Radiant Barriers

When it comes to making your home more comfortable and energy efficient, upgrading your attic insulation is one of the most important improvements you can make. Attic insulation stabilizes indoor temperatures by keeping valuable heated air from escaping through your roof in the winter and by preventing outside heat from radiating into the home in the summer.

Here in Upstate SC where summers are especially hot, we recommend installing a radiant barrier as part of an attic insulation upgrade. The radiant barrier acts as a cap on your home that further controls heat flow into and out of the home.

What Is a Radiant Barrier?

A radiant barrier is a type of insulation made from a highly reflective material that reflects radiant heat. It is installed on roof rafters and attic walls and works in tandem with other types of insulation that are installed the attic floor. At Benton Green Energy, we often complete radiant barrier installation along with blown cellulose insulation installation.

Project: Dominic & Paige’s House

Date: May 20, 2011

House Details: Two-story house in Simpsonville, SC, that has a room above garage

Problems: Upstair rooms always hot in the summer, room above garage unbearably hot, seemed loud upstairs due to inadequate sound barrier

Solutions: Installed a radiant barrier, new insulation, air sealing and duct sealing

Analysis: The radiant barrier is particularly important on this home because the duct work is located in the attic, which means their HVAC system had to work overtime to cool the house. As cooled air traveled through the duct work, it was actually being heated due to such high temperatures in the attic, which meant the system had to stay on longer to bring down the temperature inside the house. The radiant barrier, along with air sealing and added insulation, acts as a cap on the house to keep hot, unconditioned air from radiating into the home and to keep conditioned air from seeping out.

Results: After the first day of our work, Paige told us that she immediately felt a difference in comfort upstairs. Dominic told us he could tell a difference in how sound was traveling from downstairs into his bedroom. He said it seemed quieter upstairs. We will check back with Dominic and Paige in July to find out how much energy they're saving.