It’s human nature to want what we don’t have. For instance, if it’s hot outside, you yearn for the cold— and if it is cold out, you crave the heat. There are ways, however, to beat the weather in both the late summer and upcoming fall season: all you need to do it look up.
Your roof is the main contributor to the temperature maintenance in your home, and you guessed it, your heating and cooling units work on overdrive to compensate for your roof’s shortcomings. Besides using your air conditioner less, there are many other things you can do to lower energy consumption— and more importantly, lower your power bills.
It’s proven that there is a 3-5% increase in energy use for each degree lower you set your thermostat in the summer, and the statistic is similar for raising the thermostat in the cooler months. It is likely that you have received high electric bills this summer, and if you live in the Southeast, your bill may have averaged around $451, reports the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The U.S. household electric bill for June through August totaled around $395 last year, which substantiates electricity prices rising by an average of 2.2% this year. Avoid another season of staggering utility bills and consider these tips for a new, cooler roof.If you’ve ever stood on a roof on a hot summer day, you know how hot it can get. The heat from your roof makes your air conditioner work even harder to keep your home cool. By installing a cool roof, you can lower the temperature of your roof by up to 50°F and save energy and money by using less air conditioning. Cool roofs make spaces like garages or covered patios more comfortable, and they are becoming widely accepted by communities nationwide.
Additionally, making these changes for the summer also helps to prepare your roof for fall weather— proper insulation and ventilation assist in effectively keeping cold air from coming into your home during cooler weather in the same way that it keeps hot air from entering in the summer.If you take care of your roof, your roof will take care of you. Consider making an upgrade to your roof, and you will find yourself actually enjoying the current and upcoming seasons instead of wishing they were over.
Cooling Your Roof
If you are building a new home or considering upgrading your current roof, there are a few important things to consider. The roof and attic are a system that should work together, and there are five key ways to have these cooperate in your home.
Oftentimes, light colors are considered less desirable for roofing, but this is a stigma that roofing expert Jason Bonner from Atlanta’s Bonner Built Roofing plans to squash. Bonner describes Estate Grey and Driftwood shingle shades in Owens Corning’s Oakridge and Tru Definition lines as high-end, natural and attractive fits for any home.
Energy.gov details that retrofitting the roof with specialized heat-reflective material can have quick and extremely positive effects on your home’s energy consumption.
Re-cover your roof with a new waterproofing surface is helpful regardless of the season. This cost-effective option not only improves how your roof handles heat, but also protects it from the elements.
Bonner explains that adding twenty inches of insulation can be a relatively simple and cost effective upgrade. It prevents hot air from coming into the home and will also trap cool or warm air inside the home, so your heating and cooling units don’t have to work as hard. He claims insulation to be a crucial factor in keeping your attic and roof functioning properly.
