Energy Savings
Consumers are less concerned
about how energy barriers work than they are about their
effect on utility bills. This is much less than the 97 percent
reduction in attic radiant heat flow because other forms of
heat flow contribute to the total cooling (or heating) load.
Data can expect to vary with region. The following data
provided by The Tennessee Valley Authority, Chattanooga,
Tennessee on Performance Testing of Radiant Barriers demonstrates the economic savings possible for a typical
home:
- All the Radiant Barrier
configurations yielded sizable percent savings (17 percent,
based on ENERGY STAR Evaluation) and statistically
significant reductions in summer attic heat transfer
compared to the non-RB case. Also, as the ambient temperature
increases, the savings also increase.
- The RB on top was the best summer
performer. It consistently showed heat flux reductions
compared to the non-RB case of about 40 percent
for almost all ambient temperatures and even showed
savings (17 percent) during mild temperature and
night summer conditions.
- The RB configurations provide
statistically significant reductions in winter attic heat
fluxes in many, but not all, situations. The percent
savings during night hours and during below 35°
conditions, when heating loads are the highest, are
usually sizable (from 6 to 23 percent) and the differences
between the RB configurations and the non-RB case are
often statistically significant during these conditions.
(Sources: Tennessee Valley Authority -
Chattanooga, TN)
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