Builders And Re-Modelers Go Green with Radiant Barrier
According to the Waco Tribune, demand for “green” products that protect the environment and save energy is coloring the way local builders and re-modelers do business.
Some are responding with lower ceilings, dual-flush commodes, and countertops made from glass rescued from trash containers.
Insulation that makes a home easier to heat in the winter and cool in the summer is key to any green approach to homebuilding.
One insulating tool that is becoming popular with builders is something called radiant barrier, which basically is a foil sheet pre-attached to oriented strand board. Radiant barrier is used as decking for roofs.
Placed beneath the shingles of a home, radiant barrier keeps attics cooler, which can make cooling a home less of a chore.
Some builders use radiant barrier as a marketing tool. Others are building custom homes, and the homebuyers are specifically requesting that radiant barrier be used, according to some Texas homebuilders.
Building material costs are so depressed that radiant barrier is not much more expensive than plain-oriented strand board.
A lot of people are trying to conserve energy and radiant barrier is one of the most cost-effective, sustainable ways for both builders and homeowners to achieve that goal.