Q. I recently heard about some new cooling strategy called “radiant barriers” in which heat from the house is directed up to the roof. Do you know if this really works, and if reflectin… ...

In contrast, fiberglass insulation, while widely used, often involves higher installation costs and does not provide the same level of energy efficiency as radiant barriers. The choice between radiant ...

According to Scott Petre, a manager with Banker Insulation in Chandler, the best way to use a radiant barrier in an existing house in southern Arizona is to install a foil-type barrier stapled to ...

The summer routine: Start the ignition, reach for the air-conditioning controls and crank up the fans to subzero temperatures. But it's still too hot to hang on to the steering wheel. The sun ...

Q: I recently heard about some new cooling strategy called “radiant barriers” in which heat from the house is directed up to the roof. Do you know if this really works, and if reflectin… ...

Q. What is your take on using two-sided aluminum material in the attic over existing insulation? I’ve been told it is an idea from NASA that uses material like this to protect astronauts in space.

Brown A: Tests have shown that radiant barriers can be effective in cutting cooling costs, especially in warm-climate areas. They work differently than conventional insulation, but generally are ...