Monday, June 29, 2009

Utility Improvements : What others have to say

Temper Shield is the product you promised to deliver.

We are very conservative and tend not to fall for the "sales pitch". Because we knew we had a problem with higher heat on the second floor, Temper Shield sounded like a viable solution - simple and effective. We did the right thing by installing Temper Shield. It has only been two weeks and already we feel the payback is more than positive.

For us, your product was most appealing because it promised greater comfort. The heat would be trapped in the attic and not penetrate past the barrier of Temper Shield you would install. This would keep the second floor close to the same temperature as the first floor. As a bonus, we have also noticed the first floor is cooler. Keeping the second floor cooler accomplished our goals;
  • As you walk up the steps, no more temperature rise of 10+ degrees (the additional heat was that or more) prior to installation of Temper Shield. We're still amazed and continue to comment about how much cooler it is.
  • We do not have to turn the air conditioning on as often as we had prior to installation.
  • We are able to sleep with the windows open more often; we enjoy sleeping in the fresh air.
  • Less air conditioning means lower utility bills.
The additional benefits of the product paying for itself with lower utility bills is another benefit. We could not wait to say "Thank You." We will let you know the savings after we compare our utility bills over the next year.

We were very impressed with your installation crew and the quality of their work. Your professional installers were very thorough and neat during the installation process. They promised to move and return everything in the attic as it had been before they started, and indeed that was the case.

In summary, we have strongly recommended Temper Shield to our friends, neighbors and relatives. We are very pleased and feel the investment is worth every penny. Thank you again for:
  • Worthwhile and sound product for our home
  • Consistent temperature between first and second floor
  • Less air conditioning
  • Lower utility bills
  • Professional Installation
  • MOST IMPORTANT - delivering what you promised
- Jim & Joanna


I just wanted to say how pleased we are with our installation. While our furnace was out we only had our fireplace and 2 small electric heaters to heat our home. By closing the doors to the rooms off our living area we were comfortable. We believe GOD knew we were going to have problems with our furnace and he sent you to help us. By having Temper Shield in our attic, we think it kept the heat down in our living area and not going to the attic and outside.

Again, thank you, Mr/Mrs Bickish, Nick & Tyler, may God bless you and your families.

- Tom & Edna Jackson

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Has Temper Shield been tested by a qualified independent lab or government agency?

The Florida Solar Energy Center at Cape Canaveral has tested Temper Shield in both small scale laboratories and in full scale building models. Their results indicate that Temper Shield can provide significant resistance to heat transfer. Test conducted by the Tennessee Valley Authority, Oak Ridge Laboratories in Tennessee, and the University of Mississippi support the findings from the Florida Solar Energy Center. Northeastern Illinois University conducted winter test in residential and commercial structures using infra-red thermograph photography. The photos showed significant resistance to heat transfer over regular insulation.

Visit Utility Improvements at www.utilityimprovements.com to learn more.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Utility Improvements : Frequently Asked Questions

Will Temper Shield make my attic hotter in the summer?

No. In fact, research has confirmed that summertime attic temperatures will be much cooler with Temper Shield in place.

Do I have to take my old insulation out before installing Temper Shield?

No. Temper Shield actually makes your present insulation more effective.

If I lay Temper Shield on my regular insulation will it cause a moisture problem?

No. The tiny holes in Temper Shield allow moisture to escape from your regular insulation.

I already have plenty of insulation in my attic. Do I really need Temper Shield?

Regardless of how much insulation you have in your attic, adding Temper Shield can save on your heating and cooling expense, and keep you much more comfortable. Energy savings in many homes for heating and cooling can range from 22 to 55% depending on a number of factors including climate, building configuration, materials used, site, family size, and lifestyle.

Click here to learn more about Temper Shield.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Where do you install Temper Shield?


Temper Shield can be laid over your present insulation like a blanket or stapled under rafters and in crawl spaces. With Temper Shield, the furnace and sun's heat bounces back - it does not penetrate the reflective surface.

Improve the comfort of your home and save money by making your current insulation more efficient.

Temper Shield is a space blanket for your attic. It reduces heat transfer in both summer and winter. Temper Shield works like the astronaut's reflective suit which protects him from both heat and cold.

Visit www.utilityimprovements.com for more information on Temper Shield.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Frequently Asked Questions about Temper Shield

How does it work?

Temper Shield is a space age reflective material. Unlike mass insulation, which slows down the heat transfer, Temper Shield reflects heat. To stop radiant heat, you must reflect it with a reflective barrier like Temper Shield.

How will Temper Shield keep me warmer in the winter?

Just like wrapping a baked potato in aluminum foil keeps a potato warm longer by holding the heat in, covering your attic insulation with Temper Shield holds the heat in the house. Another analogy would be that Temper Shield in the winter works just like a space blanket, which, although very thin and lightweight holds your body heat in. A thin space blanket can keep you warmer than several heavy blankets.

