Radiant Barrier Journal

Radiant Barrier vs Dust Accumulation

Rhonda Franklin — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:15:35 +0000

FAQ: Does dust accumulation affect the performance of a radiant barrier over time?

ANSWER: NO, as long as you are using a double-sided radiant barrier and at least one side it facing at least a 3/4″ air space.

A very common misconception in the insulation industry is that dust in an attic space will eventually render an installed radiant barrier ineffective over time as it collects over its surface. It is true that dust will eventually collect in varying degrees on a radiant barrier dependent on your location, however, as long as you following one or both of the recommendations below, such dust collection will NOT diminish the effectiveness of a radiant barrier installed in your attic space:

Install a single-sided radiant barrier to the underside of roof decking or rafters with the reflective side facing down into the attic space. Any dust accumulation would be on the top non-reflective surface leaving the underside reflective surface facing the entire attic space allowing it to use the property of “low emittance” to reduce the transfer of radiant heat into the attic space.

Install a double-sided radiant barrier (all RadiantGUARD radiant barrier products are double-sided) to either the underside of the roof decking or rafters OR lay it over the attic floor. With a RadiantGUARD double sided radiant barrier, if dust collects on one side, you still have the secondary reflective side working for you to reduce/BLOCK the transfer of radiant heat.

An exhaustive test performed by James R. Hall, project engineer for the Tennessee Valley Authority concluded that “… dust appeared to have little effect on the effectiveness of the radiant barrier. The percent reduction in ceiling heat flux was remarkably similar to that of a radiant barrier with no dust. He stated that a radiant barrier’s performance “…may not degrade nearly as much as would be expected from the significant increases in emissivity caused by small amounts of dust.” Click here to read the report - summary conclusion is on page six.

SUMMARY: Using a RadiantGUARD double-sided radiant barrier in your attic, you don’t need to worry about dust accumulation diminishing the effectiveness as long as one side of it is facing an airspace.

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

Oxidation of Aluminum vs. Metallized Insulation

Rhonda Franklin — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:23:40 +0000

FAQ: Do aluminum foil insulation products lose their reflectivity over time because of oxidation?

ANSWER: No, a high quality aluminum foil insulation products reflectivity is NOT AFFECTED by the natural oxidation process.

All aluminum surfaces oxidize when exposed to oxygen and this oxidation process produces a CLEAR layer over the top of the surface of aluminum. This clear layer will increase in thickness to a point where the oxygen in the environment can no longer continue the oxidation process.

High quality aluminum foil insulation products do not lose reflectivity because there is a significant amount of aluminum remaining after the completion of the oxidation process.

However, metallized products, because of the low level of aluminum, will lose reflectivity due to oxidation unless they have been treated with a special coating during the manufacturing process.

SUMMARY: High quality aluminum foil insulation products, such as RadiantGUARD, DO NOT require any special coatings to maintain reflectivity. Metallized film insulation products do.

For detailed information on the research and findings on the oxidation of aluminum insulation, please visit this radiant barrier oxidation technical study.

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

Radiant Barrier Tax Credits for RadiantGUARD are back!

Rhonda Franklin — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:57:53 +0000

The wait is over and we have good news; the popular tax credit for RadiantGUARD® products is back!! At the first of this year, Congress passed the American Taxpayer Release Act of 2012 and President Barack Obama signed it into law on January 2nd.

Title IV Section 401 of this law extends past tax credits outlined in IRS Section 25C(g) through December 31, 2013 for energy efficient tax credits pertaining to RadiantGUARD® radiant barrier & reflective bubble insulation products for purchases/installations made in 2012 through December 31, 2013.

Summary of the tax credit:

The tax credit covers RadiantGUARD® products purchased and installed after January 1, 2012 and before December 31, 2013.
The tax credit is for 10% up to a maximum of $500 for the combined year periods (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013) for all improvements combined (for example, if you have already claimed a 25c tax credit of $500 or more, you would not be eligible to make a tax credit claim for 2012).

