Is anyone familiar with reflective insulation, specifically Think Smart?
tswanson300
| Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on
I was introduced to it a a home show. The cost is about $2.75 per square foot. It seems high, but could get a 4-5 year payback. Comments please.
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The cost is OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH!!!! At best with proper air gap etc. you'll gain about r3 making it about $0.91/r sq ft.. Polyiso goes for about $0.15/r sq ft., XPS about $0.12, EPS about $010, Roxul bats about $0.045 and loose cellulose fill about $0.03. How in the world are they sowing a 4 - 5 year payback other than blatant exaggeration of r value? There is simply no way it will perform as well as r 90 of cellulose or r27 of EPS.
This might be of interest: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/energy-solutions/ftc-cracking-down-false-r-value-claims
Tom,
Many products call themselves "reflective insulations." Some are just radiant barriers. Others are just radiant barriers adhered to bubble-wrap. And a few are very thin layers of rigid foam with a radiant barrier attached.
The product marketed by Think Smart appears to be an ordinary radiant barrier.
All of these products cost more than real insulation. And almost all of them are marketed by people who have a history of exaggeration (and sometimes, fraud).
You don't say where you intend to install the insulation. There is almost undoubtedly a better, less expensive product -- one with real R-value -- that you should install instead.
More information here:
Radiant Barriers: A Solution in Search of a Problem
Beware of R-Value Crooks
Martin’s Useless Products List