck is applied. If it used on floor, it is a must that the radiant barrier allows water vapor to pass through it. If it does not do so, water vapor may condense and eventually freeze.

You can even install radiant barrier yourself. To do so, make sure that you read the precautions and detailed instructions provided by your vendor. However, it is advisable to hire a professional contractor or advisor in case you are planning to get it installed in a new building (home or office). Also keep in mind that the efficiency is highly dependent on a proper installation.

Radiant Barriers are most effective during summers and can be used in any type of buildings - homes, offices and industries. They can help reduce your cooling costs by as much as 20%.

For more information on this article, please visit http://www.coolattix.com or[http://www.greencollaroperations.com]attic insulation Austin.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-is-a-Radiant-Barrier?&id=3978643] What is a Radiant Barrier?

Roof Insulation Techniques – 5 Insulation Options for You

Your home’s energy bills are determined by two factors: 1. the severity of temperature extremes (hot or cold) in summer and winter for the area in which you live; 2. how well your home keeps the temperature you want IN and keeps the temperature extremes outside your home OUT.

This second element is of course the only one of the two over which you have control – and that is through installing better insulation. Of course, the best option available to you is to have your home custom-built with the most energy-efficient materials available today. However, if you are like most of us, you own a home that was not built to these strict specifications. The good news is that you have a number of options available to you.

As you are already aware, energy efficiency starts with insulating your attic, the area just under your roof. If you are looking for roof insulation techniques, here are 5 insulation options for you to consider:

1. Leave it as per original manufacturer’s specs:
This one will not help you reduce your energy bills. Reason: there are no consistent laws or guidelines considering energy efficiency. Unless your builder specifically billed your home as “energy efficient” when you bought it, it likely falls short in a number of ways.

2. Blankets and rolls:
To keep your attic cool, the most traditional method is to use blankets or rolls that can be spread out and stapled to your rafters. The most common materials are fiberglass, mineral wool, plastic and natural fibers. Blankets and rolls are a solid choice for insulation against heat conduction (i.e., the transfer of heat). However, blankets and rolls do not have an appreciable effect on blocking heat radiation (read on for more on this).

3. Spray foam insulation:
Spray foam insulation is applied the way it sounds: by spraying foam from a nozzle. Common materials in this type of foam are cementitious, henolic, polyisocyanurate and polyurethane. The advantage of this insulation technique is that it expands around every void and seals all air filtration in your attic, which is the primary source of energy loss in a home. Spray foam stabilizes indoor temperatures. The downside is that it requires the installation of a costly air-to-air exchanger because seals the home so tightly.

4. Radiant barrier foil:
This is a premium choice for insulation. It is applied by stapling it to rafters or laying it out over existing insulation. Radiant barrier foil and reflect 97% of radiant heat (either keeping it in during the winter or keeping it out during the summer). It is the least-expensive energy improvement you can make in your home. The only disadvantage is that it cannot insulate against conductive heat.

5. Radiant barrier paint:
This works just like radiant barrier foil in that it will reflect radiant attic heat very effectively. However, it is applied by being painted on rather than rolled out and stapled. The disadvantage is that it must be applied by professional contractors to be effective and keep you safe. Furthermore, it does not have the same reflective ability as does the foil variety (it is limited to reflecting about 75% of radiant heat transfer - vs. 97% for foil.

The best choice for improving your home’s energy efficiency is to keep your existing fiberglass insulation in place and then add a layer of radiant barrier foil. This will keep out 97% of radiant heat while also insulating against conductive heat transfer. You can install it yourself or, for best results, have a professional in your area install it for you.

Radiant barrier insulation will make your home more energy-efficient and help you save money on your monthly energy bills. Visit http://www.coolattix.com/ for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Everett_Maclachlan

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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

What is a Radiant Barrier?

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