You don't have to be a fortune teller to know that energy costs are not going down anytime soon. If you want to stay ahead of the rising energy bill game, you have to look at every possible opportunity for cost savings. Have you considered installing radiant barriers to keep the heat from your Atlanta roof out of your attic?
What Is A Radiant Barrier?
Most people have never uttered the words ‰ÛÏradiant barrier.‰Û They probably haven't heard them used together, either.
But if you've looked inside a metal thermos bottle or seen a giant shiny visor behind the windshield of a parked car, you have seen a radiant barrier.
Radiant barriers are simply metallic films that are used to reflect radiant heat energy back towards its source. In the case of a thermos, the silvery lined inner bottle reflects radiant heat back into a few cups of coffee, helping to keep it hot for hours.
On the other hand, the shiny car visor keeps a car cool by reflecting the sun's radiation back and away from the car's interior.
How Would A Radiant Barrier Work Under My Atlanta Roof?
Radiant barriers do nut operate in the same way that thermal insulation does. Insulation resists the conduction of heat, or transfer of heat through direct contact. It also reduces heat convection by trapping volumes of air and keeping them from circulating and transferring heat between nearby objects.
In contrast, radiant barriers block the transfer of radiant heat energy.
Every object that has a measurable temperature, whether animal, vegetable or mineral, emits some amount of radiant heat energy. This energy can be visualized using an infrared camera, as simulated in many movies, such as Predator.
A common example of radiant heat energy transfer is the warmth that you feel as the sun shines through a window and onto your face.
A radiant barrier, when exposed to the same solar radiation, would not heat up in the same way as your face does. Instead of absorbing and emitting the radiant heat energy, it would reflect it and stay cool.
Can A Radiant Barrier Really Save Money On My Atlanta Power Bill?
When properly installed in an attic, radiant barriers can reduce the amount of heat energy that will radiate down from your roof onto the insulation above your ceilings. But the amount of money you can actually save on your power bill depends on many other factors.
The climate in your area, the type of insulation you have in your attic and the amount of shade covering your home are a few of the key factors that determine the impact of radiant barriers on your realized energy savings.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) notes that some studies suggest a 5-10% reduction in cooling costs can be achieved in areas characterized by sunny, warm weather. At the same time the DOE recommends that homes in colder parts of the country may benefit more by simply using the recommended degree of attic insulation.
Ask An Atlanta Roofing Company About Radiant Barriers
It can be difficult to get an accurate estimate on the money you could save by installing radiant barriers in your attic. If you are fortunate enough to know someone in your Atlanta or Marietta neighborhood that has radiant barriers installed below their roof, they would be a great source for cost savings information.
Another way to learn more about the performance of radiant barriers is to ask a few local Atlanta roofing contractors what they have seen and heard over the years. There's no better source for practical roof and attic performance data than a well-established Atlanta roofing company.
If you are interested in finding out more about radiant barriers and other energy saving roofing technologies, we invite you to contact us today.
At Findlay Roofing we are always happy to help our neighbors in Atlanta, Marietta and across North Georgia learn more about building great roofs!
