1. Aluminum Radiant Barriers: The Sustainable Option
Markcastic Co.
Cassidy Newman, Mark McTiernan, Ryan Marks and Sydney Marks

2. Project Objectives Identify On-Campus Opportunities
Take Advantage of Aluminum’s Intrinsic Properties
Increase Product Efficiency/Sustainability

3. What is Sustainability?
“To sustain is to continue our capacity to live life on this planet, to endure.”

4. Concept Generation Aluminum as substitute Remaking frame of CATA buses
Highly recyclable
Remaking frame of CATA buses
Strong, Lightweight
Aluminum Blinds
Reflective
Aluminum Sunshades
Perforated Aluminum Radiant Barrier

5. Background Information
Heat travels from a warm area to a cool area by a combination of conduction, convection, and radiation
Heat gain/loss in Summer/Winter
Most heat is lost through walls and ceiling (radiant)
Conductive: Direct contact
Convective: Steam, moisture.
Radiant: Electromagnetic.

6. Solution: Radiant Barrier
Install Radiant Barrier in the roof of a new building on campus
More viable option for buildings that will be renovated/built
Ex: South Residence Halls

7. What is it? Perforated Aluminum Radiant Barrier
Thin sheet of plastic layered with reflective aluminum
Installed in Attic or Undersides of Roof
Saves energy in Winter and Summer
Reduces heat loss or gain

8. Why Perforated Aluminum

9. CAD Model

10. Application to Penn State
Buildings currently under construction:
Pell Lab
Biobehavioral Health Building
South Halls
Moore/CEDAR
South Frear
HHD Building…

11. Benefits
Filters the sun’s direct rays, drastically reducing heat loss during the winter.
The material is inexpensive, about $0.15 per square foot.
Perforations in the aluminum prevent moisture from condensing on the aluminum and allow the moisture to escape to the exterior.
Aluminum is unaffected by humidity, unlike normal insulation.
In winter, radiant barriers reduce the loss of indoor heat through the attic floor or ceiling.
Not vapor barrier - which is not wanted in attic applications

12. Feasibility

13. Ease of Use Heavyweight foil is about 30 lb per 1,000 square feet roll
Both sides are the same, no top or bottom of foil
Doesn’t need to cover entire roof to be effective

14. Cost- 48” Wide AtticFoil Radiant Barrier Foil

15. Calculations and Energy Savings
sq ft - costs $ for 1500 sq ft based on small one-story home
q = Heat transferred in between walls
(use q to calculate Energy saved)

16. Impact on Society/Campus
Easily installable - Can be utilized in new construction projects across campus
Will drive down costs of heating and cooling
Buildings will use less energy - Reduce ecological footprint