Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and are not intended to represent the views and opinions of the Florida Solar Energy Center.
(with revisions by P. Fairey and D. Beal )
Attic radiant barriers made of aluminum foil are becoming a popular way for homeowners to save energy and money in Southern states. They are increasing in popularity for three two reasons. First, tests by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) and other groups show that they work. Second, manufacturers are improving the quality of radiant barrier materials. Third, many decking manufacturers are producing roof decking products with a radiant barrier preinstalled, saving money on installation costs in new housing and redecking applications.
To most homeowners, attic radiant barriers are a new energy conservation concept; many of them have questions about how radiant barriers work and how to use them. Herein are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions. Also included are recommended ways to install radiant barriers in existing attics and new homes.
A radiant barrier is a layer of aluminum placed in an airspace to block radiant heat transfer between a heat-radiating surface (such as a hot roof) and a heat-absorbing surface (such as conventional attic insulation). Figure 1 illustrates the locations in which a radiant barrier may be installed in an attic. Only locations 1 and 2 are recommended for sheet radiant barriers because dust will accumulate on the radiant barrier if it is installed at location 3. Other types of radiant barriers, “chips” and multi-layer products, are acceptable for location 3 (more below).
In hot climates, benefits of attic radiant barriers include both dollar savings and increased comfort.
Without a radiant barrier, your roof radiates solar-generated heat to the insulation below it. The insulation absorbs the heat and gradually transfers it to the material it touches, principally, the ceiling. This heat transfer makes your air conditioner run longer and consume more electricity.
An aluminum foil radiant barrier blocks 95 percent of the heat radiated down by the roof so it can't reach the insulation.
In summer, when your roof gets very hot, a radiant barrier cuts air-conditioning costs by blocking a sizable portion of the downward heat gain into the building. In the warm spring and fall, radiant barriers may save even more energy and cooling dollars by increasing your personal comfort. During these milder seasons, outdoor air temperatures are comfortable much of the time. Yet solar energy still heats up your roof, insulation, attic air, and ceiling to temperatures that can make you uncomfortably warm. An attic radiant barrier stops almost all of this downward heat transfer so that you can stay comfortable without air conditioning during mild weather.
You may also find that radiant barriers can expand the use of space in your home. For instance, uninsulated, unconditioned spaces such as garages, porches, and workrooms can be more comfortable with radiant barriers. Because radiant barriers keep attics cooler, the space is more usable for storage.
Roof-radiated heat also warms ductwork or mechanical equipment (air handler) in your attic. The proportion of the total heat gain the ductwork represents, compared to heat gain to the interior of the house, varies depending on the amount of attic and duct insulation you have.
Aluminum foil, the operative material in attic radiant barriers, has two physical properties of interest here. First, it reflects thermal radiation very well. Second, it emits (gives off) very little heat. In other words, aluminum is a good heat reflector and a bad heat radiator.
Your grandmother probably made use of these properties through "kitchen physics." She covered the Thanksgiving turkey with a loose "tent" of aluminum foil before she put it in the oven. The foil reflected the oven's thermal radiation, so the meat cooked as evenly on top as on the bottom. She removed the foil briefly to let the skin brown, but when she took the bird from the oven, she "tented" it with foil again. Since aluminum doesn't emit much heat, the turkey stayed hot until the rest of the meal was ready. To understand the concept of not emitting heat, let's use an analogy of a light bulb. When you turn on a light bulb, it emits light. If you paint the light bulb black, when it is turned on, there is no light emission. A radiant barrier has a similar effect on infrared heat. Your roof surface heats up in the sun and will emit infrared heat. When this infrared heat heats the radiant barrier it will not emit, or reradiate, the heat into your attic.
Cooking a turkey and painting light bulbs are simple analogies, but the same principles of physics apply to an attic radiant barriers. Aluminum foil across the attic airspace reflects heat radiated by the roof. Even if the radiant barrier material has only one aluminum foil side and that side faces down, it still stops downward heat transfer because the foil's low emissivity will not allow it to radiate the roof's heat to the insulation below it.
