Eco-friendly building materials, like Energy Star certified radiant barrier foil and insulation among others, are proven to make a dramatic impact on lowering utility bills by reducing attic heat in the summer and retaining heat in the winter. Adding the proper amount of attic insulation along with installing the best radiant barrier to your home or facility will make a major difference in any climate. These days, radiant barrier insulation is a hot topic due to its ability to help homeowners save on overwhelming energy costs, especially in the hot southern climates.
Insulation may seem a bit basic to be the “key” to anything new, but saving energy through what the architects referred to as “passive” elements—those are the elements which, like insulation, work without using any energy—has not been a priority in building most houses in the last several decades.
To maximize the efficiency of the envelope, the building’s main spaces should be oriented to the south, where the sun provides the most natural light and heat and, if there are solar panels, energy. All the architects who spoke emphasized the use of triple-glazed windows as part of the envelope.
The roof is a somewhat different story, because there are times of year in which holding heat in the house is not the only goal; there is also ventilation to think about. In a net-zero home, the roof insulation is meant to keep heat out as much as it is to keep heat in, but Bialecki doesn’t think it’s enough, and believes that all net-zero houses should be outfitted with radiant barriers insulation, which are more or less anything that prevents heat transfer, in this case from the roof down to the rest of the house. (A radiant barrier developed by NASA goes on the surface of spaceships to protect them from extreme temperatures.)
“A roof system in the summer, in the Hudson Valley, can easily get to 160 degrees and any insulation—I don’t care what you put up there—is going to fail eventually,” Bialecki said. “It’s heat transfer; it will go from there into your building. With a venting system, with a radiant barrier system, at least you’re just circulating the 90-degree air. It’s not 160. It’s a huge difference,” said William Zoeller, an architect and senior vice president at Steven Winter Associates.
Dust buildup reduces reflectivity
The attic floor application of radiant barrier is most susceptible to accumulation of dust, while downward facing reflective surfaces used with many roof applications are not likely to become dusty. In time, a dusty attic floor application will lose much of its effectiveness: predictive testing suggests by nearly half within ten years.
Potential for moisture condensation
Condensation can be a concern when a radiant barrier is installed on the attic floor directly on top of batt, rolled or blown insulation. During cold weather, water vapor from the interior of a house may move into the attic. In most cases, this water vapor will not cause problems because attic ventilation will carry excess vapor away. But, during cold weather, a radiant barrier on top of the insulation could cause water vapor to condense and even freeze on the barrier's underside. Therefore, a radiant barrier used in the attic floor application must allow water vapor to pass through it.
Attic space is often needed for storage
The floor location is not appropriate for radiant barrier when the attic is used for storage, since the surface must be exposed to the attic space. Also, kitchen and bathroom vents and recessed lights should not be covered with the radiant barrier. If one-sided radiant barrier foil is laid on top of the insulation with the reflective side facing down and touching the insulation, the radiant barrier will lose most of its effectiveness in reducing heating and cooling costs.
Finally, many older homes in southern states, like Texas, Arizona and Alabama, have HVAC units located in the attic. If a radiant barrier is installed on the attic floor the attic space will still get hot in the summer months. The hotter the attic, the harder your air conditioning unit will have to work to cool your home.
View the best ways to install Enerflex Radiant Barrier in an attic.
See installation video.
The attic floor application of radiant barrier is most susceptible to accumulation of dust, while downward facing reflective surfaces used with many roof applications are not likely to become dusty. In time, a dusty attic floor application will lose much of its effectiveness: predictive testing suggests by nearly half within ten years.
Potential for moisture condensation
Condensation can be a concern when a radiant barrier is installed on the attic floor directly on top of batt, rolled or blown insulation. During cold weather, water vapor from the interior of a house may move into the attic. In most cases, this water vapor will not cause problems because attic ventilation will carry excess vapor away. But, during cold weather, a radiant barrier on top of the insulation could cause water vapor to condense and even freeze on the barrier's underside. Therefore, a radiant barrier used in the attic floor application must allow water vapor to pass through it.
Attic space is often needed for storage
The floor location is not appropriate for radiant barrier when the attic is used for storage, since the surface must be exposed to the attic space. Also, kitchen and bathroom vents and recessed lights should not be covered with the radiant barrier. If one-sided radiant barrier foil is laid on top of the insulation with the reflective side facing down and touching the insulation, the radiant barrier will lose most of its effectiveness in reducing heating and cooling costs.
