Radiant Barrier
Radiant barriers are installed in attics to reduce heat in your home and in turn reduce your utility bills.
Hot air flows from warm to cool spaces. Radiant barriers are used to reduce radiant heat gain. When the sun hits your roof, it’s radiant energy causes the roof to heat. That heat then travels through your roofing material inside your attic. The heated materials on your roof then seak cooler surfaces including your air ducts and attic floor. Installing a radiant barrier reduces the radiant heat transfer within your attic. Especially in sunny California, radiant barriers can reduce your cooling costs by up to 5-10%. According to Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association International,
On hot summer days, the roof of a residence absorbs solar radiation at a higher rate than is dissipated through conduction (to the attic interior) and convection (to the outside air), thus creating a rise in roof temperature. During a typical summer afternoon in the Sunbelt, a properly installed attic radiant barrier system will:
- Reduce attic temperatures as much as 30 degrees.
- Reduce heat transfer from attic to living space up to 50%.
- Reduce heat loads on attic ducts and equipment up to 50%.
- Extend the life of the air-conditioning unit.
- Increase the comfort level of the home.
