Simple aluminium foil layer may reduce indoor heat during summer. Check how
A simple reflective layer beneath your roof could reduce summer heat entering your home by up to 53%. Here's what researchers found and how the method works.
Aluminium foil under roof, summer heat reduction and radiant barrier are gaining attention after a study found that a simple reflective layer beneath a roof can reduce heat entering a home by up to 53 per cent. During peak summer, roofs absorb large amounts of solar heat, making indoor spaces warmer and forcing air conditioners to work harder.
Researchers found that adding a thin layer of reflective aluminium beneath the roof can bounce back much of this heat before it reaches living areas.
While the results depend on how the material is installed, the method could offer a simple way to improve indoor comfort and reduce cooling costs.
HOW DOES ALUMINIUM FOIL KEEP A HOUSE COOL?
Researchers Stefano Fantucci and Valentina Serra studied the use of reflective aluminium foil beneath pitched roofs.
Their research, published in the journal Energy and Buildings in 2019, found that the foil reduced summer heat gain by 10 per cent to 53 per cent, depending on the material's reflectivity and the way it was installed.
The foil works as a radiant barrier. Instead of absorbing heat, its shiny surface reflects a large part of the sun's radiant energy away from the house. This means less heat passes through the roof and into indoor spaces.
WHY INSTALLATION MATTERS
The researchers stress that the best results depend on correct installation. The reflective surface must face an open air space. If the foil is placed directly against another surface without an air gap, much of its cooling effect is lost.
The highest reduction of 53 per cent was recorded under the best test conditions. The researchers note that this figure should not be treated as a guaranteed result for every home, as performance varies depending on the roof design and installation.
ALSO READ: Why Japan still repairs centuries-old temples without using a single nail
CAN IT HELP LOWER ELECTRICITY USE?
The study suggests that reducing heat entering a home can ease the load on air conditioners, which may lower cooling costs.
Separate testing by the Florida Solar Energy Center found that roof-mounted radiant barriers reduced ceiling heat flow by 30 per cent to 50 per cent and cut annual cooling electricity use by around 7 per cent to 12 per cent in tested homes.
Although the research focused on pitched roofs, the findings add to growing evidence that passive cooling methods, such as reflective barriers, can help homes stay cooler during hot weather.
Aluminium foil under roof, summer heat reduction and radiant barrier are gaining attention after a study found that a simple reflective layer beneath a roof can reduce heat entering a home by up to 53 per cent. During peak summer, roofs absorb large amounts of solar heat, making indoor spaces warmer and forcing air conditioners to work harder.
Researchers found that adding a thin layer of reflective aluminium beneath the roof can bounce back much of this heat before it reaches living areas.
While the results depend on how the material is installed, the method could offer a simple way to improve indoor comfort and reduce cooling costs.
HOW DOES ALUMINIUM FOIL KEEP A HOUSE COOL?
Researchers Stefano Fantucci and Valentina Serra studied the use of reflective aluminium foil beneath pitched roofs.
Their research, published in the journal Energy and Buildings in 2019, found that the foil reduced summer heat gain by 10 per cent to 53 per cent, depending on the material's reflectivity and the way it was installed.
The foil works as a radiant barrier. Instead of absorbing heat, its shiny surface reflects a large part of the sun's radiant energy away from the house. This means less heat passes through the roof and into indoor spaces.
WHY INSTALLATION MATTERS
The researchers stress that the best results depend on correct installation. The reflective surface must face an open air space. If the foil is placed directly against another surface without an air gap, much of its cooling effect is lost.
The highest reduction of 53 per cent was recorded under the best test conditions. The researchers note that this figure should not be treated as a guaranteed result for every home, as performance varies depending on the roof design and installation.
ALSO READ: Why Japan still repairs centuries-old temples without using a single nail
CAN IT HELP LOWER ELECTRICITY USE?
The study suggests that reducing heat entering a home can ease the load on air conditioners, which may lower cooling costs.
Separate testing by the Florida Solar Energy Center found that roof-mounted radiant barriers reduced ceiling heat flow by 30 per cent to 50 per cent and cut annual cooling electricity use by around 7 per cent to 12 per cent in tested homes.
Although the research focused on pitched roofs, the findings add to growing evidence that passive cooling methods, such as reflective barriers, can help homes stay cooler during hot weather.
