The Benefits of a Radiant Barrier

CAMPBELL — Energy efficiency and in-home comfort are both high priorities for most California homeowners. One affordable home improvement measure that addresses both of these aspects is the installation of a radiant barrier in the attic. A radiant barrier mainly consists of sheets of low-E reflective insulation, which, unlike conventional insulation, reflects heat instead of absorbing it. When stapled to the bottoms of attic rafters, this material creates a barrier that reflects heat back out through the roof rather than letting it into the home.

Considering the low cost of installation, the benefits provided by a radiant barrier are substantial. First of all, when properly installed, it can reduce an attic’s temperature by as much as 35 degrees on a hot day. Even better, since the temperature reduction takes some of the load off your cooling system, a radiant barrier also lowers your energy bills, which makes it easy to recoup the installation expense.