How can energy-efficient roofing reduce your utility costs?

If you seek to cut your utility bills, boost your home's resale value, reduce your carbon footprint, qualify for tax savings, or all of the above, energy-efficient roofing is the answer. We made this article for those ready to switch to a greener roofing material for the sake of environmental protection and personal saving. Read on to learn how cool roofing can save you thousands of bucks in the long run.

Table of contents

1. What is an energy-efficient roof?
2. What types of energy-efficient roofs are available on today's market?
3. What to know about the average energy-efficient roof costs?
4. Entrust your energy-efficacy roof installation to professionals

What is an energy-efficient roof?

More than 70% of American homes are built without energy-saving roofing in mind. The accent is made on affordability rather than long-term rewards. However, this tendency may change in the upcoming years as government incentives, together with rising utility costs, make people turn to green roofing solutions. And if you're wondering how energy-efficient roofs function, you're on the right track to conscious energy consumption.

Cool roofing is a system that reduces the power consumption of the structure beneath it, maintaining an optimal temperature inside the premises. Roofs of this type reflect UV rays, not letting heat absorb into the house. 

The essential factors that affect an energy-efficient roof's ability to prevent heat transference are ventilation and solar reflectance. The latest is estimated with the solar reflective index, putting together emissive and reflective qualities of roofing into a number from 0 to 100. The higher the roofing SRI number, the better its cooling performance and vice versa. 

According to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory research, the solar reflective index that rises from 25 to 40 can lower the roof surface temperature by more than 13 degrees. As a result, better roof reflectivity and thermoregulation reduce the load on the HVAC system, translating to a 20% saving on electricity.  

If you seek to lower your energy consumption, you need to install static or electric vents used to ventilate the roofing cavity. These systems draw cool air into the roof, pushing the hot air upwards and out of the ridge vents. Besides, they may collect the warm air in the attic and blow it back into your house.

What types of energy-efficient roofs are available on today's market?

There is an extensive list of roofs with the Energy Star rating. While they all possess excellent energy-efficient properties, there might be a definite difference in their lifespan and performance. Here's a quick review of what you need to know about roofing materials that can save you a good deal of money on electricity.

• Metal roofing

Metal roofs come in multiple variabilities, from lightweight aluminum to durable copper and cost-effective steel. This roofing is considered one of the most energy-saving for residential applications as it has a long service life and excellent resistance to heat and the elements. Metal coated with reflective pigment can decrease your monthly electricity bills by 25-40%. Besides, metal roofing is 100% recyclable and serves from 50 to 150 years, depending on the selected type.

• Tile roofing 

Tile roofs are constructed to allow air to circulate between the overlapping tiles, creating airspace that acts as an additional insulation layer between the deck and roofing coverage. Besides, they reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat, keeping the optimal temperature inside the home. The longevity and weatherproofing of tile roofing will depend on the selected material. Slate is a record holder material with average longevity ranging from 150 to 200 years. Its clay and concrete counterparts have lesser years of useful life yet still bring multiple advantages to homeowners. 

• Asphalt roofing

Asphalt roofing is universal, cost-effective material used by homeowners with different budgeting and needs. You can come across ordinary and energy-efficient shingles that vary by their properties, service life, and cost. Cool asphalt shingles are coated with special granules with a high solar reflective index that decreases heat absorption. They keep a temperature of a roof surface low, regulating the climate inside the home. 

• Solar shingles

When we talk about state-of-the-art energy-efficient types of roofs, solar roofing is at the forefront. This relatively new technology blends solar potential, aesthetics, and durability. Solar roofing is an excellent alternative to traditional PV panels as it is an all-in-one solution that enables harnessing free sun power and protecting your property from the elements. It resembles conventional asphalt shingles and looks elegant on pitched roofs. Each solar tile produces up to 63 watts of energy, covering around 70% of the home's electricity needs. 

What to know about the average energy-efficient roof costs?

Long-lasting roofing materials with unmatched insulation and heat resistance properties usually require higher investments than non-energy-efficient analogs. However, they add to the property's resale value and allow to save big on electricity in the long run. These roofs pay for themselves over time and make you eligible for federal and state tax credits.

Here is the cost breakdown of roofing varieties with energy-efficient properties.

When calculating the total cost of installing energy-efficient roofing, remember that this type of roofing can bring you immediate rewards in savings on monthly electricity costs. You can expect to lower your utility spending by as much as 25%, which equals $370 annually for the average-sized one-story home.

Entrust your energy-efficacy roof installation to professionals

Let's face it, nobody wants to repair their roof a few years after its replacement, especially when it comes to costly roofing projects. It is not only the roofing material's quality that matters but the way it is installed. Big gaps between panels, misused vent taps, poor nailing job, incorrect flashing mounting - the list of typical roofers' mistakes is endless. And if you don't have a valid workmanship warranty, you should expect to spend extra on hiring another roofing crew to fix the occurred issues. It does not sound like a reasonable distribution of the home improvement budget that can bring a return on investment. That is why you should always pay considerable attention to selecting local roofing professionals. With MyHomeQuote, it takes as little as 2 minutes to get price quotes from verified individual roofers who operate in your metro area. We check the track record of roofing specialists we cooperate with to ensure you get unmatched services for your hard-earned money.