Calgary may be best known for its freezing winters, but native Calgarians know that our summers can be just as extreme. In fact, last August boasted the hottest day the city has ever seen at a scorching 36.4 degrees! In the sweltering weather, we need to take special measures to ensure our industrial tools and commercial buildings are staying nice and cool. We can stay hydrated and we move into the shade, but how do we protect our immobile facilities from the extreme temperatures? Closing the windows during the day will only do so much to keep your business and your people comfortable, you may want to consider reflective insulation!
Radiant Heat
In the winter we rely on furnaces and traditional insulation to keep us warm, but in the summer we want to keep the heat away. To understand how to stay cool, we must understand how heat gets from one place to another. Heat can travel in three different ways: conduction, convection, or radiation. The heat from the sun, the source we are trying to avoid, is radiant energy. This type of energy doesn’t need solids or vapours to pass through—it can transmit through the vacuum of space. Combatting radiant heat isn’t as simple as pulling down the blinds; you need some extra firepower.
How It Works
Reflective insulation, otherwise known as foil insulation, is made from aluminum foil or aluminized polyester. This specialized insulation is made just for radiant heat, and works by literally reflecting the heat away. For this reason, it is often used in unventilated cavity walls and in pitched or angled roofs that are in the sunshine’s direct line of travel. It is important to note, however, that the reflective surface must face an air space in order to be effective.
Giving Your A/C a Break
The nature of radiant barriers like reflective insulation can save business owners 5-10% of their air conditioning costs in the summer months. Not only does this feel great on your pocket book from month to month, this relief can actually extend the lifespan of your facility’s air conditioning system. That means more summers where you don’t have to scramble to update your HVAC. In this way, keeping comfortable truly does benefit you, your employees and your entire business.
Because radiant barriers are so dependent on proper installation (remember that air space we mentioned before?), it is very important to work with a certified insulation installer. Call on the experts at Westcal Insulation today to get started!
