Heating energy measurements of single-family houses with attics containing radiant barriers in combustion with R-11 and R-30 ceiling insulation
Abstract
Tests were conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory to determine the heating energy performance of two levels of fiberglass-batt attic insulation (R-11 and R-30) in combination with truss and horizontally installed radiant barriers. The tests, a continuation of work started in the summer of 1985, were conducted in three unoccupied ranch-style houses in Karns, Tennessee, during the winter of 1986-87. The measured results of the heating tests showed that a horizontal radiant barrier used with R-11 attic insulation reduced the house heating load by 9.3% compared with R-11 with no radiant barrier, while a truss barrier showed essentially no change in the heating load. Horizontal and truss barriers each reduced the heating load by 3.5% when added to R-30 attic insulation. Moisture condensed on the bottom of the horizontal barrier during cold early morning weather but usually dissipated in the warmer afternoon hours at Karns and left no accumulation in the insulation. Depending on the level of attic insulation, an annual heating and cooling HVAC savings ranging from $5 to $65 is estimated to be attainable when a radiant barrier is installed in the attic at Karns. 8 refs., 64 figs., 18 tabs.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6813025
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/CON-239
ON: DE89001304
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- Resource Type:
- Technical Report
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; HOUSES; ENERGY CONSERVATION; ATTICS; BUILDING MATERIALS; COST; HEATING; NUMERICAL DATA; PERFORMANCE; R FACTORS; THERMAL INSULATION; WEATHERIZATION; BUILDINGS; DATA; INFORMATION; MATERIALS; RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS; 320100* - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Buildings
Citation Formats
Levins, W P, and Karnitz, M A. Heating energy measurements of single-family houses with attics containing radiant barriers in combustion with R-11 and R-30 ceiling insulation. United States: N. p., 1988.
Web.
Levins, W P, & Karnitz, M A. Heating energy measurements of single-family houses with attics containing radiant barriers in combustion with R-11 and R-30 ceiling insulation. United States.
Levins, W P, and Karnitz, M A. Mon .
"Heating energy measurements of single-family houses with attics containing radiant barriers in combustion with R-11 and R-30 ceiling insulation". United States.
@article{osti_6813025,
title = {Heating energy measurements of single-family houses with attics containing radiant barriers in combustion with R-11 and R-30 ceiling insulation},
author = {Levins, W P and Karnitz, M A},
abstractNote = {Tests were conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory to determine the heating energy performance of two levels of fiberglass-batt attic insulation (R-11 and R-30) in combination with truss and horizontally installed radiant barriers. The tests, a continuation of work started in the summer of 1985, were conducted in three unoccupied ranch-style houses in Karns, Tennessee, during the winter of 1986-87. The measured results of the heating tests showed that a horizontal radiant barrier used with R-11 attic insulation reduced the house heating load by 9.3% compared with R-11 with no radiant barrier, while a truss barrier showed essentially no change in the heating load. Horizontal and truss barriers each reduced the heating load by 3.5% when added to R-30 attic insulation. Moisture condensed on the bottom of the horizontal barrier during cold early morning weather but usually dissipated in the warmer afternoon hours at Karns and left no accumulation in the insulation. Depending on the level of attic insulation, an annual heating and cooling HVAC savings ranging from $5 to $65 is estimated to be attainable when a radiant barrier is installed in the attic at Karns. 8 refs., 64 figs., 18 tabs.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6813025},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1988},
month = {8}
}