Finally, many older homes in southern states, like Texas, Arizona and Alabama, have HVAC units located in the attic. If a radiant barrier is installed on the attic floor the attic space will still get hot in the summer months. The hotter the attic, the harder your air conditioning unit will have to work to cool your home.
View the best ways to install Enerflex Radiant Barrier in an attic.
See installation video.
Yes. Double-sided radiant barrier has year-round benefits. It helps reduce heat loss in your home (through your attic). Because warm air rises, radiant barrier foil installed in your attic will help prevent heat from escaping.
Enerflex Radiant Barrier (made of Class A fire-rated, double-sided metalized film) helps provide a more consistent, comfortable, indoor temperature. And because nearly 75% of heat loss that occurs in the winter is radiant heat, the addition of a radiant barrier is an effective way to reduce winter heating bills.
New energy-saving home improvement products, like Energy Star certified Enerflex Radiant Barrier, are easy for homeowners to install themselves, then quickly realize reduced monthly energy bills. The product is unique in that one person can install it (see video) without the need for tools, as it flexes into place between the rafters in an attic.
It is also important to seal all air leaks within your home and to have the proper amount of insulation installed in your attic to block the cold air from entering. Be sure to determine what R-Value your attic needs based on where you live. Refer to this R-Value Recommendation chart.
See how Enerflex Radiant Barrier insulation works.
Check out this blog: Five ways to increase comfort in your home and reduce energy cost
Seal Air Leaks
Many air leaks and drafts are easy to find because they are easy to feel — like those around windows and doors. But holes hidden in attics, basements, and crawlspaces are usually bigger problems. Sealing these leaks with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping will have a big impact on improving your comfort level and reducing utility bills.
Common locations for air leaks:
- Wiring and plumbing entrances
- Recessed lighting
- Basement rim joists
- Windows and doors
- Electrical and gas service entrances
- Outdoor water faucets
- Where dryer vents pass through walls
Turn on Ceiling Fans
By using a ceiling fan you can then increase the thermostat setting a few degrees, resulting in reduced air conditioning energy cost.
In the summer, make sure all ceiling fans are turned on and spin in the counterclockwise direction. The airflow produces a cooling effect, making you feel cooler and more comfortable. In the winter, when the furnace is on and the heat rises to the ceiling, use the ceiling fan at low speed in the clockwise direction. This creates an updraft, which directs warm air near the ceiling down into the occupied space. Remember to adjust your thermostat when using your ceiling fan — additional energy and dollar savings could be realized with this simple step!
Change out incandescent light bulbs
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) consume about 75 percent less energy than a typical incandescent light bulb. And CFLs last up to 10X longer than an incandescent bulb. CFLs are affordable and are designed to fit into your current fixtures. Installing CFLs in your home will help save up to $30 dollars in electricity cost during the life of the bulb.
Add the proper amount of attic insulation
Inadequate insulation and air leakage are leading causes of energy waste in most homes. Heat flows naturally from a warmer to a cooler space. In winter, the heat moves directly from heated living areas to the outdoors and to adjacent unheated attics, garages, and basements - wherever there is a difference in temperature. During the summer, heat moves from outdoors to the house interior. To maintain comfort, the heat lost in winter must be replaced by your heating system and the heat gained in summer must be removed by your air conditioner. Insulating ceilings, walls, and floors decreases the heating or cooling needed by providing an effective resistance to the flow of heat.
There are several common types of insulation — fiberglass (in both batt and blown forms), cellulose, rigid foam board, and spray foam. Reflective insulation (or radiant barrier) is another insulating product which can help save energy in hot, sunny climates.
Install a Radiant Barrier in the attic
Radiant barriers, like Energy Star certified Enerflex®, work by reducing heat transfer of thermal radiation across the air space between the roof deck (attic ceiling) and the attic floor, where conventional insulation is normally placed. In other words radiant barriers assist in blocking or reflecting heat transfer.
A radiant barrier installed in the attic works by reducing the amount of radiant heat on various components in the attic. These are typically thermal attic insulation, duct work, HVAC equipment, and other building components. Since the amount of radiant heat contacting the top of the insulation is less than it would have been without a radiant barrier, the insulation surface temperature is lower and the heat flow through the insulation is reduced. The best radiant barrier insulation, such as Enerflex, will significantly reduce the amount of energy radiated from the top surface of the insulation.
