Radiant Barrier Foil Insulation - Reflection on Reflective Insulation

Author: Alex Rabin

Simply compare your 10 year old electric bill with the recent one, and you will soon realize that we are nowhere near a global solution to the greenhouse gas emission problem. Moreover, suggestions to replace your light bulbs with the fluorescent ones or shut down your air-conditioner in summer don't make you comfortable and don't contribute as much as some people might think. However, reflective insulation may be one answer to at least the air conditioning part of your summer electric bill. It is simple, cost and energy efficient, but far from being well known to the general public, home owners, and even many builders.

Are you someone who can usually be found on vacation hiding from the burning sunlight under a beach umbrella? People feel much better under the shade simply because light-colored fabric reflects the heat. Simple logic suggests that the lighter the color, the better heat reflection. Moreover, protection is more effective if the surface is shiny, which explains why firefighters, for example, wear shiny reflective outfits.

In scientific terms, firefighters use a reflective insulation, or radiant barrier, to be protected from the excessive heat. Good quality reflective insulation, or what might be referred to as a radiant barrier, reflects more than 95% of infrared heat waves or radiant heat, while emitting very little heat itself - keeping those firefighters safe.

You can test this by trying a little experiment. First, put your palm 1-2" close to a standard electric light bulb and feel the heat. Try again, with some cotton wool between the lamp and your hand. You will feel better, but in only a few minutes heat will penetrate through the wool and you'll still get hot, even though you now have an insulation layer.

Now, place a 4x4" piece of household aluminum foil between the lamp and your hand (just make sure that the foil does not touch your hand) - and you will feel immediate relief. A little breeze to remove air between your hand and the foil (blow gently) and this will give you a perfect imitation of the beach umbrella effect. That's exactly the way a radiant barrier or foil insulation works.

So - what does this mean for your home? To get back to your overheated house - can you put an umbrella over the roof? In a sense, yes. You can protect your house exactly the same way; all you have to do is to put a strong, inexpensive reflective insulation or foil insulation layer under (not over) the roof of your house. When installing, make sure that you have all the things that theory suggests are in place: a radiant barrier or reflective insulation layer, vented air cavities (which is an important part of the process), moisture control etc.

Good quality radiant barrier or reflective insulation is lightweight, and thin but strong enough to be installed with staples or even nails. It even can be a "do it yourself" project; you just need some basic handyman skills and simple tools (construction stapler or nails), and of course some foil tape or adhesive tape.

So why not make your house "greener" and more comfortable, while contributing to the reduction of the greenhouse has emission?

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Radian-Barrier,-Foil-Insulation---Reflection-on-Reflective-Insulation&id=3605608] Radian Barrier, Foil Insulation - Reflection on Reflective Insulation

The Benefits of an Attic Radiant Barrier

Author: Martin Applebaum

Insulation is an important part of the building plan. Many building owners or even homeowners understand the value of insulating their houses so they could have a more comfortable place to stay. There is a need for insulation in order to avoid very cold nights on winter and too hot days on summer. For this purpose, an attic radiant barrier will provide an instant solution to reducing both high summer and winter cooling and heating costs. It can dramatically increase the heat in your attic during cold season and vice versa. The barrier can reduce up to 30% of heat and this will allow your air conditioner lesser time to run. Aside from reducing the heat, it also helps your home cool quicker. During winter, heat loss is so rapid that it is often passing through the attic insulation then towards the cooler part of the roof. Well, an attic radiant barrier will help reduce the heat loss mentioned and you will see excellent savings in your heating costs. It can be installed down on top of your existing insulation if dust is not really a problem in your area. Now that you know how important an attic radiant barrier is, you must be thinking of installing one yourself. First, you need to know what the different types available for you are. It is sometimes called or may have variables in aluminum foil insulation, radiant barriers, reflective foil insulation, reflective foil, attic heat barrier, attic insulation, or foil insulation. Whatever you call them, they all serve one purpose of lowering down your heating and cooling costs as it traps and prevents the heat to pass through your attic during the winter or to shield your roof during the summer. Once you get an attic radiant barrier installed in your home, you will not only make your home comfortable but also save yourself from paying too high-energy costs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/remodeling-articles/the-benefits-of-an-attic-radiant-barrier-1083332.html

About the Author:
Your guide to all things related to home insulation. This includes garage door insulation and blown attic insulation. Visit our site for more information today! http://www.homeinsulationsite.com By M. Applebaum