Since everyone's home and lifestyle are different, we can't precisely calculate your personal savings from attic radiant barriers. However, it's reasonable to expect that an attic radiant barrier can save 8-12 percent of your annual cooling costs in the Southeast.
Savings from an attic radiant barrier depend on the amount of heat the roof and attic contribute to your home's cooling load. ("Cooling load" is the total amount of heat your air conditioner must remove to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.) In general, the more energy efficient the rest of your home is, the larger the percentage of energy you save from an attic radiant barrier because the roof and attic make up a larger portion of the cooling load.
Figure 2. Shows a breakdown of cooling loads in a typical 1500-square-foot Central Florida home. The attic (including heat gains to the duct system) accounts for 22 percent of the total cooling load. In this house, an attic radiant barrier could save 8-12 percent on the annual air-conditioning costs.
Although not as significant, heating savings may also accrue from the use of radiant barriers.
Results from a recent comprehensive field monitoring study conducted for Florida Power Corporation (FPC) by FSEC on the performance of attic radiant barrier systems in central Florida homes may be viewed by reading "FPC Residential Monitoring Project: New Technology Development - Radiant Barrier Pilot Project". A good website for help in deciding weather or not to install a radiant barrier system may be viewed at http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/radiant/rb_01 .html.
As in most cases, claims for radiant barriers that sound too good to be true are too good to be true. If your roof accounts for less than 20 percent of your cooling load, then an attic radiant barrier can't possibly save more than 20 percent on your bills.
Claims of greater savings may simply be the results of misunderstanding. For instance, FSEC has measured and reported that radiant barriers can reduce heat gain through R-19 insulated ceilings by over 40 percent. If the ceiling portion of the total cooling load is 20 percent, that's a reduction of 40 percent of 20 percent, which amounts to 8 percent savings on the total cooling load.
If all the facts and figures tend to confuse you, just remember that an attic radiant barrier can save about 8-12 percent on your air-conditioning costs in the Southeast. Any Sunbelt homeowner knows that an 8-12 percent saving on air-conditioning bills can be significant.
There are many types of radiant barrier materials on the market, and more are being developed as radiant barriers become more widely used. Five generic types are most common:
Some of these products may have R-values, which may be claimed only if the product was tested according to Federal Trade Commission regulations for insulation.
Although it is not by definition a radiant barrier, there is a low-emissivity paint available that can be applied directly to the underside of the roof decking.
While the Florida Solar Energy Center strongly recommends radiant barrier systems in attics, it doesn't endorse any particular brand of radiant barrier material. However, we suggest that you look for a few common-sense characteristics:
Costs for an attic radiant barrier depend on several factors, including the following:
One other condition greatly affects the cost of a radiant barrier system to the homeowner - the individual's knowledge and willingness to do some comparison shopping. A few phone calls and a little research can save you money on most purchases. Radiant barriers are no exception.
Informal surveys show a wide range of material costs ($0.07-$1.00/square foot) and installation costs ($0.10-$1.00/square foot). Remember, foil-faced roof sheathing materials can significantly reduce installation costs in new construction or redecking. The increased costs appear to be due more to marketing practices than to any inherent difference in thermal performance.
In some cases, radiant barriers are included in a package of energy-saving features sold to homeowners. When considering a "package deal," you may want to ask for an itemized list that includes material and installation costs for all measures included. Then shop around to see what each item would cost if you purchased them individually. You may see considerable savings. In addition, you may decide that you want to install the items yourself, including the radiant barrier.
No. In attics, single-sided radiant barrier material should be installed with the foil side facing down. Even if you use a double-sided radiant barrier material, it is best to install it at the rafter level so that the bottom side faces the attic airspace and will not collect dust. This may run counter to our intuitive feel for "how things work," but it does work, and work well.
