Radiant barriers and insulation – how do they differ? - Go Green - Energy Efficiency in Your Home

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.