I'm living in a hot new apartment in Vietnam where the sun really beats down, especially on the west-facing walls. I'm considering buying reflective insulation to help cut down on heat transfer and lower my electricity bills. I've read that it could help, but I'm unsure how to install it since my walls are brick and I'm not finding much info online about doing this in an existing setup. Any tips or thoughts would be appreciated!
2 Answers
Definitely check out radiant barrier insulation! It's great for hot climates and really effective at reflecting heat. Just stick it on the wall that gets the most sun, and you should see some relief on your bills. You could also talk to your landlord about getting it installed professionally; it could save you a lot in the long run!
I’d say reflective insulation can help, but it might not be as effective as you hope. If you can find XPS foam boards, those could offer better insulation with less hassle for a temporary fix compared to traditional fiberglass. You could also use thick moving blankets or wool blankets for some extra insulation, but they won’t perform as well as dedicated insulation solutions. Just keep in mind that with Vietnam's humidity, putting insulation on just one wall might not make a huge difference overall.
Great idea for hot climates!