Beat the Heat!
Lets face it, summer in Vegas can be miserable. Most of the homes here were built by the blow and go corporate philosophy, and for that reason, they’re about 20 years behind the rest of the country in energy efficiency. When it’s 112 degrees outside, our air conditioners run constantly to keep our homes at a bearable temperature. I always cringe when I get my August electric bill, and every time I tell myself, “NEVER AGAIN”. It’s time to do something about it.
Radiant Barriers are installed in homes, most commonly in attics to reduce summer heat gain, which helps lower cooling costs. The barriers consist of a material that reflects radiant heat rather than absorbing it. They don’t work in the same way as insulation materials.
When the sun heats a roof, it’s primarily the sun’s radiant energy that makes the roof hot. A large portion of this heat travels through the roofing materials to the attic side of the roof. The hot roof material then radiates its gained heat energy into the attic (some of the roof’s heat will radiate in other directions, too). A radiant barrier reduces the radiant heat transfered from the roof to the attic space.
This is especially important here in the Western United States, where so many homes have their forced air units in the attic. On a typical summer day in Las Vegas, an attic can reach 180 degrees. This drives up energy costs, and the heat can damage items stored in the attic.
A typical installation consists of draping a double faced rolled-foil radiant barrier on the bottom of the roof trusses. It’s really simple to install. The hardest part is getting to some of the smaller areas of your attic. I recommend installing in the cooler months. The last thing you want is to be in a attic when it’s 180 degrees. Just think of a huge roll of aluminum foil. It’s best installed by two people. Just roll it out, and staple it to the trusses.
Studies have shown that radiant barriers can cut energy costs by 15% to 20 % over time. The costs of radiant barriers vary widely. As with any purchase, comparison shopping can save you money. I’ve found rolls as low as $70. The initial cost is minimal compared to the money you’ll save over time.
Comment from Bikerguy
Time January 15, 2010 at 7:05 am
My dad and I did this to his house about 2 years ago. He can really tell a difference. The only thing that we did wrong was use rolls that were only reflective one one side. When we do my house we will use the double sided.