Please visit our website for more detailed information on radiant barrier tax credits.

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

The History of Radiant Barrier Foil Insulation

Rhonda Franklin — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:52:47 +0000

As a surprise to many, radiant barriers have been used in residential and commercial buildings since the 1920s. But the road to acceptance and popularity that radiant barriers experience today was not an easy one.

The first wide-spread use of a radiant barrier can be attributed to Infra Insulation, Inc., a company based out of New York City under the direction of Alexander Schwartz that commercially produced radiant barrier in 1945.

Infra Insulation, Inc.

Infra Insulation marketed an accordion-fold style radiant barrier, named INFRA, that was highly reflective on both sides and constructed to create dead air spaces within itself when unfolded and stapled into wall cavities and between attic rafters. The product was marketed as easy to install by anyone who could us a staple gun. One newspaper advertisement even depicted a woman stapling up the radiant barrier in her attic while wearing a dress! By the early 1960′s, millions of square feet of radiant barrier had been installed in homes and buildings.

But the success of INFRA radiant barrier wouldn’t last for long. An unfortunate FTC ruling against the company, coupled with the untimely death of Schwartz, led to the demise of the largest radiant barrier manufacturer of its time. Unfortunately, interests in radiant barriers diminished almost entirely at this time.

NASA Utilizes Reflective Insulation

Thankfully, NASA revitalized the interests in reflective insulation in the mid 1950′s. Clark E. Beck, P.E., of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base engineered the development of radiant barrier for the space program. NASA was faced with a need to protect astronauts from the extreme temperature shifts while on space walks. NASA engineers knew it would take almost 7 inches of conventional insulation to protect the astronauts and this was obviously out of the question when designing a spacesuit. Reflective insulation was the answer to designing a feasible and comfortable spacesuit. The new NASA spacesuits, utilizing a radiant barrier, reflected the astronauts body heat back towards them to keep them warm while they also kept 95% of the radiant heat from the sun from reaching the interior of the spacesuit. The spacesuits were breathable and allowed moisture vapors to escape from the interior keeping the astronauts comfortable while maintaining a constant temperature.

NASA also incorporated radiant barrier in the Gemini and Apollo missions. The reflective insulation was an integral part of the temperature control system allowing the astronauts to work inside the Command Module comfortably outside of their spacesuits. Today, radiant barrier is still used on virtually all spacecraft to protect not only the astronauts, but also the valuable instrumentation.

Industry Challenges

With the re-focus on radiant barriers brought on by NASA’s use, many companies began manufacturing a wide-variety of reflective insulation products including those that include bubble layers, single-sided aluminum Kraft paper backed barriers, aluminum faced fiberglass, and even aluminum faced cardboard products. But growth of the radiant barrier industry was not to come easy. Entrenched corporate interests in traditional insulation such as fiberglass, blown-in cellulose, and rock wool would prove challenging for the marketing and acceptance of radiant barriers in the marketplace.

Millions of dollars where spent by the traditional insulation companies to educate consumers on a need for “R-Value” rated insulation and since radiant barriers don’t have an R-Value (because they work differently than traditional insulation) consumers were wary of purchasing and using radiant barrier foil insulation.

Benefits of Radiant Barriers Scientifically Supported

Thankfully, radiant barriers continued to gain the interests of architects and engineers who became convinced of their effectiveness and continued specifying their use in their building and design plans. In addition, various well known testing facilities and research organizations began to conduct their own studies on radiant barriers in order to quantify the results architect, engineers, and builders where claiming as a result of their use. The Department of Energy (DOE), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), and Texas A&M University (TAM), along with others, have now proven the benefits radiant barriers provide.

Radiant Barrier Acceptance

Although radiant barriers have been around for longer than most imagined, the road to recent notoriety and success did not come easy. But with the determination of energy-efficiency focused engineers, architects, and builders, scientifically supported benefits of radiant barrier have become widely available and accepted by governmental agencies like ENERGY STAR®, builders, and consumers alike as a cost effective way to permanently reduce utility bills and increase the comfort of homes and buildings.

