Reducing Your Heating and Cooling Bill in North Carolina

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling your home accounts for over half of the average household's energy consumption. You may be spending more than you have to. There are a variety of reasons why you may not be efficiently heating and cooling your home. If your home is not properly insulated and sealed, you could be losing air though the cracks. If you don't have updated windows and doors, it may surprise you the amount of energy that can escape. In this blog, we're going to provide some tips on how to more efficiently heat and cool your home, as well as explain how installing a Temper Shield will help too.

Cooling

The biggest reason your home is using so much energy to cool your home is probably because your air conditioning unit is not working efficiently. You need to frequently replace the filter on it during the warmer months. You should have your air conditioner serviced every couple of years to verify it is working at maximum efficiency.

Heating

Heating your home can be more efficient when you install a programmable thermostat. This will allow you to heat your home only during the most necessary hours of the day. If you work all day, then you can keep it cooler during those hours and have it kick on when you get home. Also, insulating your water heater can be an effective way to reduce your heating costs.

Temper Shield Radiant Barrier

Once you have your appliances working correctly, a Temper Shield works to keep the warm or cool air in, depending on the season. A Temper Shield will keep the heat out during the summer and keep the heat in during the winter. This technology can greatly reduce the amount of energy being lost between your home and the outside. You can install Temper Shield all throughout your home, which may dramatically reduce your heating and cooling bills.

Have a Temper Shield installed by calling 1-800-230-2197 or Contact Us Online.

Radiant Barrier History

We've talked a bit about radiant barriers in past posts, but now we'd like to take you back in time to the actual invention of the radiant barrier -- a process of experimentation and discovery that ultimately led to the existence of Temper Shield.

Back in 1860, French scientist Jean Claude Eugene Peclet began experimenting with high and low emissive metals; particularly, the effect these metals had in terms of insulation. Peclet discovered that there was a reduction in BTUs with these types of surfaces, and that these surfaces could help reduce the transfer of heat.

Since then, radiant barrier technology has been used in a variety of different ways. NASA has used it to protect its ships and astronauts from thermal radiation. Space blankets became a way to better trap body heat in cold temperatures. And some windows now utilize the technology to provide more insulation.

Interested in a radiant barrier for your home? Get in touch with Utility Improvements today and ask about Temper Shield! (800) 230-2197.

Should You Install a Radiant Barrier in a Cold Climate?

Radiant barriers have been historically popular in hot climates, but have been gaining a foothold in cooler climates. A home is a place where you want to keep air inside a certain temperature, and heat always moves from warm to cold. Heat flows out of your home in the winter, with the amount of heat determined by the difference in temperature inside and outside.

Walls do a decent job of reducing the loss of heat. The problem occurs in the attic, as most homes do not have an outer barrier on top of the insulation about the ceiling. A radiant barrier can help in cold climates by reducing radiant heat loss and minimizing convective air looping inside the insulation.

Have questions about radiant barriers? Get in touch with Utility Improvements at www.UtilityImprovements.com. 

How Radiant Barriers Work

You’ve probably heard a lot about radiant barriers, and how they can save you greatly on your energy bills. However, it might be confusing to understand how exactly they work.

Heat flows in three ways: conduction, radiation and convection, with the former two being the principal ways how heat flows into the home. Conduction is the flow of heat by physical contact. Radiation is heat in wave form that can be felt without actually needing to touch the source of heat. This radiant heat travels at a very fast rate until it is either reflected or absorbed.

Without a radiant barrier, your attic insulation can heat up to 130 degrees, and when this happens, your ceiling will act as if it is that temperature outside. To get comfortable, you’ll probably have to run the A/C at full blast, and this causes you to use a great deal of energy to suck out the heat.

A radiant barrier breaks the path to keep radiant heat from entering into your home, reflecting 97% of the radiant energy. In short, the radiant heat is back to where it came from, with no need to worry about the roof temperature increasing, and studies have show roofs with radiant barriers increase between only 2-10 degrees.

Need more information about radiant barriers? Contact Utility Improvements at www.UtilityImprovements.com. 

What Is a Radiant Barrier

One of the most common questions we are asked is, “What is a radiant barrier?”

A radiant barrier is also known as a reflective barrier. It restricts the transfer of heat through thermal radiation, which may be transferred through conduction or convection. It has been used in space exploration, textiles, construction, window treatments and as a form of home insulation.

The benefits of radiant barrier insulation include money savings and increased comfort. Some find that radiant barriers increase the home’s space, and warms ductwork and mechanical equipment.

Utility Improvements specializes in radiant barrier installations. Contact us today by visiting www.UtilityImprovements.com. 

Temper Shield FAQ

Here are some more of the common questions we get about Temper Shield:

How does Temper Shield work?

Most insulation will only slow down the transfer of heat. Temper Shield is a radiant barrier that reflects heat back.

Will it keep me warmer in the winter?

Yes! Heat will be held in the house when Temper Shield covers your attic insulation.

How does it keep heat out during the summer?

The sun’s heat will be reflected back before it can warm up your home. Cooler insulation means cooler homes.

Will it make my home hotter?

No. Research states attic temps with Temper Shield in place will be cooler.

I have insulation. Why do I need this?

Temper Shield will keep your heating and cooling expenses much lower and comfortable. You can save anywhere from 22-55% depending on several factors.

Utility Improvements knows Temper Shield. Contact us today by visiting www.UtilityImprovements.com. 

Home Insulation Tips to Save Energy & Money

One of the most important things you can do to ensure an energy efficient home is to install energy efficient insulation. Insulating your home will not only save you energy, but it will stop valuable heating and cooling dollars from escaping through the cracks of your house. An insulated home makes for a more comfortable home, as warm summer drafts won’t interfere with the air conditioning, and cool winter winds won’t get in the way of heating efforts.

Attic insulation

The attic is a big source of energy loss, and since most are easy to access, it’s the most important place you can insulate. Your attic should have at least a foot of insulation, and should always be cold if well insulated.

Weatherstripping

A great amount of energy is lost because of spaces around windows and doors. Weatherstripping materials are inexpensive and very effective, and most are easy to install.

Expansion Foam

This type of insulation works great if you want to fill a small opening that is a popular escape for energy. Expansion foam insulation can be used on spaces like wall plates, pipe openings and openings where cable and phone lines are run.

Curtains and blinds

When it comes to reducing energy loss, one of the easiest ways to prevent this is to close curtains and blinds at night to trap cold air and open them during the day to let your home be heated naturally by the sun.

Basements

Cellars and crawlspaces are home to many little openings that let heat escape, especially if they are unfinished. Insulating exposed joists and open crevices will ebb the escape of heating and cooling energies.

Interested in saving up to 50% on your utility bills? Get Temper Shield technology insulation from Utility Improvements by visiting www.UtilityImprovements.com.