Three ways your roof can save the planet and your wallet
Did you know that an energy-efficient roof is one of the best money-saving resources for your home? Because the roof of your home is exposed to the sun more than any other part of the house, an energy-efficient roof can save you hundreds of dollars every year on your electric bills. Rooftop temperatures can heat up past 150 degrees, and during an Arizona summer, the temperatures will only continue to rise. If your roof isn’t made of the best materials for the climate you live in, this heat can transfer into your attic and ultimately, into your home. Let’s examine a few ways your roof can help cool down your home and lower your energy bills this summer.
Use the Best Materials for Your Climate
What is your current roof made out of? There are definite differences from one type of roof to another. Roofs can have a multitude of reflective, cooling and UV protective properties, in addition to options that cater to affordability. Here are a few pros and cons of common roofs to consider:
- Metal roofing
- Highly reflective
- Thermal emitting
- Durable against UV rays
- More expensive
- Tile roofs
- Allow air to flow under the tiles
- Highly reflective
- Naturally thermal resistant
- Comes in light colors
- More expensive
- Asphalt shingles
- Comes in darker colors
- Absorb heat instead of reflecting it
- Require more insulation maintenance
- Affordable
Install Solar Panels
Solar panels are an excellent option to reduce energy usage and minimize your power bills over time. These money-saving panels use energy from the sun to create power, meaning no expensive electricity for your property. Utility companies rely on sources like coal, oil and natural gas to power homes across the country, and homeowners may notice rising electricity costs in our current economy and as the years go by. When solar panels are installed, they will generate electricity directly to your home, in lieu of pulling electricity from the grid.
Add a Reflective Coating
While the initial material your roof is created from can affect the temperature of your home, adding a reflective coating can help to add an additional barrier to combat energy consumption, as well. These coatings work similarly to wearing a white shirt instead of a black shirt on a hot, sunny day. The white shirt keeps you cooler and more comfortable while the black shirt attracts heat, overall making you feel hotter. A cool roof using reflective roof coatings is a monolithic, watertight, sprayed application that gets installed directly on top of your existing roof membrane. Reflective roof coatings are excellent for reducing energy consumption by keeping the attic and home cooler, thereby reducing the need to run the air conditioning as much!
If you’re interested in a roof that’s going to save you money this summer in Arizona, American Roofing & Waterproofing is your trusted roofing company for the job. Book with us for your next energy-saving roofing project!
