All about radiant barriers Learn the facts about radiant
barriers and reflective insulation products to determine if they
are a wise investment for achieving energy and cost savings in
your home. What are radiant barriers? Radiant barriers and
reflective insulation products are installed in buildings to
reduce radiant heat transfer, which is one of the ways buildings
gain heat in the summer and lose heat in the winter. The idea is
that by reducing radiant heat gain into the attic, for instance,
you will use less energy to cool the house in the summer. There
are three primary types of radiant barrier products on the
market: Foils and films usually reinforced for strength Coatings
such as radiant barrier paints or sprays Reflective insulation
such as foil-faced bubble wrap products Sometimes, products
combine more than one type, such as foil-faced bubble wrap
installed in an open attic. This is both an insulation and a
radiant barrier. Do they actually reduce radiant heat transfer?
In a word, yes. Most of the f