As temperatures now begin to cool we notice that leaves are starting to change colors and drop from our trees, and all of the signs that tell us winter is on its way are becoming more evident with each passing day. We make sure the kids are wearing coats in the mornings before they head off to school and even the squirrels are now packing their nests to insulate them from the colder temperatures that are well on their way. Many give a sigh of relief that the heat and humidity of summer is at its end and rejoice that we can finally turn off that air conditioning system for the remainder of the year. With this seasonal change our thoughts also turn to our homes insulation needs as we decide whether or not it needs to be upgraded to a higher R factor which they believe will save them on their homes heating costs.
What many fail to realize however is that while standard insulation does in fact offer some relief from the high costs associated with heating their homes it is in no way a barrier that keeps thermal leakage at bay. During the course of conducting the majority of home energy audits many are shocked to learn of the glaring holes that are revealed by infra-red photo imagery showing this thermal leakage. These holes allow cold air in while at the same time it is painfully obvious that their heat is escaping into attic as well as outdoor spaces. There are a great many products which can be used on exterior walls to seal in the heat you pay for but only Radiant Barrier film sheeting can cover the shell of your entire home.
Radiant Barrier when used with insulation materials can lock in thermal temperatures while preventing outdoor temperatures from affecting those of your homes interior. This will greatly reduce your homes energy costs of not only heating in the winter months but also the needed cooling during the summer months. Applying radiant barrier to your homes air ducts and hot water pipes along with insulation material will have the same effect on both the HVAC and hot water systems. In fact, a failure to ensure that your home has this type of thermal protection can cost you as much as an additional 30% per year in heating and cooling costs.
Higher heating and cooling costs are not the only negative effects that result from poor thermal protection. Roofing tiles can also be damaged by the extreme temperatures that build in your attic spaces during the summer months as they climb to in excess of 150F. By creating a thermal barrier in your attic spaces with radiant barrier material the temperatures can be reduced by as much as 40%. This also has a direct correlation to the reduced use and operation of both heating and cooling systems saving homeowners up to 30% of their annual heating and cooling costs.