Enerflex qualifies for a 2011 tax $500 tax credit!
Request a sample of Enerflex Radiant Barrier.
See this blog post on how installing a radiant barrier in your attic can extend the life of your A/C unit.
Radiant barrier foil insulation, such as Enerflex, is a reflective metalized film insulation that 
provides a way to reduce high HVAC energy costs. Radiant barrier insulation blocks radiant heat energy instead of absorbing it like typical insulation. A high quality radiant barrier is not affected by humidity and will continue to perform at a consistent level for many years.
Radiant barriers work by reducing heat transfer of thermal radiation across the air space between the roof deck (attic ceiling) 
and the attic floor, where conventional insulation is normally placed. In other words radiant barriers assist in blocking or reflecting heat transfer. All materials give off energy by thermal radiation as a result of air temperature. The amount of energy emitted depends on the surface temperature and by emissivity. Emissivity is the amount of heat which is emitted / radiated off of a surface to surrounding air.
A radiant barrier installed in the attic works by reducing the amount of radiant heat on various components in the attic. These are typically thermal attic insulation, duct work, HVAC equipment, and other building components. Since the amount of radiant heat contacting the top of the insulation is less than it would have been without a radiant barrier, the insulation surface temperature is lower and the heat flow through the insulation is reduced. An Energy Star radiant barrier, such as Enerflex, significantly reduces the amount of energy radiated from the top surface of the insulation.
Request a sample of Enerflex Radiant Barrier.
See how Enerflex can help curb your air conditioning costs in this blog post.
Want to save money by reducing utility bills and be more comfortable while doing it? Enerflex radiant barrier—a highly reflective, double-sided, multilayered material that blocks up to 96% of radiant energy when installed in new and existing homes—has qualified for the American Recovery Tax Credit for insulation. This could equate to savings of 10 percent up to $500.
Made in America, Enerflex is two layers of tear-resistant foil, laminated and reinforced with a poly scrim for tear and puncture resistance. Double-sided for efficiency, Enerflex offers radiant barrier panels that are precut to 16- and 24-inches on center, and does not require tools to install. Enerflex is also available in rolls for stapling to rafters. Both radiant barrier products are backed by a 15-year limited warranty. It installs between rafters to the underside of a roof and on other vertical surfaces in an attic to reduce solar heat gain into the home. It also reduces heat transfer by thermal radiation across the air space between the roof and attic floor, keeping an attic up to 30 degrees cooler. In cool weather, Enerflex helps prevent radiant energy from leaving the home and reduces heat loss, which adds up to significant energy cost savings.
Enerflex is also ENERGY STAR® approved and allows specifiers to earn up to five LEED points under EA 1 and MR 5. Installing Enerflex in certain applications may qualify for state and local government tax credits.
To see just how easy Enerflex radiant barrier installs, watch our step-by-step how-to video.
Both traditional insulation and radiant barriers reduce the amount of heat conveyed into the attic of a home. But they do it in two distinct ways. Insulation slows convection, which is heat transfer due to air movement. Plus, the fibers in the insulation prevent the transfer of heat through the spaces in the insulation. By contrast, a radiant barrier such as Enerflex blocks heat transfer that radiates across an open air space.
When discussing the effectiveness of insulation, R-value is the measurement used but there is no such rating for radiant barrier. Radiant barriers and insulation – how do they differ?Instead, we rely on numerous studies that have demonstrated the effectiveness of radiant barriers. One by the Florida Solar Energy Center has revealed that by having a radiant barrier like Enerflex under peak daytime heat conditions, the total heat transfer allowed down through an attic can be reduced by as much as 40 percent, which can significantly reduce a home air conditioning system’s cooling loads. In addition, Enerflex radiant barrier insulation blocks 96% of the radiant energy of the sun.
To see just how easy Enerflex radiant barrier installation is, watch our step-by-step how-to video.
We’ve told you how easy it is to install Enerflex radiant barrier in an attic. To make the job even simpler, we’ve created a step-by-step how-to installation video.
Watch the video below to see how easy and fast it can be to lower your attic temperature 30 degrees by blocking up to 96% of the sun's radiant energy using Energy Star-certified Enerflex Radiant Barrier.
