These days, with the pandemic, if there is anything trending in real estate it’s home renovations, country and suburb living. People are looking to upgrade their homes, making them more entertainment friendly and looking for larger space within their budget. When buying a home, there is so much you think about. The neighbourhood, size, style, amenities, upgrades or updates, energy-efficiency, price and of course mortgage approval are all things you have to think about when investing in a home purchase.
If there are certain things you want in a home, you need to consider increasing your mortgage or remortgage to include the price of upgrades or updates. To calculate how much you’ll be paying, make use of this online mortgage calculator.
RF Impacts on DIYers
For those doing those updates or upgrades by themselves, studies have shown that environmental levels of Radio Frequency (RF) energy routinely encountered in homes by Do-It-Yourselfers (DIYers) are typically far below levels necessary to produce significant heating and increased body temperature.
Is that true in all cases? Could the recommended limits for safe exposure of human beings to RF energy be exceeded? Are the restrictive measures or mitigation actions necessary to ensure the safe use of RF energy? What can a homeowner do?
It’s tough for DIYers to stay on top of what is really going on. When performing DIY projects, you don’t always know what radiation can do. Taking proper precautions is necessary. Organizations like the American National Standards Institute that have issued recommendations for human exposure to RF electromagnetic fields. One useful reference for DIYers is the Federal Communication Commission ‘Questions and Answers About the Biological Effects and Potential Hazards of Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields. It covers everything from what RF Energy is, how we use it, and much more…but it is dated.
RF Sources
RF is produced by both natural and artificial sources. Naturally, RF comes from the:
- sun
- earth
- ionosphere
Artificially, RF radiation stems from:
- radio and television broadcasting
- mobile phones, wireless networks such as Wi-Fi
- cordless phones
- police and fire department radios
- point-to-point links and satellite communications
Other sources of RF fields include microwave ovens, radar, industrial heaters and sealers, and various medical applications. Exposure reduces rapidly with distance. The overall RF field background level from appliances is low. Higher levels of exposure to RF fields can occur to DIYers when they work in close proximity to RF transmitting antennas and radar systems.
Innovation Insulation’s founder, Torres says that studies reported a range of biological effects at low levels. However, there has been no indication that such effects might constitute a human health hazard. With the increasing RF coming from device-to-device communications, DIYers have to consider the possibility of adverse health effects.
Reduce Home Heating And Cooling Cost
Innovation Insulation’s Radiant Barrier is designed to be a reflective insulation keeping 99.9% of the electronically transmitted RF waves emitted from a variety of sources away from people. It’s an insulation material that reflects heat entering or leaving a home or clothing. Heat gravitates toward cold. Instead of absorbing heat and delaying this process like traditional foam or fiberglass, Radiant Barrier reflects heat back to its source. This is how it helps you reduce your home heating and cooling cost.
Traditional insulation R-value measures how long it takes heat to transfer through a material or insulation. Radiant Barrier’s effectiveness is measured by reflectivity. Radiant Barrier reflects 95-97% of the radiant heat back to its source.
They can be installed by anyone. The attic is best to reduce summer heat gain and cooling costs as well as counter RF radiation.
Net-Zero Home
Other ways to reduce heating a cooling cost is to have a net-zero home. Sounds impossible but Rodwin Architecture and Skycastle Construction have designed and built a poster home for energy efficiency. The house has achieved LEED Platinum certification and a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) of 14 (scale of 0 to 150). This makes it a near Net-Zero Energy house. They used a combination of:
- passive solar design
- 10kWh solar PV array discretely tucked onto the roof
- ground source heat pump and boiler
- radiant flooring with high thermal mass
- foam insulation
- Energy Star “tuned” windows
- all LED lights
- Energy Star appliances
- EPA Watersense plumbing fixtures
- Heat Recovery Ventilator
You can see the home here inside and out.
The Gist of it
RF Shielding Radiant Barrier Reflective Insulation guards DIYers against excessive RF energy while reducing heating and cooling costs. Net-zero homes can also reduce your bills and carbon footprint. While these home projects sound costly at first, in the long run, your health and saving return will be paid off. As the trend of energy efficient homes continues to evolve and improve technologically, so does the cost. Additionally, you can think of installing Pella windows and doors to keep heat or coolness inside. It’s worth thinking of it now even if you are not planning on renovating or moving anytime soon.
What are your plans to reduce your home heating and cooling costs?
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Anna F. says
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The Wardrobe Stylist says
Thanks so much!!