It is true that the most common culprits causing high energy bills can be faulty door and window seals. The home owner may still have a comfortably cool home interior, however, this just means that the air conditioner system is working that much harder in order to maintain as much of that cooler air inside. Many home owners may not have seen the utility bill shoot up this year yet especially in northern regions, but southern states, such as North Carolina, bill shock is alive and well.
If there is one certainty in this world, it is that utility and energy costs will always be on the rise. Energy costs are due to increase this year in many areas. One of the easiest methods for saving money on utility bills is having a home energy audit performed. It is always a good recommendation for every family and home owner to have a home energy audit performed in order to identify problem areas which can help determine what areas of the home need to be serviced. These tests are not needed as a recurring expense, but usually once to identify the problems.
There are different methods and equipment a company may use to inspect a home. These range from blower doors to infrared sensors. Newer homes built by a mid to upscale builder will most likely be halfway decent in the energy efficient department, however, there is almost always one part of every home which will score lower in energy efficiency; that is the ceiling.
Regardless of the cost or quality of the home, the ceiling is often the area in which there are larger quantities of heat transfer, meaning heat entering the home during summer time or cold air penetrating through the ceiling during winter time. Stuffing fiberglass, blown insulation or spray foam will not always be an inexpensive or effective fix. Radiant barriers, on the other hand, have great advantage of many of these common forms of insulation.
The technology used in radiant barriers is not necessarily new. NASA developed this technology for purposes of saving astronauts from the extreme temperatures found in space. Eventually this technology was adapted for the construction industry.
Radiant barriers work on the premise that it is far better to reflect the heat or cold rather than slow the heat transfer as traditional fiberglass insulation does. Once a radiant barrier is installed properly throughout a home owner's attic, the heat being absorbed by the roof and infiltrating the attic or crawl space is prevented from entering the living quarters by a specialized foil.
It is the foil used in radiant barriers that can create a savings every month on utility bills. There are different types of radiant barriers for different applications. Some may be installed along the underside of the rafters, while it may be recommended that the radiant barrier be installed on top of the ceiling joists. The installers should know which application will be best in order to prevent a build up of moisture from condensation. When the home owner is selecting a company to have a radiant barrier installed, it is perfectly acceptable to ask a lot of questions about which type is being installed.
For more information on saving money on utility bills and home energy efficiency visit www.utilityimprovements.com.
Article independently authored by Daniel P. Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Utility Improvements.
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