Radiant Barrier Journal

RadiantGUARD® is proud to offer products that have earned the government’s ENERGY STAR label.   RadiantGUARD® radiant  barriers, which have been proven to save energy and lower utility bills, have earned the ENERGY STAR label.

As a Seal and Insulate with ENERGY STAR partner, select RadiantGUARD® radiant barrier and reflective insulation products have earned the ENERGY STAR label.

ENERGY STAR is the trusted, government-backed symbol for energy efficiency helping consumers save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices and is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

To earn the ENERGY STAR label, RadiantGUARD® basic product specifications and marketing materials were reviewed by ENERGY STAR. This review checked many of the claims made by RadiantGUARD® regarding product specifications, energy savings, and installation instructions.

At the completion of this review by ENERGY STAR, RadiantGUARD® was pleased to learn that they met the requirements and were designated as an ENERGY STAR Partner. Along with this partnership designation, select RadiantGUARD® radiant barrier and reflective insulation products earned the ENERGY STAR label used to make it easy for consumers to identify and purchase energy-efficient products that offer savings on energy bills without sacrificing performance, features, and comfort.

“With more and more companies entering the radiant barrier and reflective insulation industries, we’ve seen a rise in misinformation presented to consumers about product specifications and energy savings claims” says Shawn Franklin, V.P. of Marketing at RadiantGUARD®. “Our goal from inception has been to provide accurate and factually-supported information about radiant barrier products and how they can save energy and lower utility bills. We wanted a recognizable partnership that would help communicate our commitment to providing accurate information about radiant barriers and their benefits and most importantly, accurate product specifications – an ENERGY STAR partnership was the answer.”

As an ENERGY STAR partner, customers can be assured that RadiantGUARD® is committed to maintaining the highest level of integrity in the radiant barrier and reflective insulation industries and that RadiantGUARD® radiant barrier and reflective insulation products have been proven to save energy and lower utility bills.

We encourage you to learn more about ENERGY STAR,  ENERGY STAR Seal & Insulate products, and ALWAYS verify ENERGY STAR insulation manufacturing partner status when you see the ENERGY STAR logo when comparison shopping.

For more information about radiant barrier and reflective insulation products and to purchase online, please visit RadiantGUARD.com.

© 2010 Radiant Barrier Journal | RadiantGUARD.com

Fact:  There is no such thing as a “radiant barrier paint.”

Then what exactly is the spray product that many suppliers are claiming is a radiant barrier spray paint that is designed to be applied directly to the underside of the roof decking?  If the product blocks 75% or more of the radiant heat, it’s actually called an “interior radiation control coating (IRCC)”  If it blocks anything less, it’s just a paint.

Why are IRCC spray suppliers misnaming their products as radiant barriers?  Because radiant barriers are the most effective product at blocking radiant heat and lowering monthly utility bills.  In essence, these spray paint suppliers are piggy-backing on the rising success and notoriety of radiant barriers. Click here to read more…

Almost every one familiar with insulation knows two basic things when it comes to R-Values:

1. An R-Value is a measurement of how effective a conventional insulation product is at reducing the transfer of heat, and
2. The higher the R-Value, the better when comparing products.

However, exactly what an R-Value measures alludes many people and therefore, causes confusion when discussing radiant barriers and how they reduce heat transfer.

Heat ALWAYS moves from a warm area to a cooler area and it does so using three different transfer methods:

1. conductive heat transfer – the transfer of heat through a substance or to another touching substance.
2. convective heat transfer – the transfer of heat through a fluid or gas such as heated air rising from a boiling pot of water.
3. radiant heat transfer – the transfer of heat across an air space (or vacuum).

Click here to read more…

FAQ:  Will adding a radiant barrier to my attic space make my roof hotter or harm my shingles?

ANSWER: A radiant barrier will increase the surface temperature of your roof between 2 to 5° F on a hot sunny day but it’s already between 160 to 190 degrees at that time so the difference is very negligible and shouldn’t adversely affect your shingles (per a 2002 study performed by the Florida Solar Energy Center).

Because a radiant barrier reflects radiant heat back toward the roof decking, this is a very common question.  As a result of the rise in use of radiant barriers, and an increase in this concern, a study performed by the Florida Solar Energy Center was conducted on radiant barriers and roofing materials in 2002.  Click here to read more…

FAQ:  Will a radiant barrier work when installed under my new asphalt shingles?
ANSWER:  No.   A radiant barrier MUST be facing an air space for it to reflect the radiant heat.  Without an air space on at least one side of a radiant barrier, radiant heat will conduct all the way through it as if not installed. Click here to read more…

In today’s economy with rising utility costs, people are constantly looking for cost effective ways to reduce their monthly utility bills and save money.  Radiant barriers have gained a lot of attention as a result and yet very little is understood about what makes them so effective.

Definition of a Radiant Barrier

Radiant barriers reflect radiant heat back to it’s source.  Typically installed in attics or as a house wrap, a radiant barrier reduces summer heat gain and winter heat loss which reduces cooling and heating costs.  While highly reflective, a radiant barrier works by greatly reducing the transfer of radiant heat using two unique properties; high reflectivity and low emissivity.

For a product to be classified as a true radiant barrier, it must be proven to reflect 90% or more of the radiant heat the strikes it’s surface.  How do you know a radiant barrier has been proven to reflect 90% of the radiant heat?  Make sure the radiant barrier has an ASTM C1313 classification.  The manufacturer should communicate this classification as part of their product specifications. Click here to read more…

Radiant barrier and reflective insulation products, purchased and installed in 2009 or 2010 for the purpose of insulating one’s primary residence, qualify for a federal tax credit as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009.

Radiant barriers and reflective insulation products qualified for tax credits in previous years, but with the signing of the ARRA, the tax credit was increased from 10% to 30% of the product cost and the maximum allowed for all improvements in 2009-2010 was raised from $500 to $1,500.

A tax credit is a direct reduction in the amount of taxes your owe as opposed to a tax deduction which is a reduction in the gross income on which taxes owed are computed.  That means you can lower your total federal income taxes by up to $1,500 over a two-year period by purchasing a radiant barrier or reflective insulation product for your home. Click here to read more…