Radiant Barrier Foil
Whether you are suffering through summer heat with an overworked a/c or shivering through winter with high heating bills, perhaps you should consider something other than more insulation for your home. There is a common material which, when applied correctly to your home's structure will not only help you save 20 percent or more on energy costs but greatly improve the comfort level of your living space.
Radiant Barrier Foil - Radiant Barrier Insulation Info
It's aluminum, more specifically, it's a radiant barrier foil that reflects around 97 percent of the radiant invisible heat back toward the source. This is not the same composition as the aluminum foil you use on your baked potatoes, but from that baked potato, you can understand foil's effectiveness. Aluminum is rather unique among metals in that it is at once highly reflective and highly conductive. When you pick up a hot foil-covered potato, you can feel the heat that's being conducted outward through the foil where it contacts the potato. The invisible infrared heat inside is being reflected back to the center, keeping the potato hot for a long time.
The reflective quality of aluminum is being employed to great effect now in radiant barrier installed in attics, roofs, walls, and crawlspaces. It reflects 97% of radiant heat, has a Class A / Class 1 fire rating, and is non-toxic / non-carcinogenic. Unlike messy fiberglass, it is fiber free, so it doesn't require protective clothing or respirators to install. It is durable and lightweight, not affected by moisture or humidity, and easy to install and maintenance-free.
Most importantly, when installed properly it lowers heating and cooling costs year round. When used in conjunction with insulation, a 1/2 to 3/4 inch airspace between it and the foil is necessary, to hinder the foil's conductive property. When installed between rafters in an attic, remember to leave space at the bottom and top for heat to be properly vented upward and out the roof.
The foil itself has no R-value, so it technically isn't considered insulation. With that in mind, it's easy to see why there is confusion regarding whether a radiant foil purchase qualifies for federal tax credits. As of this writing in September 2009, experts seem divided as to whether you can expect money back for this wise investment. Tax credits notwithstanding, radiant foil barrier can be one of the best additions to your home to not only save on energy costs but make your home more comfortable year-round.
Radiant Barrier Foil Articles
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