Having an energy efficient roof isn’t just a great idea to benefit the environment. It can actually be a major cost saving measure as well. While a “living” roof with growing plants won’t work for everyone, it is still easy to embrace a more green approach to your structure’s roof. With just a few small improvements and conscious additions you can see a big difference in your home or office’s energy usage, as well as the size of your utility bill.
Turn Your Roof into a “Cool” Roof
If you are looking at replacing the roof of your structure, consider installing a cool roof. These are designed specifically to be more energy efficient roofs by reflecting sunlight and absorbing less heat. Lighter colored roofs that utilize surfaces that are more reflective than standard black asphalt or dark wood shingles are considered cool roofs.
Because your roof is constantly absorbing sunlight, it can be much warmer than the surrounding air temperature, but a cool roof is 50 to 60 degrees cooler than traditional roofs. This allows a building’s interior to be much cooler, while also putting less of a strain on air conditioners or other utility systems needed to generate a comfortable environment. Having a cool roof is a big money saver in the long run and can be accomplished just by adding a new coating to your current roof.
Insulation: An Easy Tool for Energy Efficiency Roofing
Insulation is another important tool when you want to make your roof more energy efficient. The benefits of installing the right insulation are immediate. Attics are usually a top priority when putting in insulation because it is so easy, but it’s important to think about how you’re insulating your roof when you are looking to create a more energy efficient structure.
The material needed to best insulate your roof depends greatly on the climate you live in. High-tech solutions, including home foam insulation and cotton batting, can all be useful depending on your situation. Radiant barriers are also valuable to wrap around beams and reflect heat rather than absorbing it. Regardless of which material you use, leaving air space between the insulation and the roofing material is a good idea to reduce moisture getting trapped, which can lead to unhealthy mold growth.
Keep a Lookout for Greener Materials
New roofing materials are always being developed. Many focus on creating a new, greener roof for your building. Sustainability is also a major factor in newly designed roofing materials, so it’s important to research as much as possible when you are looking to install a roof on a new construction or re-roof an existing building.
With the right materials your building’s energy needs could be reduced by as much as 30 percent. Metal roofs are generally more expensive, but offer meaningful energy savings. Tiles, asphalt shingles, and concrete are all practical with the right reflective coatings. Wood materials are generally the least reliable choice because they degrade quickly and thus need to be replaced more often.
Find the Right Solution for Your Roof
Climate is the most important thing to consider when deciding which ideas to use to create a more energy efficient roof. Talking with the roofing experts at Custom Home Remodeling & Roofing can give you a better understanding of how to make that possible. Once you fully know what conditions your roof faces then you’ll be able to consider which materials and sheathing can help you create a roof that is not only great for the environment, but for your pocketbook as well.