Radiant Barriers and Insulation Control Heat in Both Directions Energy bills in the United States vary greatly from one end to the other, but residents of San Diego and Orange County are far more likely to have high air conditioning costs than a resident of North Dakota. On average, Americans spend more on their heating costs than they do on their cooling costs. Yet between the two, most homeowners opt for insulation rather than radiant barriers. Radiant heat is the single greatest source of heat accumulation in a home, while conductivity causes the greatest amount of heat loss. On average, radiant barriers reflect around 95% of radiant heat. Rather than slowing heat, they prevent it from entering your home. Radiant barriers bounce the rays of the sun back from where they came from, even when installed underneath roofing. Radiant barriers block radiant heat – Park your car outside for a few hours on a hot summer day, and you’ll return to a furnace.The higher the value of resistance, or R-value, the slower it enters your home. By providing a thick layer of insulation material, heat is slowed down and penetrates through your walls more slowly. Insulation blocks conductive heat – Insulation is like a down coat for your home.This is because heat does not spread in a uniform way. While both perform the same function-keeping your home at a reasonable temperature-the ways this is done vary greatly between the two. Aside from central heating and cooling, there are two different kinds of building materials commonly used to perform this task: insulation and radiant barriers.

When weatherizing a home, the primary objective is to make it as comfortable as possible throughout the four seasons. Today, you’ll learn about the benefits of radiant barriers and insulation, and how both can reduce heating and energy costs! Radiant Barriers Are Not The Same As Insulation Radiant barriers can be installed alongside insulation in the attic space, providing a heat shield that can lower cooling costs in the summer months. Anyone with a drafty window in the middle of winter can appreciate the value of a tightly sealed home.īut did you know that there are ways you can also keep your house cooler in the summer? When we think about protecting our homes from the elements, our thoughts tend to go towards insulation against the cold.

Radiant barrier attic