At 12:10 AM 9/24/2002 +0000, you wrote: >If we want to make something better, we have to look for a material >or mixing with a material that give a significant reduction of the >emission factor for the wall (like aluminium). Maybe straw with >aluminium mixed in the glue (clay traditionally). I think that >research should be a little more advanced than only attempt with non- >traditional materials."
I am going to ignore the argument portion of this exchange. According to the research I could find on reflective insulation, which I will admit, was a couple of years ago, Reflective insulation is only effective as long as it is still "shiny" (not dirty) and has a space to reflect back toward. Thus it seemed to me that putting reflective insulation in a concrete floor, as is recommended by some companies is a waste. Also, if the reflective insulation is installed in a place it can accumulate dust or dirt (attic floor) it will eventually become useless unless it is cleaned. Installing it under the attic roof, over the joist is better, but still will possibly need to be cleaned eventually. After all this, I determined a reflective roof to be the best choice for reflective insulation properties. I could not see that the cost/benefit ratio of reflective insulation installed in walls was better than using additional traditional type (cellulose) insulation. I attended a DOE conference and one presenter stated that if California had all white or reflective roofs, there would be 100 less smog days a year. I thought that rather significant and asked why there was not more reflective roofing available or used. He said that it is an esthetic problem- people just prefer the look of dark or black roofs. Personally, I think if people were informed of the potential energy savings, that would not be the case. Caroline ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Plan to Sell a Home? http://us.click.yahoo.com/J2SnNA/y.lEAA/MVfIAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