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

RadiantGUARD® Radiant Barrier Earns the ENERGY STAR® Label

Rhonda Franklin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:02:42 +0000

UPDATE: As of May 23, 2012, all radiant barriers that had previously been designated as an ENERGY STAR qualified product were removed from the ENERGY STAR Seal and Insulate program. However, our RadiantGUARD® products are designed to meet the Prescriptive Path requirement for homes in IECC Climate Zones1-3 that have more than 10 linear feet of ductwork located in an unconditioned attic. See Exhibit 1 of the ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes, Version 3 (Rev 05) National Program Requirements at www.energystar.gov/newhomesguidelines.”

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.

Radiant Barrier vs. So-Called Radiant Barrier Paint

Rhonda Franklin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:14:06 +0000

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.

Fact: True radiant barriers outperform all IRCC paint products.

At this time, the most effective IRCC spray product, Heat Bloc-Ultra, claims to only blocks 80.5% of the radiant heat whereas the best radiant barriers block up to 97%. And considering the technique used in spraying on such a paint, reflectivity results can vary based on many factors:

how evenly and thickly is it applied,

how adequate the coverage is (whether gables, rafters, and all other areas that emit heat are covered), and

whether the coating has been watered down to extend the coverage (yes, some suppliers actually do this), etc.

For a recent comparison of IRCC products, please see this coatings study performed by R&D Services for the Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association (RIMA).

A radiant barrier, as defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), is a product which reflects/blocks 90% or more of the radiant heat. Most radiant barriers block up to 97% of the radiant heat; much more than the best IRCC on the market.

Fact: Radiant barriers are more economical than IRCC paint products.

On average, the cost of a so-called radiant barrier paint product is about 30¢ per square foot and that doesn’t include labor costs. IRCCs typically require an expert to install with professional equipment (power sprayer, installation garments including full suit, face mask, and gloves, etc) in order to get the necessary coverage.

On the other hand, a quality radiant barrier will cost an average of only 13¢ per square foot and can be installed by the homeowner if they are handy and comfortable being in the attic space. Of course, an installer can be hired to install a radiant barrier as well but labor costs are much less for installing a radiant barrier since no specialized equipment is needed.

Don’t waste money on a less effective spray product when a radiant barrier costs less and saves you more on your monthly utility bills.

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

Why Radiant Barriers Don’t Have R-Values

Rhonda Franklin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:57:17 +0000

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

An R-Value is a measurement of how effective a conventional insulation product is at reducing the transfer of heat, and
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:

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

An R-Value is the measurement of a material’s ability to impede the transfer of heat and is based on product thickness and elapsed time for the heat to transfer from one side through to the other. Radiant barriers reflect radiant heat and therefore, R-Value tests are not applicable to radiant barriers per the FTC. Radiant barriers undergo reflectivity and emissivity testing instead.

History of R-Values

Prior to 1945, an insulation materials resistance to heat flow was determined by calculating what is called the U-Factor. The smaller the U-Factor, the more effective the insulation was at resisting the transfer of heat. In 1945, the director of Penn State’s Building Research Institute, Everett Shuman, proposed the R-Value, the inverse of the U-Value, as a way to better communicate an insulation’s effectiveness at resisting heat flow. R-Values, being the inverse of U-Factor, results in a higher R-Value for products with a greater resistance to heat flows. Consumers better understand the concept that higher R-Values mean better resistance.

In the mid 1970′s, as oil and gas prices were skyrocketing during what we now call the Energy Crisis of the 70′s, there was a huge spike in the demand for residential insulation products to help control the rising utility bills. As a result of this increased demand in insulation, many new manufacturers entered the marketplace in hopes of capitalizing on this booming economic trend.

