Anybody looking to save a buck on home energy costs will appreciate the value found in radiant barriers. They are both a simple and effective way to reduce summer cooling costs and winter heating costs. Discover how radiant barriers can be so effective and decide whether a radiant barrier is the right choice for your home.

What is a radiant barrier?

In short, radiant barriers are materials installed in buildings with the goal of reducing summer heat gain and winter heat loss. The financial benefit of radiant barriers comes in the form of lower heating and cooling bills.

Radiant barriers are generally constructed from a thin sheet of material that has highly reflective qualities. Barriers can be made from plastic films, plywood sheathing, kraft paper, or cardboard, but most often they are constructed from aluminum.

How radiant barriers are installed

Radiant barriers can be installed in any type of building, be it commercial, industrial, or residential. In the case of residential buildings, radiant barriers are installed in attics using one of several different configurations.

In most cases, radiant barriers that go into residential attics are simply laid on top of existing attic insulation. The reflective side is positioned facing up. This installation is called an attic floor application.

Depending on the layout of your attic, you can also install a radiant barrier near your roof. This is possible either by attaching the barrier to the bottom of your attic truss chords or by draping the barrier over the tops of your rafters. The latter layout must be done before your roof deck is applied and so can only be included while your house is being built.

Why radiant barriers are effective

When the summer sun heats your rooftop, that solar energy is absorbed through the roof. The framing of your roof causes the heat to move downward toward the attic floor. With a radiant barrier in the way, most of that heat is instead reflected back toward the roof. In turn, this reduces the amount of heat that transfers through your insulation and down into your home.

In the winter, radiant barriers help to reduce indoor heat loss that comes up through your ceiling. The same principle is applied – the amount of energy moving up toward the barrier is reflected back into your attic and down into your home.

You will enjoy savings with a radiant barrier

You can definitely save money on your energy bill using a radiant barrier, but the overall amount depends on the structure of your home and the type of barrier you use.

Though some radiant barrier companies boast that their customers save anywhere from 35% to 60% on energy costs, an estimate of 2% to 17% in savings is more likely. Recent research puts average consumer savings at 5% per month.

If you have an average monthly energy bill of $200, a 5% savings works out to about $10. Over the course of a year, your savings totals up to $120. Because radiant barriers do not expire or weaken with age, you could see that $120 savings many times over the course of several years.

The costs of installing a radiant barrier

Radiant barrier prices range all over, so your best bet is to shop around and ask for estimates. The price will depend on the type and quality of barrier you choose along with the amount of space you need to cover in your home. Cost also varies based on whether you opt to install the barrier yourself or whether you hire someone for a professional installation.

Most home improvement stores sell aluminum radiant barrier rolls at a cost of around $50 per 100 square feet. If you buy larger rolls, the price could go down to as little as 12 to 15 cents per square foot. Hiring someone to install a radiant barrier for you can cost as much as $2 per square foot.

Alternatives to radiant barriers

Installing a radiant barrier isn’t the only way to make your home more energy-efficient. If you’re looking to reduce home energy costs, you may also want to consider other types of insulation.

One alternative to radiant barriers is a type of open-cell foam insulation that can be sprayed on the underside of your roof. Other options include installing solar screens on the windows in your home that face south or west. In addition, sealing air-conditioning units and repairing leaky air-conditioning ducts can go a long way in reducing energy costs.

Consider starting small for big savings

If you’d like to reduce your home energy costs but can’t afford a full-blown investment in radiant barriers or other energy-efficient improvements, start small. Consider self-installing a radiant barrier in only a portion of your attic. Choose the portion that gets the most sunshine on a daily basis. As your energy savings add up, you can gradually cover the remainder of your attic, moving you eventually toward a full-blown energy-wise improvement.