Radiant
Barrier Technology & Metal Roofing Saves Energy,
Cuts Cost
By Doug Myer, Metal Panels,
Inc.
Contributing Writer
We’re
going green. Anyone who’s followed the current events since November
4th knows that the focus of the country is on stimulating the
economy, and one of the means is the creation of “green jobs and
infrastructure”.
Why
are the eyes of the nation seeing green? First and foremost, we are
becoming acutely aware that we must be environmentally-responsible
to our communities, our country, and our planet. In recent LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) studies*, it is reported that buildings account for as much
as 72% of our nation’s electricity consumption, as well as 39% of
our total energy use. It’s no wonder our attention is turned to the
building industry for a significant green impact. As stated by a
2009 US Green Building Council news release, “The future clearly
centers on energy efficiency, water reduction, cleaner indoor air,
(and) sustainable environments.”
Economically
speaking, going “green” should reduce operating costs and conserve
material resources. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act makes
“going green” big news at the personal level. This stimulus bill has
the potential to expand the existing Federal tax credits for
energy-efficient improvements from 10 percent to a generous 30
percent, offered as a Federal Tax Rebate. That means there could be
up to $6,500 available per home for energy efficiency upgrades for a
qualified family of four, earning under $44,000 annually. The IRS and Deparment of Energy are
currently under negotiations for the specifics.
So,
how do I choose which green improvements to make in my home? There
are many directions we can go from here, some significant
investments, others nearly free. I would recommend doing the
cheapest, easiest things first. For instance, fix those drafts
around doors, windows, and your foundation. Usually, a caulk gun or
expandable foam is all that is needed. But for the sake of our
discussion, let’s focus on two areas that may qualify for a 30%
rebate from the Federal Government your attic insulation and your
roof.
Insulation
is one of those things that everyone seems to know they need, but
understand very little about. In the most basic sense, insulation
should prevent heat and cold from meeting. In the summer, we want to
keep our air-conditioned, cool air inside and the sun’s heat out. In
the winter, we want our warm living rooms shielded from the wintery
temperatures outdoors. For years, our understanding of this process
had to do with thermal insulation, like the rolls of the pink stuff
in our attics. These Fiberglass or Roc Wool types of insulation are
classified as “thermal” for they function much like a blanket. A
thermal blanket warms you not because of the fabric, but because of
the captured air that it holds, which does the insulating. In our
houses we’re told that the more of the pink stuff you can put in
your house, the better. True, we all need thermal insulation, but
why is more better? Just like adding more blankets, thicker
insulation offers a greater thickness of captured air to act as a
thermal insulator. Today, there are several new types of thermal
insulation, some with better performance and environmental safety
than traditional spun materials. Although these new eco-friendly
products are worth a look, addressing thermal issues solves only
part of the problem.
Thermal
insulation, since it deals with “capacity” (R-value) can reach a
point where it becomes “full”. Picture a sponge held under running
water. At some point, water runs right through because the sponge
can hold no more. The more R-value you have, the bigger your sponge,
but eventually it still can be filled. Now, picture a heat-wave in
Oklahoma pretty easy to imagine. While temperatures reach 110 deg.
F. in the shade, the temperature in your attic will probably soar to
160 deg. F. or more. It won’t take long in those temperatures for
even the best thermal insulation to saturate. But what then? Once
your insulation is “full”, your insulation has very little capacity,
and heat begins to pass through to your conditioned space. In fact,
the insulation can work against you, as it releases pent-up heat
into your home in the evening, even after the outdoor temperatures
have dropped!
So,
what can be done about these thermal deficiencies? The solution was
discovered by our NASAscientists. When they looked for lightweight,
compact heat/cold control for space, they discovered radiant
barriers were an important component of the solution. Experimenting
with gold, silver and aluminum surfaces, NASA developed radiant barrier
technology that reflected away nearly all of the radiant heat,
rather than absorbing it. They found a radiant barrier can
efficiently hold in body warmth in a space suit, and insulate
against the extreme radiation of the sun in space. (You may recall
seeing radiant barrier for the first time as the gold foil on the
outside of the Lunar Lander.) The beauty of radiant barrier
technology is it has no capacity limits! Its job is to reflect away
the heat, and it can do that day-in and day-out without any
performance change. Today, the same radiant barrier technology is
finding a place in our homes.
