|
Daox,
elhigh,
ON recessed lights:
These things look nice, but you couldn't ask for a worse thermal offender. Typically they are double wall, with venting at the top and bottom, so they have a built in air leak. When they are on, the light bulb gets hot (Even CFL will get warm) and heat up the inner can. This heat is transfered into the air between the metal cans, where it rises to the upper vent, where it escapes, and room air is takes its place. This is a thermodynamic air pump. It is throwing your energy (heating or cooling) into the attic. The solution is to make boxes out of drywall (which is a fire rated material) and then cover this with foam board insulation, sealed up with GreatStuff. Drop these boxes over the recessed lights from the attic side, and back fill the gaps with more GreatStuff. You now have a airtight, insulated box with an air gap between the lights and the box, and a 15 min fire-rating.
|