When proclaiming jihad on air conditioning bills don’t count yourself or your installer among the victims. Attic roof temperatures can reach 155 degrees on a hot, sunny day. And human can only stand these temps for a very short time, especially when combined with any type of exertion.
Each summer there are reports of heat stroke and even deaths suffered from exposure to extremely high temps in attics. So either wait for a cloudy day or do the work early in the morning, before the temps become unbearable. One thing is for sure, once the Enerflex Radiant Barrier has been installed those attic temps will forever be lower.
Here are a few simple radiant foil barrier installation tips to help you stay safe while working in an attic:
- Place fans in attic for ventilation
- Install radiant barier in the early morning
- Stay hydrated
- Take a break every hour (or as needed)
As radiant barriers gain popularity as a means to block the sun’s radiation of heat into a home, more varieties have become available. Most are nominally sound products but none come close to the ease with which one can install Enerflex radiant barrier. A quick comparison reveals that Enerflex, unlike most radiant foil barriers, requires no prep work. Just flex and release the panel between your roof joists and it’s up.
Watch the Enerflex radiant barrier installation video to see how easily you can reduce your attic temperatures and cooling costs.
Reduced Energy Usage, Lower Utility Bills.
Since traditional insulation does not prevent transfer of radiant heat, once the insulation has absorbed the maximum amount of heat, the heat is transferred to the space around it and eventually into the living spaces below. Easy to install radiant barrier foil (metalized film) like Enerflex can block up to 97% of the suns radiant heat absorbed through your roof surface, resulting in a 30-degree reduction in attic temperature and big time energy savings. See this short video clip on how to reduce utility bills by installing Enerflex Radiant Barrier attic foil.
Because warm air rises, radiant barrier foil installed in your attic will also prevent heat from escaping. 
This will save on heating costs in the cold season and provide a more consistent and comfortable indoor temperature. See how Enerflex works.
Extend the Life of A/C Units.
In addition to energy savings, another significant benefit of installing a radiant foil barrier in your attic is by reducing wear a tear in your air conditioning unit and furnace. By installing radiant barrier attic foil you can help reduce repair and replacement costs and possibly extend the life of both your heating and cooling units.
See the Enerflex YouTube Channel for additional videos on how radiant barriers can help control energy costs.
An easy way to understand the concept of radiant heat is to stand in front of your grill during a cookout. The heat you feel standing next to the grill is considered radiant heat. A radiant barrier will reflect that heat. Heat that is radiated doesn’t necessarily have to come from the sun.
Enerflex radiant foil barrier is installed inside your attic, beneath the roof sheathing, so how is it expected to reflect the sun’s rays? The answer is it doesn’t have to reflect the sun’s rays to work, but it does reflect the radiant heat generated from those rays.
On a hot day, heat from the sun is absorbed by the roof and warms up the sheathing below, which radiates heat towards the attic floor and conventional insulation. All materials emit radiant heat to varying degrees based on their surface temperature. However, installing a radiant foil barrier like Enerflex will reflect up to 96% of this radiant energy back toward the roof.
The result: The top surface of the insulation is up to 30°F cooler than it would have been which reduces the amount of heat that moves through the insulation to the living areas below.
Well, not exactly Dilbert, and not exactly Enerflex. But in a Wall Street Journal article, Scott Adams, the creator of the comic strip Dilbert, mentions the value of a radiant barrier as he chronicles his frustrations in endeavoring to discover what is really green and what’s not, as regards designing and building a new home.
In this amusing article he uses his characteristic wit to catalog the confusing and aggravating choices facing the average consumer wanting to build a home that satisfies the architect, the builder, the local planning commission, the neighbors and one’s own assumed green credentials.
In one of the few serious passages he offers this advice: “If your local building code doesn't already require an Energy Star certified radiant foil barrier—a type of insulator for the roof—then look into it. I'm told that should be on the top of your list, at least for warm climates.”
He’s right of course. As is the person who told him this. Using a radiant barrier like Enerflex, especially as an aftermarket addition in an existing home, pays big energy-reducing dividends every summer as long as you own the home. Easily installed by a do-it-yourselfer, Enerflex Radiant Barrier blocks 96% of the sun’s radiant energy and lowers the attic temp on a sunny day as much as 30 degrees. And that’s no joke.
