Does a New Roof Help Energy Efficiency?
Whether you’re running the heat in the winter or your air conditioner in the summer, maintaining your home’s preferred temperature costs money. If the temperature is constantly changing, then the cost of maintaining it increases. Nobody wants a higher electricity bill, so it’s crucial that your home is properly insulated and doesn’t trap unnecessary heat. That’s where your energy-efficient roofing comes in.
How Your Roof Conserves Energy
While your first thoughts may go to the walls, windows, and doors when thinking of culprits for an increased energy bill, your roof actually plays a large role in your home’s internal temperature as well.
Roofs are built to allow airflow between your attic and the air outside. If your roof isn’t ventilated properly, it traps hot air inside, making your home hotter. Inversely, a drafty roof will allow heat to escape faster, which can make your home colder.
It doesn’t end at ventilation, either. As the top part of your home, your roof receives the most direct sunlight. Reflecting this sunlight keeps your home cool, while absorbing the sunlight heats it. If your roof does too much of either, it makes your house too warm or too cold, increasing your heating or cooling bill.
Is Your Roof Worth Replacing?
Now that you understand the role your roof plays in maintaining your home’s temperature, it’s time to ask: will a new roof help energy efficiency?
If your roof is in good condition, you may think it isn’t worth the cost to replace it. However, older roofs are often made with substandard materials or an outdated building method. This makes them less efficient at conserving energy. It may also have more wear and tear, which can lead to drafts and loss of heat.
Even if your roof is new, it may not have been built with energy efficiency in mind. Different roofing materials absorb and reflect sunlight at different rates, making some much worse at maintaining your home’s internal temperature. Even the color can affect a roof’s energy efficiency — darker colors absorb sunlight, while light colors reflect it. If you have a pure black asphalt roof and suffer from a sky-high cooling bill every summer as a result, it may be worth replacing.
Ultimately, it’s your decision whether or not to replace your roof. Carefully consider the age and remaining life expectancy, as well as the cost of installation compared to your monthly heating and cooling expenses, before you decide.
Energy-Efficient Roofing Materials
If you do decide to get a new roof, there are several energy-efficient roofing materials to choose from. Note that the usefulness of each material will vary depending on your climate and the amount of sun you receive.
Clay
Clay shingles are some of the most energy-efficient roof shingles you can use. Not only is it extremely solar reflective (especially unglazed red terracotta), but the heat it does absorb is released slowly, meaning that it doesn’t enter your home all at once. The layout used to arrange clay tiles also allows air to circulate freely beneath them, which is good for ventilation and cooling.
Concrete
Concrete shingles are another excellent choice for energy-efficient roofing. They share many of the same benefits of clay, including high solar reflectiveness and a well-ventilated layout.
Metal
Metal roofing has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. Coated or prep-painted metal roofs reflect the majority of the solar energy they receive, while still serving as an excellent insulator in the colder months. It’s also lighter than clay or concrete shingles, which may ease your mind if you live in a windy area and worry about loosened shingles becoming a safety hazard.
Solar-Reflecting Asphalt
Traditional asphalt shingles are a very poor choice for energy-efficient roofs. Not only does their dark color absorb and trap heat, they tend to be very non-reflective. However, if you prefer the look of asphalt shingles, it’s possible to get them installed without driving your cooling bill up. Simply use asphalt shingles finished with solar-reflective granules. These help the shingles reflect more solar energy, which keeps your home cooler.
Energy-Efficient Roofs from Woodland HomeWorks
If you’re looking for a metal roof to cut down your heating and cooling bills, call Woodland HomeWorks. We’ve been repairing and installing roofs in Massachusetts for over twenty years, and our Craftsmanship Guarantee ensures that our customers are satisfied. Whether you opt for an asphalt or metal roof replacement, you can be assured your new roof will be durable, energy efficient, and made of the highest quality materials.
