03/05/2018
Can a new roof help you save energy? Will a new roof reduce your energy costs? The short answer is: yes!
Installing a new roof will make your home more energy-efficient and help you cut down on your monthly energy bills. Older roofs, on the other hand, are built using outdated roofing materials and building technology. That means older roofs are less energy-efficient and put a greater strain on your heating and cooling system, leading to higher energy bills.
How Does Your Roof Affect Energy Costs?
High energy expenses come from a variety of places in your home: drafty doors, loose windows, improperly insulated basements, and a roof that’s outdated and in dire need of replacement. As your roof ages, it breaks down and becomes less effective at its job in a number of ways. Temperatures and humidity levels from the outdoors begin to seep in and affect your home’s internal environment.
As a homeowner considering a new roof, it’s important to take into consideration what makes a roof energy efficient. After all, a replacement roof is bound to save some energy, but the amount you save may not be worth the price of a roof replacement.
How a Roof Can Cut Your Energy Costs
There are a few key things to keep in mind when trying to determine if a new roof will help you save energy costs. It’s not as easy as just installing any old roof. Roof energy efficiency varies quite a bit depending on what material they are built with it and how they are installed.
Here are some important roof characteristics to consider when installing a new energy-efficient roof:
Solar Reflection: The more effectively your roof reflects solar light, the more energy-efficient it is. If your roof isn’t able to reflect sunlight away from your home, the shingles then absorb the solar heat and transfer it into your home. Roofs with high solar reflection can lower the surface temperature by as much as 30%.
Roof Ventilation: Roofs are built with ventilation to allow proper airflow between the attic and the great outdoors. If a roof isn’t properly ventilated, hot air can become trapped inside the attic and cause your entire house to heat up gradually like an oven. This puts a huge strain on your home’s cooling system and leads to a noticeable rise in your monthly energy bills. Ensuring the roof is properly ventilated will reduce your home’s energy needs and lower its reliance on the air conditioner.
Energy Star Rating: Energy Star is the authority on what building materials and consumer products are considered energy-efficient. When you see the energy star label, you can feel confident that that product will help you save more energy than non-Energy Star products. Roofs built using Energy Star shingles are better at reflecting solar energy back into the atmosphere instead of absorbing it and transferring it into your home. In fact, Energy Star shingles can lower the surface temperature of your roof by up to 100 degrees – that’s a huge difference! Cooler roofs are able to naturally keep your home cool so you don’t have to rely as much on an air conditioner.
Shingle Color: Most people know that dark clothing absorbs heat on a sunny day, but did you know that dark shingles can do the same thing? That means the color of your roof should vary depending on where you live and your local climate. Homes in cold-weather areas benefit from dark shingles, while homes in hot climates should have lighter roof colors to help deflect sunlight. Paying close attention to the shingle color you add to your home will have an impact on your energy costs.