Recently a highly acclaimed architectural firm in Texas published an article that helps identify ways for new and existing homeowners to make their dwelling "green friendly". Gary Gene Olp, Founder and President of GGO Architects outlines steps to becoming energy efficient. Olp and his firm promotes green and energy savings by installing a radiant barrier in the attic. Read on!
Dallas - Sustainability and energy efficiency have become significant selling factors during the home-buying and home-building process. In honor of Earth Day, Gary Gene Olp, Founder and President of GGO Architects, offers key questions to ask when that infamous word “green” makes its way into the conversation.
“Sustainable living is about interpreting natural processes in a modern way,” said Olp. “Many homebuilders and sellers make green claims, pointing to green products utilized in the building process. However, it’s the overall design that constitutes a sustainable design, not just the products used.”
Olp’s involvement in the “green” movement dates back to the early 1970s. He lays claim to the design of the first LEED Platinum home in Texas in 2007, further substantiating his “green authority.” Here are three questions to determine if the home you are buying or building is truly green:
- How energy efficient is it really? Ask the builder to quantify what the expected annual utility cost will be. With current green building codes, Energy Star ratings and online energy modeling software, this is easily derived from the R value of insulation installed, the quality of the windows and the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating for hot water, heating and air conditioning. If they cannot provide a reasonable answer, perhaps their claims are more guesstimates than engineered performance. Windows should be insulated Southern Low-e, walls should have a minimum of R 24 and the roof should have a minimum of R 40 insulation. The heating and air conditioning can easily have SEER ratings of 16-18 for little extra cost.
- Demand that a radiant barrier is properly installed on the underside of roof decking. This simple feature is perhaps the most significant design component in our hot Texas climate. Properly installed, it can repel up to 75 percent of the heat gained from the sun in the summer. Every British thermal unit (BTU) of heat reradiated away from the attic of your home means fewer BTUs of cooling required to keep it comfortable, which means smaller utility bills. It is important to make sure the radiant barrier is the metal foil type, and not a faux spray-on paint coating.
- Do not fall pretty to smart Eco gadgets; instead look for the real thing. Take a compass with you when looking at a new home, and check to see which direction most of the windows are facing. Large amounts of windows on the west are certain to spin your smart electric meter into a frenzy. If most of the windows are on the north, the home may be cooler but generally dark with little natural light. The best orientation for windows is on the east and south for good natural light. Be sure any windows on the south are properly shaded with broad overhangs or large deciduous trees to block out the intense summer sun from passing directly into interior spaces. That same southern sunshine will be appreciated as it reaches deep inside to provide warmth and daylight on cold, gloomy winter days.
And for those who already own a home, it’s not too late to achieve energy efficiency. Homeowners can:
- Install a radiant barrier in the attic. It works equally well for an existing home as it does for new construction.
- Shade the windows facing south and especially those facing west. The easiest, albeit shower way is to plant native deciduous shade trees to block the intensity of the summer sun. Consider adding alternative shading devices like a fixed awning with decorative brackets, hurricane shutters or those really great aluminum awnings from the 30’s and 40’s, which bounce wonderful diffused light back inside.
- Upgrade lighting to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or LED lamps, replace aging appliances with newer high efficiency Energy Star models, and maintain your HVAC equipment and/or at the end of its useful life replace it with a higher SEER rated unit.
Olp, (American Institute of Architects, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, LEED AP) is the 2011 chairman of the North Texas Green Council Chapter of The U.S. Green Building Council. Olp’s work has been published extensively for the quality of design and to substantiate efforts to push the concept of sustainability.
“The amount homeowners can save with an energy-efficient home is mind-boggling, and it is not just for the elite – green is affordable and attainable for everyone. You just have to know the questions to ask to get started on the right path,” Olp said.
Read more about metalized film radiant barrier in this past blog post.
About GGO Architects
GGO Architects is a highly acclaimed private architectural practice in Dallas, Texas. Recognized for its innovative contemporary designs that feature a sustainable approach, each project represents a commitment to environmental responsibility. GGO Architects is noted for cutting-edge “Green Buildings” that incorporate energy efficiency, passive solar techniques, natural day lighting, non-toxic materials, advanced building science and enhanced indoor air quality. Sustainability and long-term durability influence every aspect of project development. www.ggoarchitects.com
Credit: dBusinessNews.
