If you're looking to install a new roof, it's wise to invest in an energy-efficient option. As the name suggests, this type of roof can lower your home's overall energy consumption, thus helping you save money in the long run. But before you make the investment, it's important to do your research so you can choose the right roofing product for your needs. Here are some things you probably didn't know about energy-efficient roofing.

1. What Makes a Roof Energy-Efficient

While this term gets thrown around a lot, you might not know exactly what makes a roof energy-efficient. The concept behind an energy-efficient roof is to make it easier to control your home's interior environment. This reduces the burden on your HVAC system, allowing it to meet your home's cooling or heating needs without consuming too much energy. Energy-efficient roofs possess two main qualities that allow them to do this.

First, they have high solar reflectance, meaning they can reflect the sun's rays or solar heat. They also have high thermal emissivity, meaning they can release any heat absorbed back into the surroundings. This helps keep your home cooler during summer. According to Home365, cool roofs have better heat insulation and can, therefore, reduce peak cooling demand by 10% to 15%. In the winter, energy-efficient roofs also prevent air leaks, ensuring that heated air does not escape easily from your home.

2. The Energy Star Label Is Important

Energy Star is a government-backed label, and it has become the gold standard for all things energy-efficient. When shopping for an energy-efficient roof, look for the Energy Star label. Roofs that qualify for this label have met specific requirements in terms of initial solar reflectance, maintenance of solar reflectance, and reliability. The good news is that Energy Star roof specifications are not restricted to a specific type of product. Therefore, you'll have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of roof options, such as asphalt shingles, single-ply membranes, roof tiles, and roof coatings.

3. Not All Roofing Materials Are Alike

Although it's possible to find a wide variety of roofing materials that are considered energy-efficient, keep in mind that some products tend to be more energy-efficient than others. For instance, you can opt for energy-efficient asphalt shingles. Tile and slate roofing are also highly energy-efficient and offer impressive thermal emissivity. The right roofing material matters if you want a roof that performs optimally for maximum savings.

4. Your Choice of Color Matters

Perhaps you already know that dark colors are better at absorbing heat than lighter colors. This is information you can use to your advantage when investing in an energy-efficient roof. Generally, darker roofs are better for colder climates as they will help keep your home warmer. On the other hand, light-colored roofs are the best option for warmer climates. A light-colored roof does a better job of reflecting the sun's energy, keeping your home cooler. Knowing the right color for your roof will maximize energy efficiency and save you a considerable amount on your energy bills.

5. Ventilation and Insulation Are Part of the Equation

Proper ventilation and insulation contribute to the overall energy efficiency of your roof. Proper ventilation ensures that air can circulate freely in your attic space. On the other hand, lack of ventilation means that trapped, heated air has nowhere to go. This interferes with the interior temperatures, making it harder to keep your home cool. Therefore, you need to ensure that there are intakes that allow cool air from outside to enter your home and exhausts that allow hot air to leave the attic space. You should also make certain that the attic space is well insulated. Insulating the attic helps keep your home warm during winter, so your HVAC system or furnace has less work to do. This insulation helps reduce your heating bills in winter, while ventilation keeps your cooling bills lower during summer.

Knowing everything there is to know about energy-efficient roofs will help you choose a roof with a high return on investment. Energy-efficient roofs can pay for themselves over time. Once you understand all the important aspects of energy-efficient roofing, you can make an informed decision that will save you energy and money in the long run. Get in touch with our team at Dolly's Roofing, Inc. to discuss your roofing project. We look forward to hearing from you!