An energy-efficient roof – AKA a cool roof — reflects more sunlight than a conventional roof, as it absorbs less solar energy, says Energy.gov. Cool roofs reduce your home’s temperature in the same way that wearing light-colored clothes in summer keeps you cool on a hot day. Conventional roofs may get as hot as 150°F or more under the sun on a hot afternoon, whereas a reflective roof stays more than 50°F cooler.

This can save you energy and money on utility bills by reducing heat flow off the roof into the home. Cool roofs have a high “thermal emittance”, which is the ability to shed heat by expelling “thermal infrared” radiation.

Why Choose a Cool Roof?

Energy-efficiency roofs bring many benefits to homes and their occupants, as well as the environment. Cool roofs can:

  • Reduce energy bills by decreasing the need for air conditioning
  • Help older inefficient air conditioners give off enough cool air during hot summers
  • Qualify for money-saving rebates from government programs or utility companies
  • Allow you to downsize new or replacement air conditioning equipment to save money and increase cooling efficiency
  • Improve indoor comfort and safety un-air conditioned spaces
  • Decrease roof temperature and extend lifespan
  • Lower outside air temperatures, lessening the urban heat island effect
  • Slow smog formation from temperature-dependent air pollutants by cooling outside air
  • Reduce peak electricity demand to prevent power outages
  • Decrease power plant emissions by lowering the demand for energy to cool the home.
  • Help offset global warming through the reflection of more sunlight to outer space

According to the Green Building Alliance, 90 percent of roofs in this country are poorly designed and built featuring dark, non-reflective materials that absorb heat rather than reflect it. What happens to all that heat? It transfers into your attic and then the rest of your home. Having proper ventilation can help offer some relief but it doesn’t halt heat transference from the roof top to the attic. When your attic gets overheated, that excess heat transfers into your home, causing your AC system to work overtime.

Saving Money

There are many ways in which you can save money by installing an energy-efficient roof. First, you can lower your energy bills by up to 25 percent, which saves the average household between $300 and $500 annually on utility bills.

Another way to save money is by extending the lifespan of your cooling system. When your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your home cool, it lasts longer and needs less frequent repairs. Plus, you don’t have to worry about premature replacement. With an energy-efficient roof, you can keep the temperature down in your house without having to strain your HVAC system as much. And finally, there are many tax credits and incentives that you can take advantage of with an energy-efficient roof.

Contact Hi-Tech Windows and Siding for Your Roofing Needs

If you want to know if an energy-efficient roof is for you, call us now at 800-851-0900 or Request a Quote on roofing services. We would be happy to perform an inspection and recommend the best cool roofing material for your home.