Energy measurements of attic radiant barriers installed in single-family houses
Abstract
Testing was conducted by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to determine the energy savings attributable to radiant barriers installed in attics of unoccupied single-family houses. Three levels of fiberglass attic insulation (R-11 ,R-19, and R-30) were tested with two types of barrier installation (horizontal and truss). The results showed that horizontally installed radiant barriers were more effective than truss barriers in reducing heating and cooling loads. Measured cooling load reductions ranged form 0 to 22% (compared to same attic insulation insulation R-value with no radiant barrier) and heating load changes from /plus/4% to /minus/10% were measured (compared to same attic insulation R-value with no radiant barrier). Radiant barriers appeared to decrease the heating and cooling loads more when lesser amounts of insulation (R-11 and R-19) were present in an attic. Minimal changes were measured when R-30 was present in an attic. Long-term effects of dust on the performance of radiant barriers as well as the effects of moisture condensing on the surface of a radiant barrier during cold winter temperatures remain unanswered.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6828601
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-880814-7
ON: DE88015303
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Summer study on energy efficiency in buildings, Pacific Grove, CA, USA, 28 Aug 1988; 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 EFFICIENCY; THERMAL BARRIERS; RETROFITTING; ENERGY CONSERVATION; ENERGY CONSUMPTION; FIBERGLASS; NUMERICAL DATA; REFLECTION; THERMAL INSULATION; BUILDINGS; DATA; EFFICIENCY; INFORMATION; RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS; 320105* - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Building Services- (1987-); 320107 - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Building Systems- (1987-)
Citation Formats
Levins, W P, and Karnitz, M A. Energy measurements of attic radiant barriers installed in single-family houses. United States: N. p., 1988.
Web.
Levins, W P, & Karnitz, M A. Energy measurements of attic radiant barriers installed in single-family houses. United States.
Levins, W P, and Karnitz, M A. Fri .
"Energy measurements of attic radiant barriers installed in single-family houses". United States.
@article{osti_6828601,
title = {Energy measurements of attic radiant barriers installed in single-family houses},
author = {Levins, W P and Karnitz, M A},
abstractNote = {Testing was conducted by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to determine the energy savings attributable to radiant barriers installed in attics of unoccupied single-family houses. Three levels of fiberglass attic insulation (R-11 ,R-19, and R-30) were tested with two types of barrier installation (horizontal and truss). The results showed that horizontally installed radiant barriers were more effective than truss barriers in reducing heating and cooling loads. Measured cooling load reductions ranged form 0 to 22% (compared to same attic insulation insulation R-value with no radiant barrier) and heating load changes from /plus/4% to /minus/10% were measured (compared to same attic insulation R-value with no radiant barrier). Radiant barriers appeared to decrease the heating and cooling loads more when lesser amounts of insulation (R-11 and R-19) were present in an attic. Minimal changes were measured when R-30 was present in an attic. Long-term effects of dust on the performance of radiant barriers as well as the effects of moisture condensing on the surface of a radiant barrier during cold winter temperatures remain unanswered.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6828601},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1988},
month = {7}
}