Radiant Barrier Insulation - Energy Saving Tips for Your HOme

The correct energy saving measures taken in your home can easily reduce your current utility bills by as much as 50%. Of all measures available, radiant barrier insulation stands head and shoulders above the rest.
Most of us have been educated on the need and purpose of insulation inside of our homes. Insulation forms a barrier that keeps heat away from the occupied or cooled sections of your home. This barrier can be in your floor and/or your walls, but in addition to these, the most effective place for insulation is above your head in your attic.
When the sun strikes your roof surface, it heats up and passes this heat into the air inside your attic. On a summer day, this air can heat to as much as 150 degrees! Its almost like having a second sun right above your head. Insulation forms a barrier that keeps this hot air separated from your interior ceiling. Since less heat is transferred to your ceiling, less electricity is needed to cool your home. With traditional insulation, the thicker the barrier, the more effective the heat protection and the less electricity you have to use. Enter the dreaded word, compaction.

Traditional insulation works because air is trapped within its cotton like, fluffy thickness. This is where all of the heat gets trapped. Over time, traditional insulation settles and compacts, reducing its effectiveness. This process is as inevitable as age. The easiest way to notice it is in the fact that you can set you air conditioner to a temperature that used to keep you comfortable but suddenly does not. That is because your air conditioner is being asked to do far greater work than it had to in the past. The sun in your attic has gotten a bit closer. The traditional response is to add more insulation, but there is a much more effective and less expensive alternative.
Radiant Barrier Insulation is the modern day answer for your insulation needs. It is a heavy duty, foil like substance that reflects the heat away from your interior ceiling thus keeping your home cooler in summer. It also reflects interior heat back into your home, keeping it warmer in winter. Traditional insulation does not possess these reflective qualities and can only act as a blanket.
Radiant Barrier Insulation can be used alone or in conjunction with your existing insulation. If you already have insulation in your attic Radiant Barrier Insulation can be laid on top of it or attached to the roof trusses (rafters, depending on where you are from). Traditional insulation, no matter how thick is not designed to deal with radiant energy.
By reducing the amount of heat transferred to your home, your HVAC system will have to work less and will last longer. This alone can result in a savings of thousands of dollars. It will become easier to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.
By reflecting up to 97% of the radiant energy away from your home, Radiant Barrier Insulation is an effective way to reduce your energy bills.