Reflective Insulation From Georgia Energy Audits

Georgia Energy Audits Radiant Barrier Reflective Insulation is a radiant barrier which, when simply laid on top of existing ceiling insulation, helps reduce heating and cooling bills, extend the life of heating and cooling systems, and increase the comfort level of your home.

For most home owners, over 45% of utility bills go toward heating and cooling, with over 83% of heat loss and heat gain taking place through the ceiling and roof. And as we all know, utility bills are increasing by 20% or more each year.

The most effective way to cut these costs is to lower the amount of heat transferred into your home in the summer and out of your home in the winter. Heat is transferred in three ways: radiation, conduction, and convection. All heat transfer begins with radiation. Infrared rays or heat waves are radiated in a direct line from any heat source whether it be the sun, a fire, or the electric element of a space heater. These heat waves are either reflected or absorbed by any object that they come in contact with. If they are absorbed, the process of conduction (heat passing through solid materials) or convection (heat movement by air currents) can occur. Your roof, insulation, walls and ceiling are all materials that absorb and conduct these heat waves, driving up your energy bills as your furnace or air conditioner tries to compensate for the extra heat loss or gain.

Regardless of the insulation in your home today, Georgia Energy Audits Radiant Barrier Reflective insulation will dramatically reduce the amount of heat lost in the winter and gained during the summer, saving you up to 40% in your energy bills. Find out how.

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.