For homeowners, energy efficiency is a high priority. Because we experience large fluctuations in temperature throughout the year, we need our homes to be as energy efficient as possible in order to conserve energy and keep utility costs down.
While many homeowners have implemented many other strategies to help aid in energy efficiency, not everyone understands how big of a role your roof plays in the overall energy efficiency of your home. Read on to learn how your roof can help you conserve energy and keep utility costs low.
Shingle Color
You wouldn’t dress in all black in 95 degree heat, would you? Well, the same principle applied to your roof! The shingles you choose for your roof have a direct impact on the SPF factor of your home. That’s right, SPF isn’t just for sunscreen. The higher the SPF rating the more of the sun’s rays are reflected away from your home.
Choosing lighter-colored shingles helps raise this SPF factor, as opposed to darker shingles which absorb more of the sun’s energy, store it as heat in your roof, and therefore make your air conditioner work harder to keep your home cool. If you’re considering a new roof, a key term to keep in mind is “reflectivity.” By learning how reflective your existing roof is, you can ensure that your new roof will reflect the sun’s rays more efficiently.
Insulation and Ventilation
Windows have a reputation of being the most important product for promoting energy efficiency. But the truth is that the quality of insulation and ventilation in your roof also makes a huge impact on how energy efficient your home is. Without the appropriate insulation and ventilation, your climate control systems are always working harder than they could be to obtain the desired temperature inside the home.
Proper roof ventilation not only helps the energy efficiency of your home, it also extends the overall life of your roof. In fact, we wrote an entire blog about how important proper ventilation is to your home, in summer and winter alike. Click here to learn all about it.
If you would like to learn more about options for energy-efficient roofing materials, we would love to talk with you. Get in touch here, or give us a call at (402) 216-8850.
