Radiant Barrier Vs. Window Replacement

Radiant Barrier

• A radiant barrier in your attic deflects heat, keeping your home cooler in summer and lowering your home cooling bills. Radiant barriers take the form of foil, reflective roofing shingles or reflective roof sheeting. They don't provide additional insulation; they merely reflect heat away from your attic. The U.S. Department of Energy reports a radiant barrier can lower summer cooling bills by 5 to 10 percent if you live in a warm, sunny climate.

Window Replacement

• Glass windows provide little barrier to heat and cold. Cool or hot air can pass freely through single pane windows. Replacing single pane windows with double-paned windows inhibits the passage of air and lowers heating and cooling bills. Choosing Energy Star rated windows, which are tinted and sealed with inert gases between the panes to further reduce heat gain or loss, saves you even more. If you live in the western mountains of the United States in a 2,000 square foot home, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates replacing single-pane windows with Energy Star windows will save you $352 a year. If you live in the south Atlantic states, you could save $446 a year.

Benefit

• Radiant barriers are most effective if you live in hot, sunny states and your primary concern is reducing your summer cooling bill. Radiant barriers will save you the most if your cooling system ductwork is located in your attic. If the ductwork is not in the attic, your savings will be much less. If you live in a northern state, a radiant barrier won't save you much money and will do little to lower your winter heating bills. Window replacement yields benefits for people living almost anywhere in the United States, resulting in savings in both heating and cooling bills.

Cost

• Radiant barriers can be relatively inexpensive, costing from 13 to 30 cents per square foot. You could lower this cost by installing the barrier yourself. Replacing windows is more expensive. How much you'll pay depends on the type and size of windows, how many windows you have, and whether or not you do the work yourself or hire it out, but you could pay several hundred dollars per window. According to the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, even with the energy savings they provide, it can take 20 to 30 years or more to recoup the cost of window replacement in a home. Rebate programs may shorten the payback period.