With the increased number of competing insulation products and manufacturers making inflated and even fraudulent claims on the effectiveness of their insulation products, consumers were having a difficult time determining which products would be the most effective for their needs. Therefore, in 1979, the Federal Trade Commission(FTC) intervened creating a “rule” by which manufacturers, resellers, home builders and installers must follow when reporting the performance of their insulation products. This ruling was passed in 1980 and became known as the “R-Value Rule.” It also mandates the specific American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) testing methods that must be followed to evaluate product R-Values.

Per the FTC ruling, “all types of insulation except aluminum foil” must be evaluated under specific ASTM testing methods to determine R-Values. Aluminum foil products (radiant barrier) are to be evaluated under reflectivity/emissivity ASTM testing. R-Values don’t exist for radiant barriers and therefore, are not subjected to the testing. They have reflectivity and emissivity values.

How R-Values Are Measured?

An R-Value is the measurement of how long it takes heat to transfer through a material from one side to the other. R-Values are evaluated for insulation materials in a controlled environment under the following conditions:

75 degrees F

50% relative humidity

The higher the R-Value, the better the insulation product is at slowing down the transfer of heat. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the insulation doesn’t STOP the transfer of heat – it only slows it down. The heat absorbed will eventually transfer through to the other side and into living spaces. And, as the temperature or humidity level increases, the R-Value of a product decreases, meaning it’s less effective at slowing down the transfer of heat. The performance of radiant barriers are not affected by temperature or humidity; they will always reflect the same amount of radiant heat regardless of temperature or humidity level.

While the standardization of an R-Value Rule by the FTC is considered a very important consumer protection regulation ever enacted by government, it is evaluated in a controlled laboratory and only for products that absorb/slow down the transfer of heat. Therefore, it isn’t the end-all to determining which product is the best for your application or how well it will perform in your specific home or building.

Radiant Barriers INCREASE the R-Value of Existing Insulation

Radiant barriers REFLECT radiant heat transfer, something that conventional insulation products don’t effectively deal with, and since studies have shown that a majority of heat gain/loss in a living space is due to radiant heat transfer (up to 93% in the summer and 75% in the winter), the addition of a radiant barrier to you home is a very wise decision; R-Value or not.

However, while radiant barriers have no R-Value themselves, they DO actually increase the overall R-Value of other products when used in conjunction with them. Studies performed by the Tennessee Valley Authority found that a radiant barrier used with an R-11 insulation is the equivalent of having an R-19 insulation alone and that when used with an R-19 insulation, the radiant barrier improves the R-Value of the insulation to an R-30. Finding similar results, the Florida Solar Energy Center found that adding a radiant barrier to an R-19 insulation actually produced a lower annual energy consumption than an R-30 alone.

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

Radiant Barriers DON’T Harm Shingles

Rhonda Franklin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:39:11 +0000

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. This study found that the installation of a radiant barrier in an attic space will not reduce the life expectancy of a shingle nor void the shingle manufacturer’s warranty. However, a consumer is advised to review their shingle warranty to ensure that the addition of a radiant barrier will not void it.

As a result of this increased concern, several roofing material manufacturers have issued statements indicating that the use of a radiant barrier will not negate their existing shingle warranties. Those include:

Elk, GAF, Celotex Corporation, IKO Industries Ltd, Vande Hey Raleigh, US Intec, Owens Corning, Certain Teed Corporation, Crane Plastics, Atlas International Inc, and Louisiana Pacific Inc to name a few.

More detail is supplied in this technical bulletin offered by the Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association (RIMA-I) of which RadiantGUARD is a proud member.

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

Radiant Barrier Under Shingles WON’T Work

Rhonda Franklin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:24:53 +0000

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.

This question is asked more often these days as more roofing contractors and builders begin capitalizing on the ever-growing reflective radiant barrier market.

It appears that a few companies out there are promoting the ill-advised addition of a radiant barrier directly under asphalt shingles. This method of installation will not provide any benefit since a radiant barrier reduces the transfer of radiant heat that travels across an air space. Placing a radiant barrier directly under shingles provides no airspace therefore NO BENEFIT!