Okay, if in the winter Temper Shield keeps heat in, how can it keep it out in the summer?

Temper Shield reflects the sun's heat before it can warm up the insulation in your attic. When the insulation stays cooler, your house stays cooler. It may help to understand how Temper Shield will work for you if you think of other things that perform in the same way; Astronauts Space Suits - keep body heat in, and reflect the sun's heat away.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Heating Your House in Summer Doesn't Make Sense - Then Why Are You?

More and more homeowners are becoming concerned with their home's efficiency with regards to heating and cooling. There are different reasons for conducting a home energy audit. They all boil down to saving money, but not necessarily in the way one might think.

The average homeowner that has an energy audit conducted is primarily concerned with preventing drafts and air leakage that will force their HVAC system to work longer and harder than it should. Again, while this is the main focus, several other benefits can manifest of which the homeowner is unaware.

Once the energy audit is completed and the results are compiled and presented, the homeowner will want to better insulate those areas that are problem areas. This will greatly reduce, if not eliminate, the drafts and leaks that were present thereby saving money on running the HVAC system as much.

A common and prevalent problem area in almost every existing structure is heat loss passing through the ceiling and slowly seeping through the attic insulation. Choosing the correct insulation is paramount. A radiant barrier will solve the problem, but not every problem area will require the same type of insulation. Leaks at the windows, doors, and even insulation around the water heater need to have specific types just for their own application such as spray foam insulation.

By correctly insulating problem areas, a second benefit is to the family's health. Any moist air that has penetrated the envelope of the house has the potential to cause mold and can provide health risks and increase healthcare costs. Although this is not a widely rampant situation from just a few small air leakages, it is something to be concerned about. Those families that live in a humid region and have a member with asthma or other respiratory condition should be even more concerned given the nature of these conditions.

Providing that the problem areas are remedied, a home energy audit can improve the perceived quality of the home when it comes time to sell. Showing that a home's energy efficiency is high is a strong selling point and is becoming a major concern to prospective home buyers as energy costs continue to increase.

The last major benefit is that the home will just be more comfortable to live in for the family. Life is short, but if it isn't comfortable, it can be much longer and more miserable than can be imagined.

For more information and guidance about radiant barriers and energy efficiency, visit http://www.utilityimprovements.com. Utility Improvements offers Temper Shield, a radiant barrier product that can be installed economically.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Proper Insulation Will Keep You Comfortable and Save Money

The public has finally received a break from high oil and fuel prices, but those prices have started to slowly creep up again. The past has shown that energy cost will continue to rise in the future and Americans have very little control over the price of foreign energy suppliers. Other than using less energy, making homes less than comfortable, the only solution is to build a better home. What if the home has already been built, though?

While retrofitting and upgrading a home's energy efficiency can be expensive, the cost is nowhere near dumping more and more money into the hands of the oil or electric company to heat and cool one's home. Improving a home's efficiency is the best option and investment. What are a homeowner's options? The answer is it depends.

If a home's energy is provided by the electric company then solar panels would be a smart investment. What about those homes, and there are millions, that depend on oil or gas to heat? Upgrading the insulation in the attic is key to improving comfort and expense. Why the attic and what type of insulation is best? Two good questions.

Just like people lose most of their body heat through their head, homes lose the heat through the attic. While covering a house with a large blanket or hat would be unrealistic and silly, lining the attic floor or rafters with a blanket would be practical. Traditional batting or fiberglass insulation won't really help that much. This type of insulation is like wearing just a knitted sweater on a cold and windy day. There are holes in each of these layers that just slow the cold air moving through.

There are a plethora of insulation types available on the market, but none are as easy and effective as a radiant barrier. A thermal or radiant barrier is needed to reflect the home's warmth back down into the home and prevent the cold from descending through. Much like covering over an apple pie with aluminum foil to keep it warm, radiant barriers line the attic floor keeping the living quarters warm.

Spray foam insulation is also another option. There are advantages and disadvantages to spray foam insulation. This expanding foam helps to fill nooks and crannies that traditional fiberglass insulation or even blown insulation can't help with. A problem that can arise is that because the foam does expand, should foam ooze in between joists and the ceiling, separation may occur creating a new problem.

Whichever method is used to ensure comfortable living quarters, a professional is highly recommended. These companies know which method would be best for your home and can guarantee their work ensuring many warm and pleasant years to come. With the money saved on heating and cooling the home the homeowner gets the last laugh instead of the energy companies.

For more information and guidance about energy efficiency and radiant barriers such as Temper Shield, visit http://www.utilityimprovements.com. Utility Improvements specializes in exceptionally effective thermal radiant barriers and demonstrates how they work via videos on their Website.