In short, "yes". Granted, it's not really a trick, but it is a factor of reflection.

Most homeowners intuitively understand that the more insulation a house has, the better. The better-insulated the more-efficient, requiring less air conditioning to keep it cool in the summer and lower heating bills in the winter. We also know that insulation levels are measured in something termed an "R-Value", and the higher that number, it seems, the better.
We scrutinize the insulation levels when we consider a house for purchase. We might look up the minimal recommended R-value for the climate zone and blow in some additional insulation if the fluff in the attic is less than the desired depth. (By the way, the new recycled cotton insulation is very nice to work with and aesthetically appealing.) But most of us don't give it much thought beyond this.
If you are interested in better comfort and saving an average of 35% on cooling costs and 20% on heating, read on.
Aluminum IR Reflectors
... provide greater comfort and energy saving by filling the gap in building insulation.
HOW THEY WORK

Infrared and visible wavelengths radiated by the sun are converted, to some extent, into heat by the first surface they strike. Most building materials convert about 90% of radiant energy into heat and become hot. In contrast, aluminum reflects 97% of radiant energy and remains cool. Consequently, radiant energy does not become heat.
Heat travels through matter by convection and conduction. Conventional insulation (dead air spaces surrounded by poor conductors) resists heat flow. R-values grade insulators’ ability to Resist heat flow. Insulation can only slow energy flow! Aluminum InfraRed (IR) reflectors reject radiant energy, filling the gap left by conventional insulation.Â

EFFECTS
Greater Comfort ... People are excellent IR absorbers (about 98% efficient). We all love the feel of "the warm sun" at high elevations and dislike the blast of hot air in a windy desert - the difference of being warmed by radiant energy versus convection.
Savings ... Laboratory tests document heat loss reductions of 33% to 45% in the summer, 15% to 20% in winter.

Additionally, not experiencing the usual IR gain in summer and loss in winter, most people are comfortable setting their thermostats 2°- 4° F higher in summer and lower in the winter.
COST

The benefits of reflective insulation have been known for some time. However, high material costs and labor-intensive installation methods have made broad application impractical ($1-$2 / sf with a cost recovery time of 10-20 years).
All that has changed with the advent of Aluminized Mylar®*. These IR reflectors can quickly and easily be broadcast over conventional attic insulation. Installation on an average-size residence takes about 1 to 2 hours and costs as little as 12¢ to 20¢ / sf!
Aluminized Mylar® Leaflets - 10 lbs. = $100 (covers 500-800sf attic floor area)
Perfect for spreading over existing floor insulation.
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For more information or to purchase leaflets directly you may contact me at beth@ekunz.com. Scientific and reference data is available at www.probonoscience.org.Â
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* Dupont’s 0.5 mil Mylar® polyester film, aluminum-plated on both faces.
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