Benefits of Reflective Insulation and Radiant Barriers. How Reflective Insulations and Radiant Barriers can save money and much more. Learn why.
Reflective Insulations and Radiant barriers can save money in various ways, primarily by improving the energy efficiency of buildings and reducing cooling and heating costs. These products work by not absorbing radiant heat (hence: reflecting radiant heat), which is the heat transferred through electromagnetic waves (IR), such as from the sun or a hot roof, or hot walls, rather than by conduction or convection. Here’s how Reflective Insulations and Radiant barrier products can save money:
Reducing Cooling Costs:
Summer Heat: In hot climates, Reflective insulation/barriers products installed in building envelop (under roof, walls, crawls space) or attics or, combined, can reflect a significant portion of the sun’s radiant heat away from the building (95%). This reduces the amount of heat that enters the structure, which in turn lowers the cooling load on air conditioning systems.
Lower Energy Bills: By reducing the need for air conditioning, Reflective insulation/Barrier products can lead to lower energy consumption and, consequently, reduced cooling costs during the summer months.
Lowering Heating Costs:
Reflective insulation/barrier products, especially multi layers such as Polyshield Triplex https://www.radiantbarrierusa.com/our-insulation/triplex/can also be very effective in cold climates by preventing heat loss. In the winter, they help prevent heat from escaping through the building envelop by reflecting the heat back into the living space. This means your heating system doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Savings on Heating Bills: Reduced heat loss means you’ll need less energy to keep your home warm, leading to lower heating bills.
Extended building envelops (roof/walls) Lifespan:
Reflective insulation/barriers products can help keep the temperature of your building envelop lower by reflecting the sun’s heat. This can reduce the wear and tear on your roof and walls as well as the bulk insulation installed in your wall, potentially extending its lifespan and delaying the need for costly roof and other envelop elements to be replaced or renovated.
Improved Comfort:
Reduce temperature fluctuation: Reflective insulation/barriers products can make your home more comfortable by reducing temperature fluctuations. Your home will stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, leading to a more pleasant living environment.
Minimize black globe effect: All living things absorb radiant heat (science-fact). Most of the USA buildings do not have Reflective insulation/barrier products installed yet. As such, the radiant heat (IR) from the sun can easily penetrate the building envelop. Radiant energy is absorbed or bounced back. Without Reflective insulation products, these IR energies are absorbed by our bodies. We may not feel the absorption itself, yet it affects our wellbeing, and body temperature. And more importantly, Why we need to absorb unnecessary radiant heat if we can easily prevent it???
To read more about Black Globe Effect:
https://www.radiantbarrierusa.com/what-is-the-black-globe-effect-and-how-can-polyshield-agribarrier-insulation-help/
Environmental Benefits:
Using less energy for cooling and heating reduces your carbon footprint and contributes to environmental sustainability. It also helps reduce the demand on power plants, which can have positive environmental impacts.
Potential Utility Rebates and Tax Incentives: Some regions offer utility rebates or tax incentives for installing energy-efficient improvements like Reflective insulation/barrier products. These financial incentives can help offset the initial cost of installation, making it even more cost-effective.
It’s important to note that the effectiveness of radiant barriers can vary depending on factors such as climate, insulation levels, and the specific installation. Proper installation and insulation complementing the radiant barrier are crucial for maximizing energy savings.