Whether it’s raining, the sun is scorching, or it’s a winter wonderland outside, you depend on your roof to keep your home comfortable and dry. However, an old or energy-inefficient roof can hike up energy prices and make it hard to keep temperatures under control. If you’re worried about your roof’s efficiency—or are weighing the benefits of installing a brand new roof—we’ve rounded up some of the biggest benefits of an energy-efficient roof.
1. Energy-Efficient Roofs Save You on Energy Bills
Saving money on your bills is a perk that might make investing in an energy-efficient roof worth your while. Your home won’t need to work as hard to regulate indoor temperatures, reducing the need to use your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system as frequently.
According to ENERGY STAR, investing in an ENERGY STAR-certified roof is so energy-efficient that you can reduce your home’s peak cooling demand by as much as 10 to 15%.
2. They Have Better Temperature Control and Sun Protection
Believe it or not, your roof plays an important role in temperature control inside your home. The hot summer sun can be brutal, and your roof takes the brunt of it like a bad sunburn on the hottest of days.
Shingles and other roofing materials contribute to the SPF factor of your home. A higher SPF rating means that more of the sun’s rays are reflected away from your home rather than absorbed. This solar reflectance is what makes your new roof cooler than traditional roofs.
To put that into perspective, ENERGY STAR-certified products can reduce the surface temperature of your roof by as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Your air conditioner won’t need to work as hard to maintain indoor temperatures if your roof isn’t scorched by the blazing sun.
3. These Roofs Provide Ventilation
You may think of replacement windows, door weather strips, and proper insulation of windows and doors as the major players in the energy efficiency game. A proper roofing system that includes the correct insulation and ventilation, however, also can have a significant impact on the efficiency and climate control of your home.
For one, a good ventilation system allows hot air to circulate out of your house. Hot, moist air rises, and the last thing you want is to have moisture trapped in the attic and insulation of your home, where mold and mildew can build up. Plus, all that buildup can bake your roof from the inside, weakening the material.
4. Energy-Efficient Roofing Systems Provide Extra Insulation
In the winter, the opposite is true of ventilation; the last thing you want is an airy, ventilated roof. You want to keep your home comfortably warm during the colder times of the year. And, because heat rises, your roof needs the right amount of insulation to keep the warmth indoors. An energy-efficient roof is better insulated than conventional roofing, helping to prevent your heating system from working overtime to compensate for heat loss.
5. They Can Prevent Ice Dams
When winter comes, dealing with the ice and snow can be a major pain! But having to deal with ice dams on an insufficient roof is a whole different matter. Ice dams form when heat escapes from the interior of a home through the roof. Ice and snow at the center of the roof begin to melt, and the resulting water drips down toward the eaves, where it refreezes as it contacts the snow and ice collecting at the edges.
An ice dam can weigh down components of your roof or gutter system and damage it. They may also cause any water that does not refreeze to seep through the roof if you don’t have a local pro remove the ice dam.
Preventing a problem is always easier than fixing it, and an efficient roofing system will save you money in costly damages from an old and inefficient roof. Energy-efficient metal roofs with a waterproof coating offer the best prevention against ice dams. These roofs allow snow and ice to slide off more easily.
6. Some Energy-Efficient Roofs Are Eligible for Federal Tax Credits
Of the different energy-efficient roofing options (more on these in a second!), solar roofs, energy-efficient metal, and asphalt roofs may just make your brand-new roof eligible for receiving federal tax credits.
According to ENERGY STAR, a government-supported program dedicated to promoting energy efficiency, tax credits for metal and asphalt roofs include 10% of the cost of your roof or up to $500, installation not included.
To qualify, your metal or asphalt roof must:
- Be ENERGY STAR-certified
- Have pigmented coatings (if metal), or
- Have cooling granules that reduce heat gain (if asphalt)
Solar roofing is eligible for even more tax credit savings because solar roofing technology uses solar energy and is, therefore, a form of renewable energy. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy states that any solar roof systems installed between now and 2022 will receive a 26% tax credit, and systems installed in 2023 will receive a 22% tax credit.
Call ShenCorp Total Roofing Services
At ShenCorp, we service areas such as Winchester, VA, Charlottesville, VA, Waynesboro, VA, Richmond, VA, and other parts of the mid-Atlantic region. In that time, we have become the leading choice for industrial and commercial roofing services like commercial protective roof coatings for customers throughout Virginia. Give us a call today, and let us know if you’re interested in trying to make your home/roof more energy-efficient.