Radiant Barriers are becoming more commonplace and people are realizing just how much more effective radiant barrier is compared to the traditional mass insulation.

Conventional mass fiberglass insulation, no matter how thick, has almost no ability to block radiant heat energy which can account for as much as 93% of summer heat gain and up to 75% of winter heat loss. These products are only designed to slow down conduction heat energy. Mass insulation is only designed to absorb, slow down and transfer radiant energy.

Radiant barriers work on a proven principle. Heat, like light, travels primarily by radiation, not convection or conduction. Radiant barriers are products having at least one reflective or low emissivity surface. The purest gold, silver and aluminum are the top three reflective materials known to man. Each have a low emissivity rating and reflect from 95% to 99% of the radiant energy that strikes the material surface.

Radiant barriers have been studied and reviewed by many independent laboratories such as: Tennessee Valley Authority, Texas A&M, Florida Solar Energy Center, Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Laboratory and many other institutions which have proven how well radiant barrier performs and its effectiveness in reducing summer cooling and winter heating loads.

If you are only relying on an R-valued material to insulate against radiant heat gain/loss remember, these types of insulation are not designed to stop the radiant energy like a high quality radiant barrier like Energy "Q"™.  Energy "Q"™ Reflective Thermal Barrier, if properly applied, will increase comfort levels and lower utility costs by reducing heat loss or gain, as well as, increase the efficiency and energy consumption of equipment.