So without a radiant barrier, the heat would build-up in the attic and reach extreme temperatures, upwards of 140 degrees. Standard mass insulation is almost always installed on the surface of the ceiling, and air conditioning duct systems are almost always installed in the attic space. The idea is to stop the heat right at the source, the roof, before it gets into the attic or building envelope. Silver Shield Radiant Barrier is installed just below the roof sheathing. Studies have shown that the radiant barrier / mass insulation combination out-performs mass insulation alone. The radiant barrier will improve the performance of both the air conditioning ductwork and the mass insulation and will improve comfort in garages and patios, areas that are typically not conditioned. A radiant barrier is specifically designed for this application and will reduce heat transfer up to 97%. To best increase your energy efficiency, you should deal with the problem at its source, the roof, and the best way to address it is by adding a radiant barrier. What is the best choice to upgrade energy efficiency, a radiant barrier or additional insulation? Radiant barriers lower both cooling and heating costs, reducing energy expenditures throughout the year. A cooler attic will transfer less heat into your air conditioning ducts. A radiant barrier stops 97% of radiant heat transfer, which improves the performance of insulating materials and lowers attic temperatures as much as 30 degrees F. This stored heat acts as a heat sink and will continue to transfer heat into the living area of a home even after the sun has set, making the air conditioner run longer and consume more electricity. In addition, the extreme temperatures will saturate the building materials in the attic. These higher temperatures will increase the heat gain in air conditioning ducts and reduce the performance of mass insulation (the R-values of mass insulation are determined at 75 degrees F - higher temperatures lower the R-value). In a home without a radiant barrier at the roofline, your roof radiates solar-generated heat, which elevates attic temperatures upward to 150 degrees or higher.
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