The processes by which heat transfers into and out of your home can be complicated. Of the most complicated is radiant heat transfer (radiation). In short, radiation is a heat transfer process in which heat travels through space via thermal radiation (infrared radiation) which is a form of electromagnetic radiation. This means that no physical medium is needed for this type of heat transportation. This results in heat that travels through space without heating the air. Instead, it heats the physical entities with which it comes into contact. An example of this is feeling heat from the sun. The thermal radiation that stemmed from the sun is not felt in the air around you but is instantly transferred to you. Granted, the explanation can easily become far more complicated than that but that should suffice or our purposes.
The only way to keep radiant heat from greatly affecting your home’s energy efficiency is with the installation of eShield® radiant barrier from Ultimate Gutter Guard of Birmingham. This insulation type works effectively against radiation due to its high value in reflectivity and low value in emissivity. Reflectivity is the property that allows an object to reflect heat rather than absorb it. A common example is wearing the color white on a sunny day. A white outfit absorbs far less heat than a darker colored one, which keeps your cooler overall. Emissivity is basically an objects ability to reemit absorbed heat thermally into a space. Possessing high reflectivity means that the radiant barrier absorbs very little radiant heat and the low emissivity value means that it cannot distribute large amounts of radiant heat. Our eShield® is stated to be able to stop more than 97% of radiant heat, meaning that it does actually help keep your home cooler.
Our highly efficient radiant barrier system is only a part of the full ensemble of attic insulations. This is because your home is going to be subject to more than just radiation. Other processes of heat transfer include conduction and convection, both of which require different methods to combat. Fortunately, most homes are already equipped with fiberglass and foam board insulations. This means you are most likely only missing our radiant barrier. Complete your insulation system today by contacting us about our radiant barrier insulation system.