Although
you may not realize it, radiant barrier technology is in use all
around us. From camping blankets, to insulated lunch bags, or
reflective car shades, radiant barrier technology is present in our
everyday lives. Radiant barrier film is a lightweight,
aluminum-faced material that can work with your existing thermal
insulation to dramatically increase your home’s energy efficiency.
With just a single layer over your attic insulation, radiant barrier
film can reflect away up to 98% of the radiant energy that was being
absorbed by your thermal insulation. Radiant barrier can be
installed very quickly, with most jobs requiring only a few hours in
your attic. The combined thermal/radiant barrier system helps your
house act like an insulated vacuum bottle, efficiently holding your
heated or cooled air right where you want it — within the walls of
your living space. (When used as a vapor barrier, the material is
available in impermeable versions, but when applied over insulation
in your attic, be sure to use the perforated type.) The insulating
properties of the combination of thermal and radiant products can be
amazing, with homeowners reporting a 8 – 25% reduction in energy
costs. This government-tested product performs so significantly,
that it qualifies for the 2009 30% tax rebate program. The best news
is its low cost and high performance make it the best value of any
energy improvement you may choose to make!
Another
area that offers significant impact on your energy bill is your
roof. Not everyone is ready to replace their roof right now, but
what you know about roofing products will help you make a “green”
decision in the future. Many roof materials in use today were
developed for their protection and durability, but never were
evaluated for their thermal properties or environmental impact. Heat
buildup, toxic emissions, flammable properties, lifespan and
landfill impact are all huge issues with our new green mandates. Due
to the typical lifespan of roofs, we will be dealing with these
problems for years to come.
As
far as new roofing products go, there are new takes on old
materials, such as ultraviolet coatings and cool colors for asphalt
shingles. Although this does help asphalt shingles gain an Energy
Star rating, it doesn’t address the hail damage, weight or landfill
issues evident with this product. Yet there is one product that
offers abundant eco-friendly features, and that’s metal roofing.
Here’s why: Metal roofing is a 100% recyclable product. New roof
panels today very likely contain up to 40% recycled steel, and the
same roof panels after a long life-cycle in use, can be 100%
recycled into the next useful product. It’s unlikely that metal
panels will ever become waste in a landfill. Secondly, today’s
panels are treated with a galvanic undercoating, and then painted
with advanced finishes like SMP (Siliconized Modified
Polyesters) to withstand sunlight and weather for up to 40 years.
Even then, metal roofs can be recoated to extend their life-cycle.
Metal panels can outlast many conventional roofs by as much as four
times. A metal panel roof is lightweight, not subject to tear-off,
and strong. Even most Oklahoma hailstorms can’t dent or scratch
these panels. But the most important quality of a metal roof with an
EnergyStar finish is that it represents the most radiant-reflective
roofing material available, bar none. An EnergyStar metal roof
reflects radiant energy of the sun, rather than absorb it like other
roofing materials. The result is a cooler roof and attic space,
which means less work for your insulation and your air conditioner.
Because of this, EnergyStar-certified metal roofing qualifies for
the same 30% tax rebate as other energy-saving improvements!
Wide-ranging new colors and textures ensure your new metal roof will
comfortably fit in with most neighborhood homes.
Although
we’ve explored only insulation and roofing material in this article,
there are many more green rebate-qualified improvements you can make
to your home, and I invite you to explore all that you can. The tax
benefit program is designed to run through 2010, so start your green
projects soon. Find a reputable contractor, who can properly advise
and install your energy-efficient products. Even with tax benefits
aside, you will be glad you did, once you see your
dramatically-lower utility bills.
*reference:
US Green Building Council document, “Green Building by the Numbers”,
March 2009;
Green Building Research, usgbc.org
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