Fiberglass insulation depends on R-Value (resistance) alone to insulate against summer heat gain and winter heat loss. Thin layers of fiberglass do virtually nothing to stop reflective heat or energy transfer. Fiberglass insulation is also affected by changes in humidity or moisture levels. A 1% to 1-1/2% change in the moisture content of fiberglass insulation can result in up to a 36% decrease in performance.
Unlike fiberglass insulation, reflective insulation or radiant barrier foil products, such as Enerflex, are not affected by humidity and moisture changes and will continue to provide energy savings and insulation value no matter what the moisture level is. Reflective radiant barrier foil also has additional uses for which fiberglass insulation is not applicable, such as radiant heating systems, or any under or over concrete slab applications. In these uses, reflective insulation is the better, if not only, choice to use.
Most people are familiar with traditional insulating materials such as fiberglass, cellulose, Styrofoam, and rock wool. These products absorb or slow down convective and conductive heat transfers. These types of insulation do not BLOCK heat—only slow it down. Therefore, after a period of time, 100% of the heat radiated would eventually transfer through the insulation. The rate in which this heat eventually transfers through an insulation material is the material's R-Value. If you want to reflect the heat—stop it in its tracks—you need a radiant barrier.
As a home owner, the challenge is how to keep the heat in during winter and how to keep it out during summer. There are three ways in which heat goes from warm spaces to cold spaces:
- Conduction is direct heat flow through a solid object such as a wall or a ceiling.
- Convection is heat movement through air, occurring when air is warmed. The warm air expands, becoming less dense and rising.
- Radiation is the movement of heat rays across air spaces from one warm object to a cooler object.
The heat we feel from a wood stove or a space heater is radiant heat. All objects and bodies give off radiant heat. Even the insulation in your attic gives off radiant heat to the cold attic space in the winter and to the living space in the summer. Regular insulation won't stop radiant heat loss. Radiant heat must be reflected with a radiant barrier.
To find out how Enerflex Radiant Barrier works or how easy it is to install radiant barrier, visit the Enerflex Radiant Barrier website.
Cooling a home during the summer with an air conditioning unit can account for nearly 50 percent of an average homeowner’s utility bill. And in the hottest regions of the country, cooling off with central air can generate up to 70 percent of your home’s utility bill.
But not to fear: There are several ways to curb your electricity use this summer. One simple way is to crank up the thermostat by one degree during warm weather. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that you can save up to 3 percent on your summer energy bill for every degree you raise your thermostat for 24 hours. Set your thermostat between 72°F and 78°F. Each degree setting below 78°F will increase your electricity use by as much as 4 percent—and that’s sure to add up to several hundred dollars over many hot summer days.
Other ways to reduce your home’s cooling costs include making sure your air conditioning unit is running at peak performance, replacing the HVAC filter at least every three months or as needed, turning on ceiling fans and making sure they are blowing down not up, opening windows during cooler evening hours, closing curtains and blinds where sunlight radiates heat into the home, and sealing all air leaks that let cool air escape outside.
If you like do-it-yourself home improvement projects, installing a radiant barrier in your attic is one of the most effective energy-saving projects that’s sure to help you save precious dollars on your A/C bill. What’s more, you can receive a 10 percent tax credit—up to $500—from the government.
A radiant barrier or radiant insulation works in your home similar to the way a reflective foil car shade works in your car. Just as a car shade keeps the interior of an auto cooler when it's parked in the sun, radiant barriers keep your home's interior cooler when installed in your attic where the sun's radiant energy is absorbed.
New do-it-yourself energy-saving home improvement products like Energy Star-certified Enerflex Radiant Barrier (class A fire rated metalized film) are easy for homeowners to install themselves, and quickly realize reduced monthly electric bills. Enerflex Radiant Barrier is unique in that one person can install it, without the need for tools, as it flexes into place between the rafters on the underside of a roof.
An attic radiant barrier is a safe, proven building material for reducing the strain on a home’s air conditioner. And that leads to significant energy savings. When you can spend a few hours over a weekend and complete a project that saves money month after month, it’s hard to ignore the benefits.
Professionals in the construction, roofing, heating and cooling, and energy industries have long known the benefits of installing a radiant barrier, says Rick Jordan of EcoRite Products, a major radiant barrier manufacturer. Only recently have products been manufactured specifically for the DIY installer market.
