What if I told you there was an easy way to increase the durability of a new roof, reduce cooling costs, and fight against urban heat islands?
There is, and with new developments in residential roofing, it is easier than ever to include it in your new roof planning.
Let’s take a close look at cool roof systems.
What Is a Cool Roof?
Cool roofs incorporate materials and colors that offer increased solar reflectivity. They reflect light — visible, infrared, and ultraviolet wavelengths — and also offer higher thermal emittance, better radiating the non-reflected and absorbed solar energy.
In the past, the only way to install a cool roof was to use a white roof or another color shade that would reflect the sun. Today, roofing products provide the benefits of a cool roof, like higher thermal emittance and solar reflectivity, even in darker shades like browns and dark greys.
What Are the Benefits of a Cool Roof?
A typical roof made of a dark-colored material like black will absorb solar energy. It can raise the temperature of the roof as much as 100˚F.
That heat absorption can cause several problems, including increasing your cooling bills as your air conditioner must work much harder to compensate. The high temperatures can increase the wear and tear on your roof and make your house more uncomfortable. Those high temperatures on the roofs of houses and buildings also cause urban heat islands.
Reflecting solar energy away before it increases the roof temperature has several benefits:
-
Decreased peak electricity demand. Homes with cool roof systems need less electricity to cool, especially during peak demand times like summer when everyone is looking for relief from the heat. This can also significantly reduce energy consumption, which in turn can reduce pollutants.
-
Decreased air pollution. Cool roof systems better reflect solar energy, so heat isn’t trapped in urban areas. This means less energy use for cooling, more comfort in cities, and less smog as air pollutants often form in higher temperatures.
-
Lower roof maintenance costs and waste. Heat can increase the deterioration of roofing materials, which means you need to replace the roof more often, causing waste and higher costs.
-
Increased comfort and home safety. Reflecting solar energy and reducing high temperatures that form when heat is trapped in the home makes the occupants more comfortable. Hot spots in the home can also be dangerous to people and animals.
-
As we look for ways to reduce energy use and be more environmentally conscious, cool roof systems are an easy option for home and building owners.
What Are Examples of Cool Roof Systems?
Beyond just a white or light-colored roof, there are stylish and appealing options for cool roof systems, including:
-
CertainTeed’s Landmark Solaris shingles. These offer higher solar reflectivity, increased protection against the elements, as well as algae resistance features.
-
CertainTeed’s Presidential Solaris shingles. With a range of darker options to choose from, you still have the durability and energy efficiency you expect with a cool roof system.
-
If you have questions or want to discuss options for a cool roof system, contact and consult your local CertainTeed dealer. They can review available products as well as other energy-efficient and environmentally friendly roofing alternatives.