Did You Know? Cool Roofs Help You Save Energy and monthly bill

It’s May, which means it’s time to start thinking about things you can do to cut your energy use this summer and reduce utility costs. If you’re into energy-efficiency, then you probably already know about how you can save energy by installing energy-efficient lighting or washing your clothes in cold water. But there’s also something you can do to your roof that can have a big impact on your cooling costs, and we’re not talking about installing a radiant barrier.

We’re talking about cool roofs, those white-painted roofs you may have seen if you’ve ever been to the Mediterranean or watched a program about it on television. Cool roofs have been used to cool homes since ancient times in places like Greece and are becoming popular here in the U.S. in places like New York, California, and Hawaii. Cool roofs offer several benefits:

• Reduce your monthly electric bills by decreasing the need to use your air conditioner to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature
• Improve the comfort of spaces in your home that aren’t air-conditioned
• Extend the life of your roof by decreasing its average operating temperature

But making your roof cool isn’t just about painting it white. In fact, there are all sorts of ways to turn your home’s roof into a cool roof, as well as a few questions you should ask to make sure a cool roof is right for you.

For more information about whether you should upgrade to a cool roof and what your options are, contact a cool roof professional in your area.

Do you already have a cool roof? Drop us a line in the comments below and let us know what you did and how it’s working for you.

Sources

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, Cool Roofs.