To understand how it works, remember the two properties of aluminum foil from our Thanksgiving turkey and light bulb analogies; foil reflects radiant energy very well but does not radiate heat well. It does not emit heat to the cooler surfaces around it.
If you install a single-sided radiant barrier with the foil side facing up, the aluminum will (for a time) reflect the thermal energy radiated by the hot roof.
If you install a single-sided radiant barrier with the foil side facing down, the aluminum simply will not radiate the heat it gains from the roof to the cooler insulation it faces.
At first, a single-sided radiant barrier will work equally well with the foil facing up or down. However, over time, dust may accumulate on the surface of foil facing up. The dust will reduce the radiant barrier effect by allowing the foil to absorb rather than reflect thermal radiation. However, a radiant barrier with the foil side facing down will not collect dust on the foil and will continue to stop radiant heat transfer from the hot roof to the insulation over the life of the installation.
The most effective way to install a radiant barrier in an existing attic is simply to staple the foil material to the underside of the top chord of the roof trusses or to the underside of the roof decking.
It is not very easy to work in any attic, even one with a steep pitch. Always keep in mind that a misstep could be disastrous, since most attic "floors" are not floors at all, but rather 2x4s holding ceiling drywall topped by conventional insulation. You should consider safety first (see installation safety tips listed below).
Take care to avoid compressing existing insulation in the attic.
Tools and materials needed to install a radiant barrier include the following:
Perhaps your most important aid will be a partner. Working in pairs in the attic makes the work go faster. Even more important, it adds to safety.
Begin by measuring the length of the attic roof from peak to soffit. Then, return to a stable, ground-or floor-level surface to measure and cut the radiant barrier material to size. The material usually comes in rolls of 50 to several hundred feet; it's easiest to cut and reroll all the lengths you'll need before returning to the attic.
At one end of the attic, place the plywood or 1x12 as a stable surface across two of the attic truss members. Try to minimize compression of existing insulation. Provide one surface at the peak and one at the soffit end so that both installers can work together.
Safety reminder: Be extremely careful at the sides of your support surface. If you step on an edge, the surface can tilt and drop you through the ceiling drywall below.
With your partner, unroll one length of the radiant barrier material from soffit to peak. Leaving one or two inches of free space at the roof peak, staple one corner of the material to the underside of the top chord of the first roof truss. Continue stapling the edge of the radiant barrier material down the truss at 6 to 12-inch intervals, stopping 2 to 3 inches from the ceiling insulation. Next, staple the other edge of the material to the underside of the adjacent roof truss. Continue the process at adjoining trusses until the underside of the roof is no longer visible except for a one- or two-inch strip at the roof peak.
As an alternative, you may staple the radiant barrier material to the underside of the roof decking, adjacent to the top chord of the truss. The weight of the material will allow it to drape naturally between trusses.
No; you're installing a barrier against radiated not convected heat, so you need not cut off air motion. In fact, ventilation from soffit to peak improves radiant barrier system performance.
Small tears and holes will not significantly lessen the performance of the radiant barrier, so don't worry if you must cut and patch around obstructions such as vent stacks and truss supports.
Placing the material directly on top of insulation is not recommended. In this type of installation, dust will accumulate on the foil surface facing the roof. In time, the dust will negate the radiant barrier effect. An exception to this is the “chip” and multi layer products on the market. Their multiple layers give them resistance to the effects of duct build up, making them suitable for floor installations. In all installations beware; problems could develop with moisture condensation.
While some conventional batt-type insulations have an aluminum foil backing, it's probably not a good idea to simply flip your insulation over to use it as a radiant barrier. Not only will you encounter the eventual dust problem, you may also encounter a fire hazard in the glue that bonds the foil to the batt.
At least one batt insulation manufacturer has introduced a product with a foil face that is bonded to the insulation with a fire-retardant glue. This product meets fire codes, but it still has the potential for dust problems.
