We all love a home that is cool in summer and warm in winter. The problem is getting a comfortable home without a high energy bill. About a third of a typical homeowner’s monthly expenses are spent on cooling and heating bills. Homeowners are continually searching for ways to reduce energy consumption for a lower electric bill.
Many of us probably underestimate the impact the design and construction of your roof can have on both maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home and your power usage. The roof and its proper installation are keys to better energy-efficiency in your home.
Make Your Home More Comfortable
Whether you’re choosing an energy-efficient roof for a newly constructed home or looking to replace your current roof, several types of residential roofs will help you cut home energy consumption. You will need to weigh your options and consider a variety of factors, such as which energy-efficient roofing features are most important to you.
To begin your search to improve your roof and energy consumption, you can check roofing options using the EPA’s energy star ratings. This helps homeowners choose roofing products that reduce energy consumption, save money, and lower pollution.
The best roofs can reflect the sun and heat away from your home, thus reducing the amount of heat transferred into your home. Here are some key factors that can affect energy-efficient roofing.
1. Ventilation
In terms of ventilation and energy-efficient roofing, heating and cooling costs can be reduced in your home by controlling the heat trapped in your roofing cavity. Vents in the soffits of your eaves can help draw cool air into the roof, which pushes the hot air upwards and out of the ridge vents at the top of your roof.
2. Insulation
When you are heating your home in winter, the internal heat conducts outwards through the roof and walls. Hot air can escape through the doors and windows. Most of the heat escapes through the ceiling because hot air rises. Installing roof insulation can help minimize this process.
Homes in tropical climates do not need bulk insulation and use cool roofs instead. Cool roofs are roofs that are painted or clad with materials that both release and reflect solar energy.
Investing in insulation will not only help you gain a more energy-efficient roof, but it will ensure a more pleasant living environment and help you save on heating and cooling costs.
3. Eaves
Eaves are the parts of a roof that hang out over walls to provide shade to your home’s exterior. They help control the amount of sunlight that enters your home. When correctly designed and installed, they block the sun in the summer and admit sunlight during the winter.
4. Color
When it comes to roof color and efficiency, about a third of the unwanted heat comes in through the roof. If you live in a very warm climate, you should install a light or medium colored roof. Darker colors absorb heat which means that they are best for colder climates. With the advancement of roofing technology, the color you choose, light or dark, can work in any climate.
No matter what type of roofing material you ultimately choose, you’re likely to find a variety of colors within that range. It’s usually best to choose your material first and your color later.
Energy-Efficient Roofing Materials
The same Energy Star labels you see on your appliances also apply to roofing shingles, panels, and energy-efficient roof coatings. Energy-efficient roof materials like ceramic, slate, concrete, or stone tiles will absorb and trap heat and continue to emit warmth into your ceiling cavity.
- Metal roofing is a good heat conductor that will work well for homes in warm climates. It is durable and long-lasting.
- Wood shakes. Wood is a natural insulator and is an eco-friendly roofing option.
- Slate/Clay tiles offer built-in thermal resistance and reflectivity. Air can move underneath the tiles to help remove moisture and moderate roof temperature which results in lower energy costs.
- Asphalt shingles should be selected by color based on the climate you live in. There are roofing options that now have reflective granules that reflect more solar energy, keeping your roof cooler.
The Trusted Roofing Professionals
If your current roof is older, it may not be providing you with the maximum energy savings and comfort. You may benefit greatly by getting a new, more energy-efficient roof installed.
Brian Dawson Roofing can inspect your roof and recommend which material works best for your home. Contact us today for a free consultation.