Reflective Coating From Georgia Energy Audits

In addition to its other energy-saving products and services, Georgia Energy Audits is proud to announce Georgia Energy Audits High Performance Radiant Coating, a 2-part coating mixed and sprayed just like paint. It can be applied to almost any interior surface in your home or yard to keep heat out in the summer and in during the winter.

What It Is

Georgia Energy Audits High Performance Radiant Coating is an aluminum-colored, water-based, low emissivity coating that reduces the transfer of radiant heat. The more reflective a material is, the lower its emissivity. For example, highly polished silver has an emissivity of about 0.02 while a black, matte surface could have an emissivity equal to 1. Lower emissivity means heat is reflected away during hot days, while heat is retained inside during cold days.

Georgia Energy Audits High Performance Radiant Coating can be applied to many building materials, including:

Concrete	Paper
Plastic	Metal
Plywood	Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
Fiberglass	Concrete
Plastic	Brick

When applied by a trained professional, Georgia Energy Audits High Performance Radiant Coating lowers surface emissivity to 0.25 or lower, thereby blocking 75% of the radiant heat trying to enter the home or building. That means lower utility bills for you, particularly in the hot summer months, and a more comfortable environment year round.

How It Works

Georgia Energy Audits High Performance Radiant Coating is a radiant barrier that works by changing the emissivity of the surface on which it is applied. Building products such as wood, brick, and plasterboard have high emissivities (0.7-0.95). When heated, they radiate most of their heat to cooler surfaces. That means that in the winter, the heat produced by your furnace penetrates the attic and is released through the roof. In the summer, the reverse occurs as heat penetrates your roof, attic and living spaces. Georgia Energy Audits High Performance Radiant Coating lowers surface emissivity to 0.25, greatly reducing heat loss in the winter and gain in the summer. And unlike some radiant barriers, Georgia Energy Audits High Performance Radiant Coating does not lose its effectiveness over time.

How It Is Applied

For best results, we apply using a spray pump. That ensures complete, effective coverage of surfaces. It's also fast and efficient. For the average-sized home, we can complete the job, including preparation and clean up in less than half a day.

Once applied, Georgia Energy Audits High Performance Radiant Coating allows water vapor to permeate, and does not trap water vapor within roof decks or sidewalls. This is vitally important in attic conditions.

In addition to attic ceilings, Georgia Energy Audits High Performance Radiant Coating can be applied to side walls but typically it is most effective under roofs. Roof surfaces are generally much hotter than sidewalls. Up to 80% of the summer heat gain is from above. However, in tropical climates where no insulation is used in sidewalls, Georgia Energy Audits High Performance Radiant Coating can substantially help increase interior comfort levels.

Testing

The Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association (RIMA), performed testing of the most widely used Interior Radiation Control Coating Systems, otherwise known as attic radiant barrier coatings. The test results show that Georgia Energy Audits High Performance Radiant Coating is the most effective coating on the market.

Energy Saving Tips

Tip #1

Minimize ceiling and attic heat retention during summer.
As much as 83% of heat gain in the summer takes place through the ceiling and roof. Reflective insulation reflects the sun’s heat before it can penetrate your home. You use less air conditioning to keep your home comfortable all summer long. According to the Department of Energy, homeowners can expect up to 17% cooling savings depending on climate, current amount of insulation in the attic, and household energy use. Many Georgia Energy Audits customers claim to have seen even higher results, but these results have not been scientifically verified by a 3rd party.

Tip #2

Minimize ceiling and attic heat loss during the winter
Just as your ceiling and roof retains heat during the summer, it releases heat during the winter as the hot air rises and escapes through your roof. As you run your furnace during the winter to heat your home, reflective insulation in your attic reflects that heat right back into your home. You spend less money on heating while staying warm and comfortable.

Tip #3

Install Solar Attic Fans.
Consider using a solar attic fan along with your air conditioner to increase your home comfort. They can lower your air conditioning bills by up to 30%. When your attic temperatures rise in the summer, proper ventilation can reduce those high temperatures by up to 50�F. With an attic fan you can be just as comfortable with the thermostat set at 78 degrees as you would with air conditioning along set to 72 degrees. For each degree you raise the thermostat, you save you 3-5% on air conditioning costs.

Tip #4

Insulate your windows with solar screens and blinds.
Block the sun – not your view – with energy saving blinds and screens. The home cooling and energy savings potential of solar window screens and blinds is exceptional, with room temperature reduction of up to 15 degrees and savings of up to 25-30%. Solar films can also provide huge benefit when it comes to keeping a room cool. At the same time, solar screens and blinds help your home retain heat in the winter.

Tip #5

Brighten rooms naturally with tubular skylights.
Tubular Skylights allow natural sunlight to be directed from the rooftop down through a highly reflective tube, and then diffused at the ceiling level. Tubular skylights capture direct and ambient light, providing exceptional illumination, even on cloudy days and in early morning or late afternoon when the sun is low in the sky—all without using a single watt of electricity.

Tip #6

Insulate your duct system.
Duct losses from heat gain in hot attics or heat loss in cold basements or crawl spaces reduce your comfort, wear out your HVAC system and waste energy every time your unit turns on. Then, while it's off, heat moves readily through the ducting wall and either chills off or heats up the air inside. There is no need to replace your existing ductwork. A trained installer can complete the job in half a day

Tip #7

Install a programmable thermostat.
The use of a programmable thermostat to manage use throughout the day can save big money. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save about $150 every year in energy costs. It’s important to adjust for you summer living habits.

Tip #8

Replace incandescent with CFL light bulbs.
In addition to the significant energy savings CFL bulbs provide for lighting your home, they also produce virtually no heat. If you have 30 standard light bulbs on in your home, they collectively put off as much heat as a small space heater. You can keep the house much cooler by installing CFL lights.

Tip #9

Add insulation to your hot-water heater.
Since the standard hot water heater is on all the time, adding extra insulation will save more energy than you think. Experts estimate that adding insulation to your water heater and any exposed pipes can knock up to 15 percent off the costs of heating water. Caution: Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions before taking this step.

Tip #10

Insulate with radiant barrier paint.
Truly a space age product, radiant barrier paint delivers powerful insulation to your home mixing non-toxic, chemically stable ceramic microspheres with any paint. It can be applied to the exterior and interior of your building in order to insulate it from the radiant heat of the sun. The increased reflective insulation lowers energy bills and provides protection from thermal shock.