Your roof is arguably the most vulnerable part of your home in terms of keeping it warm in winter and cool in the summer. In winter, heat in your home rises and can escape through your roof if it is not sealed properly. During summer, the heat beating down on your roof can warm your home, forcing you to run your air conditioner more often.
However, there are solutions readily available for homeowners. The ENERGY STAR commission has released advisory tips for technologies to consider installing in your roof in order to help you save money. If you have any questions regarding making your roof more efficient, speak with an expert Colorado Springs roofer to learn more!
Emissivity and the EPA
In order to receive an ENERGY STAR rating from the EPA, a roofing material must meet solar reflectance values both when it is brand new and after it has aged a significant amount of time. But there is currently one other statistic that has a lot to do with the efficiency of your home which does not influence the ENERGY STAR rating: emissivity.
In short, emissivity is the amount of heat that a surface absorbs, which can then find its way into your home. If you choose to install a roof with very high emissivity, it will reflect most of the light and heat that hits it, thus keeping your home cooler in the heat of summer months. With winter coming, many people may actually opt to choose a low-emissivity roof, which may actually help absorb heat during cooler months and keep your heating bill down.
Proper Insulation Saves Energy
Insulation is vital to keeping the often very different temperatures on the inside and outside of your home separated. Old or worn-out insulation that has been in use for many years can lose the ability to limit heat transfer, thus increasing your energy bills. This can happen in both hot and cold weather. An easy way to significantly reduce your heating and air conditioning bills is by having your roof checked for leaks and having an ENERGY STAR compliant insulation material properly installed by an expert roofer.
EPDM Roofing Systems
For those who have low-slope roofs, an EPDM coating may be a very effective way of keeping heat out of your home in the summer months. EPDM is a synthetic rubber coating membrane that is highly durable when exposed to the elements and has been shown to reduce the roof temperature in sunlight between 30-40% compared to a traditional black membrane.
Are you looking to improve the energy efficiency of your home? The expert roofers at Divine Roofing, Inc. may be able to help. Our staff of roofing experts are highly-trained in the latest materials and installation techniques to make your roof last longer, perform better, and cost you less. We are a Factory Certified GAF Master Elite™ roofing contractor, meaning we can help you and your home by installing some of the highest-quality roofing materials on the market today.
Call our award winning roofers in Colorado Springs today by dialing (719) 497-1005 and schedule an estimate for your home!