| Exactly how do radiant barriers work? |
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| What’s the difference between radiant barrier and regular insulation? |
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| How do I know what changes to make in my home? |
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How long
does it take to install a
radiant barrier? |
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| What about security in my home? Is your service safe? |
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| What is the difference between the service packages that Greener Home Solutions offers? |
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| Do I need to be home the entire time for the technicians? |
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| Do I have to do it all at once or can I start with a few steps? |
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| How do I pay? |
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| When will I see a change in my energy use? |
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| I’ve heard that it is best to leave fluorescents on because it takes more energy to turn them on and off. Is this true? |
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| Will I still enjoy my shower? Will the water flow be strong enough to wake me up? |
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| OK. I believe that these changes are good for the planet, but when (if ever) will I see a profit? |
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| What are motion sensors? |
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| How long will my power be turned off? |
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| My outdoor motion sensor light stays on all the time. What is wrong? |
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| My neighbor has a painted or sprayed on radiant barrier and it reduced his energy bills. Shouldn’t I buy the same type as he? |
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| Have these products been tested and/or approved for use in the U.S? |
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| I can see small bits in my attic without any radiant barrier covering. Why is this? |
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Will
radiant barrier affect my
television reception? |
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I average
my utility bill. What can I do
to see the cost reductions that
radiant barrier offers? |
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Where are you located? |
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Exactly how do radiant barriers work?
The easy analogy is to think of a thermos, which keeps cool things cool and hot things hot. It does this by stopping the transfer of heat. And this is exactly the way radiant barriers work. If you use a reflective sunscreen in your automobile or baked a potato wrapped in foil then you are already familiar with this technology! |
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What’s the difference between radiant barrier and regular insulation?
RB is not like insulation, which slows down or resists heat transfer. RB keeps radiated heat rays out and never lets them into your attic. This is why you will not see “R” ratings for Radiant Barrier; “R” values are a moot point, as it is radiant barrier’s ability to reflect heat that make it such an energy saver. |
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How do I know what changes to make in my home?
Trust us. We do the research for you. But check our link to "What can I do?" If a product comes out that is viable and will work for a typical homeowner, we’ll not only begin to offer it in our service packages, we’ll also post the documented info so that you can read for yourself. |
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How long does it take to install
a radiant barrier?
Most installations take either
one or two days to complete,
depending upon the size of your
attic. During the cooler
winter months, we are able to work
longer hours. When you
receive your estimate, you'll
also receive a timeframe for
completion. Please note
that companies that talk about
one-day installation are
probably offering the cheaper,
less effective spray-on radiant
barrier. |
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What about security in my home? Is your service safe?
We all worry about safety. Because of this, we hire only U.S. citizens who pass our background check. We also require all employees to participate in ethics and safety training.
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What is the difference between the service packages that Greener Home Solutions offers?
The packages are different according to difficulty of installation, which also affects how much return you will get in energy savings. Obviously, insulation is a major factor in hotter states; it costs more to install and it has a much higher impact on cooling bills.
- Our Green package requires no construction, no trips into your attic, nor do we turn off the electricity to your home.
- Our Greener package does not require construction, but we will need to turn off your home’s electricity to install some product.
- Our Greenest package requires not only turning off power, and mounting a sprinkler rain/freeze sensor to an outside wall, but also access to the attic, where our technicians will apply the radiant barrier and add a solar powered attic ventilator.
- Radiant Barrier package only (which
includes replacing your standard indoor
general-purpose bulbs with Compact
Fluorescents) will hit the top two
energy-guzzling areas of your home. This
package price depends on the actual area
size of your attic. We can estimate
based on a phone call, but a visit by
our technician into your attic is
required for a firm quote.
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Do I need to be home the entire time for the technicians?
Yes, we need an adult at home to let us in and to lock up when we leave. |
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Do I have to do it all at once or can I start with a few steps?
We offer three packages, because we know that not all homeowners are alike. Choose the package that most suits your needs, environmental concerns and budget. |
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How do I pay?
We accept
cashier's checks, most major credit cards
and even PayPal. |
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When will I see a change in my energy use?
You will begin using less energy immediately. Compare your first monthly bill with the same month’s usage for last year. Most utility bills show this information. |
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I’ve heard that it is best to leave fluorescents on because it takes more energy to turn them on and off. Is this true?
No. Although older fluorescent lights do show an initial spike in turning on, the energy required is small and the savings from having the lights off more than compensates in a matter of seconds. Standard incandescent lights use absolutely no energy in starting so the bottom line is: turn off the lights and save energy. |
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Will I still enjoy my shower? Will the water flow be strong enough to wake me up?
We like vigorous showers, too. So we researched to find a
shower head that maximizes water pressure, yet uses less actual water. So you still feel a strong spray, but save money and water. |
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OK. I believe that these changes are good for the planet, but when (if ever) will I see a profit?
Great question. The list on our home page cites energy savings. While payback times differ depending on product, keep in mind that the updates to your home continue saving money, long after you have paid for your greener investment. |
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What are motion sensors?
These are also called occupancy sensors or infrared sensors. They detect when someone is in a room and turn the lights off and on accordingly. If you (or your children) are the least bit careless and leave lights on needlessly then motion sensors will help to minimize the 20% of our electric bill that goes to pay for lighting. |
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How long will my power be turned off?
For about ½ hour while our trained technicians replace your standard light switches with motion detectors to automatically turn your lights off when no one is in the room. |
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My outdoor motion sensor light stays on all the time. What is wrong?
Most likely the main house power was off, either because a storm passed through, or the utility company did work in your neighborhood. When these light fixtures get ‘hit’ with a surge, they can become set ‘on’. Turn the light switch on the fixture to a fully off position for 10 minutes and then turn it back on again. It will re-set itself and operate properly once more. |
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My neighbor has a painted or sprayed on radiant barrier and it reduced his energy bills. Shouldn’t I buy the same type as he?
Spray on radiant barriers reflect back about 70% of the heat trying to penetrate your attic. Super R® reflects back 97%, making this a better, more energy efficient choice. |
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Have these products been tested and/or approved for use in the U.S?
Absolutely. Some of the links we make available via our site lead to the U.S. Department of Energy, and our radiant barrier was initially a NASA designed product. |
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I can see small bits in my attic without any radiant barrier covering. Why is this?
Our technicians will cover 98% of your attic with Super R® radiant barrier, but they will not cover ventilation or airflow areas. Your attic needs adequate airflow. |
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Will radiant barrier
affect my television reception?
Radiant barrier does not affect cable,
satellite or other signals, but
if you are still relying on your
antenna, then radiant barrier
will block this frequency signal
from entering the home. |
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I average my utility
bill. What can I do to see the
cost reductions that radiant
barrier offers?
Go ahead and schedule your
installation with us, but allow
one month to lapse after you
stop averaging. Otherwise, it is
possible to see no savings for
11 months. |
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Where
is Greener Home
Solutions Located?
Our address is:
3400 Main Street
Dallas, Texas 75226
We are located in downtown
Dallas at the corner of Main and
Second Street, but we serve the
Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex,
including Dallas, Fort Worth,
Plano, Allen, Carrollton, Flower
Mound, Grapevine, Irving,
McKinney, Mesquite, Duncanville,
Arlington, Hurst, Euless,
Bedford, Colleyville, Southlake,
Farmer's Branch, Richardson,
Highland Park, Lakewood, Oak
Cliff, Rowlett, and many other
cities in the Dallas area.
To provide you with a complete
estimate, we may need to visit
your home to inspect your attic. |
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