Whether you’re building a new home, restoring an older home, or it’s just time for a roof replacement, installing an energy-efficient roof that will stand the test of time is a high priority. Sustainable, energy-efficient roofing can reduce your energy bill, boost your home’s resale value and have a positive impact on the environment.
Energy-efficient roofing systems
You have more options for energy-efficient roofing materials and designs than ever, so it can really pay off to invest in the one that works best for your home. Some of the more popular options here in North Carolina include:
1. The Cool Roof
A cool roof is made with reflective, lighter-colored materials that reflect sunlight. Summer temperatures on a traditional dark roof can soar to 150 °F plus. Switching to reflective roofing materials can cool the roof down by at least 50 °F, which significantly lowers a home’s reliance on air conditioning. This helps homeowners save significantly on their summer electric bills. Homes with cool roofs can reduce average local temperatures and reduce strain on local electric grids. When power plants don’t have to work so hard, they also pump less pollution into the environment, which makes installing a cool roof a good idea for your home and the community.
2. Residential Solar Panels
Instead of reflecting sunbeams away from the roof, residential solar panel installation can turn them into clean, efficient electricity, helping you reduce your reliance on the electrical grid long-term. Strong demand for residential solar panels, continuing improvement in the technology, and falling prices for the panels puts this roofing option in reach of more homeowners than ever before.
3. The Green or “Garden Roof” Option
Many North Carolina homeowners are looking into the “garden roof”. Green “garden roofs” are usually installed on a modern flat roof or low-slope roof using a waterproof membrane covered with soil and plants. These roofs help manage storm water, improve air quality, reduce fire risk and cut energy bills by improving insulation for both hot and cool months of the year.
Tips for an Energy-Efficient Roof Design
Combining one or more of the above energy-efficient roof ideas with smart design and engineering can further your energy savings and positive environmental impact:
1. Insulation
Insufficient insulation can waste a huge amount of heating and cooling energy in any home, so this is one of the first places to look for improving energy efficiency.
2. Ventilation
Ventilation under the roof prevents heat and moisture from getting trapped in tight spaces, reducing summer reliance on air conditioning. It also prevents condensation from turning into mold and moisture that can create health problems and property damage.
3. Energy Star Roofing Materials
Look for Energy Star and sustainable roofing materials. When considering sustainability, homeowners also need to think about the energy and resources going into the finished product, as well as the final home energy savings:
- Metal roofing - Although metal conducts heat, metal roofing often comes covered with a reflective-coating. It’s highly durable and attractive too. But it’s important to focus on good ventilation and insulation, as well as choosing metal roofing brands with a high-recycled metal content.
- Clay tiles - Clay tiles have been manufactured for roofing for thousands of years, and with today’s technology they are highly sustainable, durable and can be customized with tints and reflective coatings that reflect heat away from the roof.
- Concrete tiles - Like clay, concrete can be manufactured, molded, colored, shaped and coated to form a long-lasting, highly-durable, fireproof roofing material that saves energy.
- TPO for flat and low slope roofing - The highly reflective surface of TPO roofing exceeds the energy star requirements with white, tan, and gray color options.
- Asphalt shingles—A wide array of asphalt-based shingles exist on the market, many of which contain some degree of recycled materials and reflective coatings.
With so many energy-efficient roofing options, many of which are becoming far more affordable, your home can make a positive impact on the environment while also saving you a lot of money on electric bills.
At Pickard Roofing, we think Design. Craft. Renew. We are experienced in all types of roofing systems- and provide the right roofing design and selective craftsmanship for renewing our customer’s assets. We invite sustainable building customers to give us a call for your free evaluation. For over 90 years Pickard Roofing Company has installed countless metal, tile, slate, TPO, EPDM, and all types of shingle roofing in the Triangle. Our services including residential, commercial, custom architectural metal fabrication, and historical renovation.
