Can A Radiant Barrier Under My North Carolina Roof Save Me Money?

You don't need a psychic to tell you that energy costs are not likely to go down within the next 100 years. That's why it's always a good idea to seek out ways to reduce your energy consumption. Installing a reflective radiant barrier beneath your North Carolina roof can be an effective way to keep heat out of your attic and help lower your power bills.

What Is A Radiant Barrier and How Does It Work?

There is a good chance you have never heard of the phrase “radiant barrier.” But if you've ever used a thermos that was shiny on the inside, then you've held a radiant barrier in your hands.

Radiant barriers work by reflecting radiant heat energy back towards its source. At the same time they exhibit low thermal emissivity. In layman's terms this means that radiant barriers can be exposed to thermal radiant energy without absorbing it and heating up.

However, radiant barriers are not the same as insulation. Radiant barriers block or resist radiant heat energy while insulation resists conductive heat transfer.

For example, consider an aluminum can. If you heated it on a stove, it would be hot to the touch. Aluminum is a poor insulator against conductive heat, or the transfer of heat through direct contact.

On the other hand, aluminum is a great barrier against radiant heat. Radiant heat is emitted by every object we encounter on a daily basis, and can be visualized using infrared cameras (as dramatized in movies such as Predator). A tangible example of radiant energy is the warmth you feel from the sun as it passes through a window in your home or car.

That's why so many people use those shiny fold-out sun visors in their parked automobiles. The metallic foil reflects the radiant heat energy back towards the sun instead of absorbing and emitting it. And their cars stay cooler!

How Much Money Can A Radiant Barrier Save On My North Carolina Power Bill?

Radiant barriers can work in your attic in a similar, but less dramatic fashion. Instead of blocking out the radiant energy from the sun, radiant barriers in your attic can keep the heat energy emitted by your roof from reaching your insulation and ceilings.

Of course, the most important thing a homeowner wants to know is, “How much money will I save on my power bill?”

There are many factors that affect the answer to this question, including climate, shade coverage and the type of insulation in your attic. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), some studies have shown a 5-10% reduction in cooling costs can be achieved in sunny, warm areas of the country. On the other hand, the DOE also suggests that homes in colder climates may be better served by having the recommended amount of attic insulation.

What A North Carolina Roofing Company Knows About Radiant Barriers

The true energy savings you can realize by installing radiant barriers as part of your roofing system may not be known until you actually have the work completed. In the meantime, you may contact some local North Carolina roofing contractors to see what information they may have on the performance of radiant barriers.

A North Carolina roofing company will work on many different homes each year. The collective experience of a few established North Carolina roofing companies should provide some valuable real-world insight on how effective radiant barriers can be in your neighborhood.

If you have additional questions or would like more information about radiant barriers, we encourage you to contact us today.

The Findlay Roofing team is always happy to answer all of your North Carolina roofing questions and help homeowners from Raleigh, Charlotte and throughout the state learn more about saving energy.