However, there are some roofing products that actually create an air space when installed. Such products include clay tiles, corrugated metal, and similar products with inherent ridges. Installing a radiant barrier under one of these products would be beneficial since portions of the radiant barrier would be adjacent an air space.

Another way to gain an air space under a roofing product without an inherent air space, such as slate tile, would be to install with a batten or counter-batten system. Battens are made from wood, plastic, or metal and are installed horizontally or both vertically and horizontally (counter-batten system) to which to adhere the roofing material. Attaching a radiant barrier to the top of the vertical or horizontal battens before installing the slate tile would give the radiant barrier the air space required for it to be effective.

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

Radiant Barriers and Their Benefits – The Basics

Rhonda Franklin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:59:53 +0000

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.

What is radiant heat?

A common, and very easy to understand, example of radiant heat is the heat you feel on your skin when standing out under direct sunlight. More specifically, radiant heat is the transfer of heat across an air space from a heated surface. Stand in your attic space on any sunny day and you’ll instantly feel the heat bearing down on you from the underside of the roof decking above.

More about Reflectivity & Emissivity

Radiant barriers are unique in that they work very differently than traditional insulators (fiberglass, rock wool, cellulose, etc) which merely absorb and slow down the transfer of heat. A radiant barrier reflects 90% or more of the radiant heat that strikes it’s surface from across an air space. Conversely, a radiant barrier emits 10% or less heat from itself across an air space.

The high reflectivity property of a radiant barrier is the easiest concept to understand. When facing a heat source across an air space, the highly reflective surface of the radiant barrier will reflect the radiant heat away from its surface. For example, if a radiant barrier were installed on the attic floor, it would greatly reduce the amount of radiant heat that reaches the ceiling of the living spaces below by reflecting the radiant heat that strikes it’s surface from above.

The more difficult, yet equally as important, concept to understand is that a radiant barrier has a very low emittance factor. A radiant barrier emits (radiates) very little heat from itself. For example, if a radiant barrier was attached directly to the underside of the roof decking in an attic space, the low emissivity factor is what makes the radiant barrier effective in this location as it greatly reduces the transfer of radiant heat by NOT emitting the heat from itself.

Note: Both the high reflectivity and low emissivity properties work only when a radiant barrier is facing an air space. Without an air space on at least one side of a double-sided radiant barrier, there will be no reduction in the transfer of radiant heat. If you’re using a single-sided radiant barrier (paper backed), then the aluminum side MUST face the air space to be effective.

Radiant Barrier Benefits

Studies have shown that a majority of heat gain in a living space during summer months is due to radiant heat transfer. Radiant heat from the sun, penetrates a home’s roof and radiates into the attic space. As the attic space heats up, this heat begins to transfer through the attic floor/living space ceiling and into the living spaces below. Even with traditional insulation on the attic floor, up to 93% of the ceiling heat gain in summer months can be attributed to this radiant heat from the attic space above.

By adding a radiant barrier to your attic space, a majority of the radiant heat can be BLOCKED from transferring into your living space. This can equate to reducing heat transfer into your living spaces by up to 50%. This means using your air conditioner less often resulting in lower utility bills.

Winter Savings with Radiant Barriers

While most of the formal studies on the use of radiant barriers are conducted in warmer climates during summer months, double-sided radiant barriers do provide year-round savings. A double-sided radiant barrier in the attic space will not only block summer heat from penetrating your livings spaces from your attic, but will also help keep heat generated within your home from escaping out the attic. And since studies have shown that up 75% of heat loss in the winter time is radiant heat, the addition of a radiant barrier is a very effective way to reduce winter utility bills.

However, a radiant barrier also blocks beneficial winter heat gain from the solar heating of your roof so the consumer should evaluate how much this winter heat gain contributes to the warming of their home before installing a radiant barrier. The net benefit of radiant barriers on winter heat savings are still being studied.

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