It's extremely unlikely. The Florida Solar Energy Center has measured the temperatures of roof shingles above attic radiant barriers on hot, sunny summer days. Depending on the color of the shingles, their peak temperatures are only 2-5° F higher than the temperature of shingles under the same conditions without a radiant barrier.
Roofing materials are manufactured to withstand the high temperatures to which they are frequently exposed. A 2-5° F increase in peak temperatures that normally reach 160-190° F should have no adverse affect.
Shingle warranties should not be subject to cancellation by the manufacturer on the basis of radiant barrier installation. However, it may be wise to review the warranty to be sure that work of this nature will not void it. You may want to inquire directly of the manufacturer. Any changes in warranty should be substantiated in writing.
This will not provide a radiant barrier. Remember, to be a radiant barrier, the aluminum foil must be installed facing an airspace. If there is no airspace, the foil acts as a conductor and quickly passes heat by conduction from a hot surface to a cooler one.If your re-roofing job requires decking replacement, however, it is a good time to consider a radiant barrier, especially the foil-faced roof sheathing materials on the market.
There are three widely accepted methods of installing attic radiant barrier systems in new construction:
Note: When installing a single-sided radiant barrier material, remember to face the foil side down toward the attic floor/insulation.
While a radiant barrier is one effective way of reducing heat gain through attics, it's not the only one. Other options include:
Two things affect the performance of a radiant barrier system – the level of insulation in the attic, and the geographic location of the home. A simple answer to the question is that a radiant barrier system reduces the heat flow into the house from the attic by approximately 40 percent. Attic insulation levels have a large effect on the amount of heat flow that is reduced, in other words, if you have little or no insulation in your attic, a 40 percent reduction is very significant, but if your attic is insulated to R-30 or better, there is very little heat flow to reduce. The more of your energy bill that is concerned with heating, the less desirable having a radiant barrier becomes. When you are using your heater, any heat gain from the attic is desirable. There may be a reduction of heat loss through the roof during winter nights, but the climates where testing has been performed do not lend themselves to demonstrating this, as there is very often a brief or non-existent winter. A very helpful website for guidance to the cost effectiveness of installing a radiant barrier is found on Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Web site, http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/radiant/rb_02.html.
In Florida, computer studies conducted in the development of the Florida Model Energy Code indicate that a typical attic radiant barrier installed in a Florida home will offer a six to seven year simple payback and a 15 percent to 19 percent return on investment.
Attic radiant barriers are an inexpensive but effective way for Sunbelt homeowners to save energy and money. While they are not a new concept, radiant barriers have only recently been proved effective for energy conservation.
Manufacturers are continuing to improve radiant barrier materials, which are becoming widely available throughout the southern states.
A radiant barrier may be installed in an existing attic or during construction of a new home. Both are relatively easy procedures.
Publication of this document was supported in part by Florida Power & Light Company.
Parker, D.S., J. R. Sherwin and M. T. Anello, January 2001. " FPC Residential Monitoring Project : New Technology Development — Radiant Barrier Pilot Project," Contract Report FSEC-CR-1231-01 , Florida Solar Energy Center, Cocoa, Florida.
Danny Parker, Robin Vieira “ Priorities for Energy Efficiency In New Residential Construction in Florida,” February 2000, Florida Solar Energy Center, Cocoa, Florida.
Parker, D., Sherwin, J., "Comparative Summer Attic Thermal Performance of Six Roof Contructions," The 1998 ASHRAE Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, June 20-24, 1998.
Parker, D., Sherwin, J., Sonne, J., Barkaszi, S., Floyd, D., Withers, C., "Measured Energy Savings of a Comprehensive Retrofit in an Existing Florida Residence," For the Florida Energy Office, December, 1997Fairey, P., "Designing and Installing Radiant Barrier Systems," FSEC-DN-7, Florida Solar Energy Center, Cape Canaveral, FL, 1984.
©Copyright 2005 by Florida Solar Energy Center