Radiant barriers reduce the radiant heat gain that permeates a home when the sun beats down on it. Studies on installed radiant barrier products show attic temperatures are typically reduced up to 30 percent during the summer months, which can translate to a 30-degree heat reduction on hot summer days. In fact, a radiant barrier is most effective in the summer months as it dramatically reduces the workload on your air conditioning unit. In general, installing a radiant barrier can help homeowners reduce air conditioner use and save as much as 20 percent on electrical bills.
“Based on my 30 years of experience in teaching energy efficiency, I believe that if you live in the South and your ductwork is in the attic, you will greatly benefit from installing Enerflex Radiant Barrier,“ said Doug Rye, a licensed architect and the foremost expert on home energy efficiency.
“We installed Enerflex Radiant Barrier in an Alabama home last summer, and determined that the attic temperature was nearly 30 degrees cooler than before. When the attic temperature and the ductwork are 30 degrees cooler, one should have better comfort and lower utility bills,” said Rye.
Easily installed Enerflex Radiant Barrier makes spending less on air conditioning a breeze—something to think about as gas prices and other expenses zoom in on your pocketbook.
View the Enerflex Radiant Barrier installation video.
By installing the best radiant barrier foil insulation, such as Enerflex, you can reflect up to 96% of the radiant heat energy from the sun back through your roof. As a result, your attic space is up to 30° cooler, which leads to a more comfortable and consistent temperature throughout your home as well as energy savings.
Radiant Barrier / Reflective Insulation Reduces the Workload on Your AC Unit
This increased performance of your insulation and duct work, and decreased workload on your air conditioner and other appliances means Enerflex reflective insulation will pay for itself in utility bill savings in a relatively short period of time.
Here are three tips for reducing the workload on your AC unit:
- Turn ceiling fans on to recirculate hot air that rises and get cold air off the ground
- Install a programmable thermostat and have it set to turn on only when you're home
- Change your furnace filter every three months or before it gets too dirty
Qualifying for a Tax Credit with Enerflex Radiant Barrier Insulation
Enerflex Radiant Barrier is Energy Star certified and qualifies for a tax credit through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Residential applications that qualify for the credit (when properly installed per installation instructions) are attics, walls and crawl spaces. Simply download the Enerflex Tax Credit Certificate for your tax records to save 10% up to $500.
Safe and Sustainable
Enerflex will not harm your shingles. A normal radiant barrier may raise the temperature of your shingles 2-5 degrees and will not affect the life or warranty of your shingles. Enerflex can help you qualify for 5 LEED points under EA1 and MR5, is an ENERGY STAR rated product and has a Class-A fire rating.
For more information and videos on energy efficiency and radiant barriers, visit our "Go Green" blog.
Radiant barriers have been around for decades, and in the last few years savvy homeowners have discovered two related benefits of installing Energy Star radiant barrier. The two major benefits of installing reflective radiant barrier include maintaining a more consistent indoor temperature, which leads to the second benefit of, reduced energy costs.
The main reason energy costs are reduced is because your home's air conditioning unit will run more efficiently and less frequently throughout the hot summer days. And in hot climates like Texas, Arizona, California, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and many other southern states, a reflective radiant barrier like Enerflex can help you reduce your utility bill by as much as 30%. But, it is very important that your attic has the recommended insulation installed for your region and adequate ventilation for the heat to escape back outside.
In the winter, Enerflex Radiant Barrier will help reduce indoor heat loss that comes up through your ceiling. The same principle is applied – the amount of energy / heat moving up toward the radiant barrier is reflected back into your attic and down into your home.
Installing an approved radiant barrier in certain applications may qualify for state and local government tax credits. Many energy companies also offer rebates to their customers for installing an attic radiant barrier. Look for programs in your area to take advantage of these savings.
See more information and videos on energy efficiency and radiant barriers in my "Go Green" blog.
Installing Enerflex radiant foil barrier is an easy do-it-yourself project that will help reduce the temperature in your home during the summer and help keep heat in during the cooler months. Combined, Enerflex will help reduce your heating and cooling bills throughout the year. What's more, this Energy Star certified radiant barrier qualifies for a tax credit up to $500.
Enerflex Radiant Barrier can be purchased at select Home Depot locations or by special order on The Home Depot website. You can also purchase Enerflex from your local building material dealer. To find the nearest dealer, go to the How To Buy page on Enerflex website.
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