A roofing company says, whether you’re building a new home or remodelling your current one, the area you should give extra consideration to is your roof — specifically, what type of material you’re going to use. The choice you make can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars over time in reduced energy bills over time.
For residential homes, there are a wide variety of roofing materials to choose from, but while you might be tempted to select your roof based solely on cost or the colour, you should consider getting a material that’s energy-efficient because it will save you money year after year.
Benefits of an Energy-Efficient Roof
Ideally, you want to choose a material for your roof that reflects the sunlight and doesn’t absorb heat; this is known as a ‘cool roof.’
An energy-efficient roof is the best choice for your home because it means your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard when it’s hot out, thus saving you money on your energy bills. Also, your roof will last longer if it’s able to maintain a cool temperature. Lastly, there are often tax credits and other incentives offered by the government for people who use energy-efficient materials when constructing their homes.
Best Energy Efficient Roofing Materials
So, now that we know an energy-efficient roof is what you should strive for when you’re building a new home or putting on a new roof, let’s take a look at what materials you have to choose from to make your roof energy-efficient. Having insulation installed can have a huge impact on heating and cooling bills.
1# Metal
By far, one of the best roofing materials you can choose is metal. Of course, we’re not talking about those old tin roofs that your grandparents might have had, but rather, modern metal roofing. Today’s metal roofing material works as a mirror and reflects the sun’s energy instead of absorbing it. This heat reflection means that your home remains cooler in the summer and that your home’s internal temperature remains more constant.
Your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to keep your house cool, which means you’re spending less on your energy bills. And, while metal is more expensive than other roofing materials, such as asphalt, a metal roof lasts much longer, and provides a higher resale value for your home should you decide to sell in the future.
#2 Shake Shingles
Okay, shakes technically aren’t shingles, but cedar shake roofing is very energy efficient, and it’s beautiful to boot. What makes shakes a good choice for people looking for a more energy-efficient roof is the fact that wood is a natural insulator, which means that it keeps the cold and hot air in your home rather than allowing it to leak out, which leads to your HVAC system to work harder while costing you more money. Also, cedar shake roofing does an admirable job of reflecting the sun, which helps keep your home cooler during hot days.
#3 Tiles
If you want a traditional, yet beautiful, look to your home and energy-efficient tiled roof might be for you. Tile, whether concrete or ceramic, is very reflective and does a great job of helping your home stay cool when it’s hot out. Also, unlike other roofing material, tiles are installed individually, which allows for space around each tile. This space makes for a natural ventilation system, which goes a long way to helping you save money on your energy bills.
#4 Asphalt
Asphalt is by far the most common shingle used in home construction mainly because it’s inexpensive and easy to install and easy to do roof repair. However, traditionally, asphalt wasn’t the most energy-efficient roofing option for your home, but that’s changing thanks to newer technology that allows this material to do a better job than before at keeping your home cool during the summer and warm in the winter.
Several companies now produce ‘cool shingles’ made with granules that reflect the sun’s heat, and helps to keep both your roof and home cooler.
#5 Solar
While not technically a ‘roofing material’ solar panels installed on your roof are an excellent way for your home to be more energy efficient by collecting and storing power. Solar panels have been around for a while, companies like Tesla are making special solar shingles that can generate electricity and look just like traditional shingles rather than large slabs of glass stuck to the roof.
While we’ve spoken so far about materials to make your roof energy-efficient, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention colour.
Much in the same way that you wear light colours in the summer to reflect the heat, you should choose a lighter colour roofing material to help reflect the sun’s rays. This is especially true if you live in an area that experiences higher than average temperatures in the summer.
