(Newswire.net — January 8, 2019) — According to a report, an average of all U.S. homeowners spend around $40 billion per year on air conditioning. Although it’s a large amount of money that homeowners are spending on electric bills, it’s still not providing enough cool air all throughout. More importantly, their air conditioning systems need to work harder when the roof temperature goes around 175 degrees. If you want to reduce your energy bill and to make your house cool in a natural manner, you should consider using energy saving materials. With the right materials, you can save up to thirty percent of your energy cost. To help you out, below are some of the most energy efficient roof material and color to choose from.
What is a Cool Roof?
You should always focus on the materials that can make your roof cool. Cool roofs will reflect the sun without absorbing them. You can get the reflection by using sheet covering, color, shingles, and treated tiles. The cool roof material is able to reflect around sixty-five percent of the sun’s rays. Conventional roofs will only reflect only five to fifteen percent.
Fewer sun rays also mean a cooler house. To make your roof cool, you will need lighter colored roof. The darker colors will absorb more heat. Also, you need to insulate the space under your roof. Better insulation and the right material can offer you the required coolness. While planning a cool roof, you need to focus on your climate and then you can choose the material accordingly.
Energy Efficient Materials
Green Roofs
Green roofs popularly known as the living roofs can make your roof cool. In this type, your roof will be covered by greenery. You can choose either plants or grass. The covering will enable the irrigation and will protect your home, alongside other aspects of your home’s architecture such as gutters. You can consider green roofs for the flat surfaces on your roof. The lower temperature on your roof will lower the temperature of your home. Green roofs will improve both the functionality and curb appeal of your home.
Clay and Slate Tiles
You can treat both these tiles using reflective coatings. The lighter color will ensure better energy efficiency. If you are living in warm climates, you can use clay shatter. Slate is hard and can be the right option for any type of climate.
Metal
Metal gives the impression of a hot environment. However, the metal can make your roof cool if you treat it to make reflective. You can also buy light colors for a better result. These properties are ideal to make aluminum, copper, and steel roofs energy efficient.
Sprayed Polyurethane Foam (SPF)
Sprayed Polyurethane Foam will not come in the environmental-friendly category. It is synthetic. However, it is considered best for insulation. It will protect your house from the heat and will save the energy cost around fifty-eight percent.
Thermoplastic Olefin/ Polyolefin
This ethylene propylene rubber coating can offer flexibility, energy efficiency, and durability. The benefit is that it will work in all the weather conditions. It can also withstand normal wear and tears.
Bottom Line
Although there are many different options for when it comes to choosing the most energy efficient roof material and color, it’s important to know the unique characteristics of each type of roofing in order to get the most out of it. Some of the roofing options include: green roofs, clay and slate tiles, metal, sprayed polyurethane foam, and thermoplastic olefin/ polyolefin.