How Cool is Your Roof?

[caption id="attachment_84" align="aligncenter" width="285"] cool roof color palette[/caption]

The latest cool feature in home design is the roof in colors that can save up to 15 percent off an annual energy bill. Cool roof technology is sweeping the nation. It’s caught the attention of the U.S. government which is now installing cool roofs on many of its buildings. Homeowners are hip to the idea as well. The U.S. Department of Energy defines cool roofs as lighter-colored roofing surfaces or special coatings that reflect more of the sun’s heat. Here are three reasons why cool roofs have style and savings:

Cool Roofs Reduce City Temperature:

 



In urban areas, mercury rises higher than its rural surroundings due to the “urban heat island effect.” Dark colored roofs and pavement absorb so much heat energy from the sun that it unnaturally warms up the city. The U.S. Department of Energy says cool roofs significantly reduce the heat island effect and improve air quality by reducing emissions. To illustrate this point, U.S. Energy Secretary Dr. Steven Chu  suggests that replacing all the building roofs today with white roofs  will reduce  the greenhouse effect by the same amount as if all cars disappeared from the earth for 10 years.

Cool Roofs Save Money:

A black roof on a sunny day can feel like living under a heating pad. Dark roofs can reach temperatures up to 150 degrees on a hot day while cool roofs may only be 5 to 10 degrees higher than the actual temperature on a sunny day. The heating pad effect of a dark roof causes the air conditioner to work harder thus more energy use and higher utility bills. "Coolness" of a roof is measured by two properties, solar reflectance and thermal emittance. To check out the cool factor of a roofing surface, consult the Cool Roof Rating Council’s Rating Program in which companies can label roof surface products with radiative property values.

To check out the potential cost savings of a cool roof, try the EPA’s Cool Roof Calculator

Rebates are available for some cool roofs.

For more money-saving design ideas and new construction tips, subscribe to the video series, Trade Secrets , available on YouTube.