In many parts of the country, the pressing heat of summer has started to subside. While the weather hasn’t turned cool yet, it’s at least bearable to spend time outside. Don’t let the weather (or those windows you’re now able to open) change lull you into being comfortable with the state of your home’s energy efficiency. We all know that Fall and Winter are inevitable.
Now’s the time to plan your energy checks so that you still have time to implement changes before the fierce weather kicks in. Here are some ideas to improve your home’s comfort this season:
- Start with the quick fixes, including windows and doors. Do they fit well and close easily? Do you feel air escaping?
- Clean the coils of your refrigerator and freezer. A build-up of dust keeps the appliance from operating at its fullest.
- Cover any window air conditioning units tightly with plastic to prevent cold air from rushing inside.
- Consider installing a radiant barrier into your attic on top of existing insulation.
You may have heard of some of these ideas before. Radiant barrier may have the most significant impact on your energy bill, so don’t overlook the value a small investment now will bring you over the lifetime of home ownership.
Radiant barrier, also called reflective foil insulation, serves as a barrier to block the transfer of radiant heat from one place to another. When placed along the floor joists in your attic, perforated radiant barrier will reflect the heated air from your living space (which rises into the attic) back down to prevent escape through the attic. The result is a more comfortable home at a lower thermostat setting, and lower electric bills.
I found this article about attic insulation that provides more detail. Take a look.
Foil insulation may be new when compared to fiberglass insulation, but that doesn’t mean that it is better. Foil insulation carries many more benefits.
The concept behind foil insulation has been around for years, but few people know the real benefits from it and still use fiberglass to insulate their homes, offices, garages, and any other place that they want to stay warm … but why?
Fiberglass insulation has been around since the late 1800’s; that is what people are used to and comfortable with. There are a couple 
of different kinds of fiberglass to choose from – rolled insulation (or batt insulation), and loose fill-blow insulation. Which one to choose depends on where you want it used. Typically loose fill-blow insulation is used in attics, while the rolled insulation is used for the rest of your home.
However, this type of insulation also carries some risks to the installer. It tends to be made from bits of glass, limestone and other harmful materials if inhaled or touched. It is recommended that you use heavy gloves and a breathing mask when installing it. If there were a different, better, safer way of insulating, wouldn’t you try it?
There are three types of heat transferring agents – convection, conduction and radiant, with radiant being the primary method. Fiberglass insulation, along with other types of insulation, reduces convection and conduction, but does little for radiant heat. These types of insulations will eventually let air in and out, causing your energy bills to go up. Yet what if I told you that you could reduce your heating and cooling bills, and save on energy use? Would you be interested? I’m sure you are.
Foil insulation, or a radiant barrier, holds its roots in aluminum foil (yes, the same foil we use around the house and in the kitchen), but they have their differences. Regular aluminum foil is thin, tears easily and is mixed with other alloys that will oxidize over time. Foil insulation contains more aluminum for better reflectivity and is coated for better durability and corrosion resistance. It also has a mesh interior to give it a bit of weight for easier handling. This type of insulation works by deflecting the radiant heat, keeping the cooler air in during the summer and the warm air in during the winter. All of this will cause your heating and cooling bills to be lower than ever before.
Now you know the basic differences between foil insulation and fiberglass. So next time you have to choose what kind of insulation to use, which kind of insulation will you go with?
So you’ve decided to install radiant barrier in your home, yes? Good move. I installed EcoFoil in my home this summer and can’t wait to see (and feel!) the difference in my heating bill this winter.
The experts at EcoFoil knew folks like us needed some tips before we got started with our projects. Here’s another of their great videos, this one reviewing the steps involved just prior to installation:
- how to measure
- tools needed
- safety precautions
Energy efficiency is a hot topic, and there are a ton of resources available to help you improve things around your home. One economical product I’ve found is radiant barrier which is installed in attics and used in conjunction with mass insulation products to greatly minimize the transfer of radiant heat. I called several companies to learn more, but this video from the folks at EcoFoil was really handy at getting the big picture about radiant barrier. Take a look below.
EcoFoil Radiant Barrier
It’s that time of year again, when the sun’s heat comes beating down and my air conditioner works 24/7. I’m researching options to help make my HVAC run more efficiently. One product I’m interested in is called radiant barrier, a type of attic insulation. Here’s a little video that explains some about how all that heat gets into your house to start with: