Radiant Barrier

[z.monkey]

Howdy Y'all,

While this is not an energy generating device it is an energy conserving device.  I am talking about a radiant barrier.  I live in Texas and in the summer the Sun is totally unforgiving.  Trying to cool you house to an acceptable level is a very expensive endeavor.  This year I decided to make an effort to minimize my cooling costs.  At first we were going to add insulation and ventilation to the attic to keep the heat out.  Then I started looking at the radiant barrier products.  There are many different products and everyone that you talk to will tell you a different way to install it.  Some are spray on, others are foil paper, some are insulation products which have radiant barrier backer paper.  After studying the available products for a month I went with a product called Arma Foil made by a company in Arlington Texas called Energy Efficient Solutions.

http://www.energyefficientsolutions.com/

The Arma Foil is a paper and polymer mesh backer which is covered with aluminum foil on both sides.  Is can be installed under the roof decking if you are using it on a new roof.  I am doing a retrofit, so I am installing it in the rafter bays under the exiting roof decking.  The Arma Foil comes in rolls of various widths so it will fit many different house constructions.  I am also going to put down a layer horizontally on top of the new insulation to double the effectiveness.  Actually its not double, the Arma Foil claims to stop 97% of the infrared radiation from entering your home.  Two layers would yield 97% and then 97% of the remaining 3%, so 99.1% all together.

This material was originally developed by NASA for use in space suits.  The Aluminum foil has a low emissivity ~3% to 5% and when you use an isolated double layer it blocks more than 99% of the energy radiated at it.  The is effective throughout the ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and high frequency radio frequency ranges.  So in essence this material blocks the heat from getting into your home, so your air conditioner has an easier time trying to cool your house when it is 104 degrees outside.

I have noticed a MAJOR difference.  The attic is a LOT cooler.  The inside of the house is a LOT cooler.  The biggest difference of all is the air conditioning compressor is running a LOT less.  That means a lot less $$$ to cool my house.  I have only had it up there for a couple of weeks so I don't have any hard numbers yet, but I will be measuring the difference in the number of kilowatt hours used to run the air conditioner and the number of dollars I have to spend for electricity.  I am about 50% done with the installation so for.  This has been a really big project, and so far I am the only one working on it, so it is taking me a lot of time.  I am expecting big dividends for this project.  Maybe up to 25% of my electric bill.

Blessed Be Brothers...

[tinu]

Thanks for posting! Very interesting.
One question: can you place some foil fully around a bottle filled with hot water and check its efficiency by comparing temperature drop for a similar bottle but without foil?
I?d be interested in saving energy in winter and if Arma foil reflects 97% in low IR too, it might work.

Many thanks,
Tinu

[z.monkey]

Howdy,

Yeah, the Arma Foil does reflect the low infrared range really well.  It works down into the radio frequency range.  If it is grounded it makes a good EM shield also, but you can't solder it because its aluminum.  I'll try your water bottle experiment when I get some time.  I have been exceedingly busy lately, and I have to finish the radiant barrier, insulation, and attic ventilation before it gets to be 104 degrees here.  I have really been trying hard to get this done before summer, but I have a bizillion other distractions and responsibilities to keep up with also.

Another experiment I want to try is making an orgone accumulator out of the Arma Foil material.  I have built several orgone accumulators out of various materials, but the Arma Foil is something new I haven't played with yet.

If you look on Energy Efficient Solutions website they illustrate the way the Arma Foil works in the winter.  It reflects the heat back into the house.  So it is a hot and cold solution.  Sort of like a thermos, or an igloo it keeps the cold stuff cold or the hot stuff hot.  Its a thermal isolator.  Thats good for me because my wife likes to keep it like about 60 degrees F inside in the summer time.  I am usually wearing my sweats in the summer time when I am in the house.  My electrical bills have been astronomical, and hopefully the Arma Foil will make them reasonable.

OK, Have fun with that...

Blessed Be Brothers...

[not_a_mib]

Another benefit of this product is that using it in the walls and roof of a building will turn the entire thing into a giant foil hat.  According to modern conspiracy theory this should provide protection against traditional hazards such as alien mind-control rays, HAARP emissions, and so on.  It would also help keep your neighbors from using your Wifi hub to download p0rn and wAr3z.

[z.monkey]

Yeah,

I was counting on all of that.  Especially the protection against government mind control rays, and alien mind reading starships.  I was really worried about HAARP also.  I made a baseball cap (that I wear backwards) out of the radiant barrier material.  Then made some briefs out of it too, to protect my reproductivity...  You never know when or where those damn forces of darkness are going to attack you...  I was thinking I might put a layer on my wallet also...  Or maybe a radiant barrier bikini for my wife...

About the neighbors using my WiFi, I installed a Trophy EMP Data Protection System.  If anyone tries to hack my network it targets the signal source and the sends out a directional EM Pulse and melts their semiconductors.  Haven't any any problems so far...

Keep on Engineering....