Can a new roof help save on energy costs?

Tired of energy costs that always seem to be going up?

More than half of all the money homeowners spend on energy each year goes to simply heat and cool their home, with an estimated $40 billion spent annually to keep us cool in the summer and warm in the winter. That adds up to a sixth of all the electricity generated in the United States.

However, for a lot of homeowners, these energy costs are (literally) going through the roof. Inefficient roofs account for upwards of 20-30 percent more spent on heating and cooling than necessary. Not only does this overage cause environmental waste, but it also stretches homeowners’ budgets well beyond what’s needed.

Here are a few things to consider to lower energy costs and ensure your roof is as energy-efficient as possible.

Increase insulation.

Adding insulation to your existing attic is the fastest way to increase the energy efficiency of your home. Insulation creates a barrier that both keeps out more hot air in the summer and traps warm air in the winter.

When re-roofing your home, talk with your roofer to make sure you are adding in an adequate amount of insulation. If you aren’t ready for a new roof (or if it isn’t needed), roofers can add insulation into your attic at any time. Turner Roofing provides a free estimate to see if your energy efficiency would be improved with additional insulation. Lower energy bills could start next month after a simple insulation upgrade to your attic.

Choose a shingle color with energy efficiency in mind.

Have you ever owned a black car during the summer? And have you noticed how hot it is to touch – or get inside? The same principle is true with shingles. Look for energy-efficient shingles in solar-reflecting colors. These shingles reduce the heat that is transferred from the exterior of the roof to the interior of the attic.

And, here’s a bonus, energy-efficient, solar-reflecting shingles last longer because they are engineered to stay cooler helping them not age as quickly as traditional shingles. Read more about how to pick the right shingle.

Add ventilation to lower energy costs.

When discussing the needs of your roofing project, have your roofer review your roof’s ventilation. Outside air is crucial to stopping your attic from becoming overly hot during warm weather months. Without proper ventilation, the heat from the attic can ruin roof decking and shorten the life of your shingles. An un-properly ventilated attic can even make your HVAC system work harder, shortening its life, as well.

Your roofer can suggest ways to increase the ventilation of your roof like installing additional intake or exhaust vents. Proper ventilation will help keep energy costs down and will help ensure better aging of your roof so that it lasts longer.

Use Energy Star roofing products.

Talk with your roofer to make sure all products planned for your new roof have the highest Energy Star rating. In fact, according to Energy Star, Energy Star shingles can lower the surface temperature of a roof by up to 50 degrees, which decreases the amount of heat transferred into a home or building. This lowered roof temperature translates into a 10-15 percent reduction in the amount of air conditioning or heating needed to maintain a home.