Roof Color And Energy Efficiency

Energy star the most energy efficient roofs also have high emittance.

Roof color and energy efficiency.

The color of the shingles you choose for your build can have a significant impact on the building s energy efficiency. Most places are moving in a green direction. Here are the roof materials to think about for maximum energy efficiency. This is known as the albedo effect and many studies have documented significant energy savings from simply lightening the color of a roof.

While lighter colors are inherently more heat reflective roofing materials have a much larger impact on roofing energy efficiency than their colors do. In general lighter colors will reflect the heat while darker colors absorb it. Lighter roof colors will reflect more of the sun s energy while darker colors tend to absorb heat which can then transfer to attics where it can seep down into the home. The roof area is covered with greenery either grass or plants protected from the house by coverings that allow irrigation.

Attic temperatures can vary as much as 20 to 40 degrees f which in turn can reduce energy consumption by 20. The most energy efficient roofing products have a high solar reflectance meaning that they reflect the sun s energy back into the environment rather than absorbing it reflective roofs can reduce the temperature on the surface of the roof by as much as 30 percent which means that less heat gets into your home source. Green roofs also provide insulation lower the need for heating and cooling and can reduce the urban heat island effect. A study done by the united states forest service compared the temperature of plywood sheathing under different colored shingles.

Green roofs sometimes called living roofs are exactly that. 1 cool your roof cool roofs are lighter in color than traditional black asphalt or dark wood shingles and save energy by reflecting light and heat away rather than absorbing them. The color of a roof also plays a part in whether the roofing is energy efficient. Many regions have requirements for energy efficiency in new construction and metal roofing has a wide range of options and energy star ratings for meeting building codes.

A darker energy star rated roof will usually outperform a lighter roof that isn t designed with efficiency in mind. Green roofs are best for flat surfaces. 6 go for energy efficiency certain colors and roof types can insulate your home to help you cut back on energy costs. You will want to consider the color of your roofing materials for more than aesthetic value.

White roofing isn t always green.