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Reflective material to keep cooling costs lower.

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jlsoaz:
I've used this material for about ten years now, on a 4 foot by 4 foot glass skylight I have here in Arizona, and it has proven to be really effective:

http://www.betterearthproducts.com/thermal-barrier-fabric-75-reflective.html

- relatively inexpensive
- blocks more of the sun's rays than another material I tried.
- lets in enough light so the room still feels excellent to use.

Basically, that particular room feels good (good natural light) but would become the worst room in the house during the summer if not for some effective material, and this material has seemed pretty good.  [I won't say it's "the best" since I haven't made a thorough survey of the space, but I'll just say as far as I know it has seemed to serve my own needs quite well.]

Live-and-learn:

I recently belatedly realized that I have another couple of smaller tube type skylights (one a converted chimney).  Their openings are much smaller, but I will apply the material to them (for next summer) and see how it goes then, to help reduce my cooling bill.  I also turned some over to someone building a greenhouse recently, so I'll see what they say about how that worked, for the harsher days when the sun is just too much.

Note - I am not associated with the company in any way, I just figured I have found the product to be a relatively inexpensive "keeper" and so for those that live in hot climates, they want to know about it, or something similar.

DamonHD:
We use reflective blackout curtain linings on most windows for a similar reason: keep out excess light and thus heat in summer, and act as an extra thermal lining in winter.

Cheap, simple and effective.  What's not to like?

Rgds

Damon

jlsoaz:
Thanks, do you have a link to that sort of setup that I could look at?  It sounds like a bit more of an all-seasons balanced setup than what I have going, but it's hard to get just by a few words.


--- Quote from: DamonHD on October 01, 2016, 12:28:53 PM ---We use reflective blackout curtain linings on most windows for a similar reason: keep out excess light and thus heat in summer, and act as an extra thermal lining in winter.

Cheap, simple and effective.  What's not to like?

Rgds

Damon

--- End quote ---

DamonHD:
Hi,

I mention them here:

http://www.earth.org.uk/superinsulating-our-living-room.html

http://www.earth.org.uk/towards-a-LZC-home.html

and here's an example:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reflective-Blackout-Thermal-Curtain-Lining/dp/B001KS8GC0

Rgds

Damon

jlsoaz:
thanks, the example link at Amazon is particularly what I was after, I'll look into getting that or something like it for some of my house.




--- Quote from: DamonHD on October 03, 2016, 02:48:46 AM ---Hi,

I mention them here:

http://www.earth.org.uk/superinsulating-our-living-room.html

http://www.earth.org.uk/towards-a-LZC-home.html

and here's an example:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reflective-Blackout-Thermal-Curtain-Lining/dp/B001KS8GC0

Rgds

Damon

--- End quote ---

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