How Can I Save Money from the Roof over My Home?

Many things can help a homeowner save money on their energy bill and a lot of them revolve around the type of roof and/or insulation used in the ceiling and attic of the home. Everything from the materials used to the color of the roof can help lower the amount of energy needed to heat or cool a home. The roof on your home is very important to ensure structural integrity of the home and protect your investment from the elements but it can also serve to save you money on the cost of energy spent to heat it or cool it.

New technologies are being developed everyday to make roofs more energy efficient. These technologies include active thermal mass components, subventing, radiant barriers, and reflective pigments and coatings among other. These technologies have revolutionized the roofing industry. These techniques works by reducing attic temperatures and therefore reducing the amount of energy spent to cool a home in the summer. On average, these new applications of technologies can reduce attic temperatures by about 22 degrees Fahrenheit throughout a typical summer afternoon. They can help reduce the amount of heat that is transferred through the roof and attic floor and into the living space of a home.

Energy Costs

Roofs with lighter colors help reflect more of the sun’s energy thereby reducing the amount of the sun’s heat absorbed by the roof and transferred into the attic and living space of the home. Dark grey shingle roofs absorb more of the sun’s heat there by keeping your home warmer and increasing the amount of energy needed to keep it cool. White metal and white cement tiles can reflect ten times more of the sun’s energy and that translates into a lot less energy needed to keep your home cool during hot summer days. The color of your home’s roof can save up to 23 percent of the annual cooling cost. Insulation in the attic or ceiling also helps lower the cost of heating your home in the winter.

You may qualify for a tax credit if you use qualified ENERGY STAR reflective roofing products to replace your roof. In order to qualify for the roofing write off tax credit, the roof must be installed on your primary residence and expected to last 5 years or have a 2-year warranty. It is estimated that ENERGY STAR reflective roofing materials can lower the cost of cooling a home by as much as 15%.

Impact-Resistant Roofs

Impact-resistant roof are another way home owners can save money. More damage is done on roofs of American homes by hail and hurricane debris than any other natural disaster. New technologies and developments in impact-resistant roofing materials help reduce the damage and expense caused by the impact of hail and hurricane debris on a roof. These impact –resistant roofs can help a homeowner save money on repairs and in the cost of insuring the home.

Some of the more popular roofing materials include:

- Asphalt Shingles (Organic and Fiberglass)

- Wood Shingles and Shakes

- Clay or Concrete Tile

- Slate

- Metal

- Synthetic