There are a lot of decisions and choices to make as a home or business owner, especially when it concerns the construction of your house. This ranges from the roofing, the type of roofing system that would serve you best, the cost implications, the safety, the durability, and the energy efficiency. Whether you’re contemplating on repairing, replacing or having a roof overlay, there are a lot of options to consider. However, it’s important to weigh your options, and also consider other factors that might affect you. Some of the factors include the climate of the area, the type of aesthetic you would like to have, and the energy efficiency features of the roof. This article is focused on the various common energy efficiency roofs that are available on the market, including their advantages and disadvantages.
Energy Efficient Roofing Materials To Use
A lot of people prefer to use energy efficient roofing materials. People do this for various reasons, such as to cut cost, especially when it comes to energy, and also for environmental conservation. The reason for choosing to make use of energy efficient roofing materials doesn’t matter, because it’s definitely a good step in the right direction. There are various energy efficient materials that are used in making roofs. Below are some of the common ones:
- Green roof: Green roof, also known as the living roof is one of the most energy efficient types of roof. It’s a flat roof in which plants and grasses are grown on a roof. This roof is protected with a membrane which also gives room for irrigation. This type of roof will naturally and effectively cool the living space below to the extent that you might never have a need for air conditioning units. This roofing system that some European countries subsidize the installation. Green roofs have a lot of benefits which includes the following:
- They help to reduce urban heat. They do this by absorbing the heat
- They significantly help to improve the roof’s insulation value.
- They help in reducing the cost of heating and cooling.
- They increase the lifespan of roofs by up to 3 times.
- Slate and clay: Slate and clay are roofing materials that are popular for their energy-efficiency. They are sometimes also referred to as green roofing materials because they occur naturally. Slate and clay work well in weathers such as hot, cold and wet. However, clay tiles are best in warmer climates, since they can break easily, especially under heavy hail conditions in colder regions. On the other hand, slates are tougher than clay tiles and can be used in any climate. Some of the advantages of slate include the following:
- They can be easily recycled and reclaimed.
- They can be disposed of off safely as they are biodegradable.
- They help to cut down energy cost.
- Metal roofs: Metal roofs are some of the most common roofing materials. Some of the metals used in roofing includes copper, steel aluminum and so on. Metallic roofs are mostly because of their energy efficiency, and this is why they’re popular in warmer regions, such as Africa. Metallic roofing materials have colors that reflect the sun’s radiation, thereby keeping the living space below cool, even without the use of cooling machines. In addition, it’s possible to gather rainwater, and snow falls easily on this type of roof. Below are some of the advantages of metallic roofing materials:
- It’s durable, especially when well installed and maintained.
- It has the ability to withstand natural elements such as snow and high winds.
- Energy sufficient: Metal sheet can be produced from recycled materials.
- Resistance to fire: It has proved that metal roofs are less prone to fire damage
- Spray roofing: This is one of the most energy efficient roofing systems in the market. This type of roofing system provides excellent insulation, and also water-resistant properties, with the use of spraying roof. This type of roofing system involves the use of sprayed polyurethane foam on roofs, to form roofing systems that are not breached at any point. The foam is formed when two different chemical liquids mix at a spray nozzle and the resultant mixture solidifies on the rooftop. The mixture has to be protected with an elastic coating which can facilitate expansion and contraction, especially in hot and cold weathers.
- Thermoplastic polyolefin: Commonly referred to as TPO, this is a type of single-ply membrane. The roof is covered with various thermoplastic polyolefin parts which are welded together to form a single covering. This type of roof is very resistant to ultraviolet radiations, ozone, and chemical exposure. In addition, thermoplastic roofing has a long lifespan. They typically last for more than 2 decades. Other characteristics of this type of roofing include its ability to resist punctures, fire, chemical, and high winds.
What Are the Types of Energy Efficient Roofing System?
There are various types of roofs that are energy efficient. The different types of energy efficient roofs have different looks and features that make them effective for a specific climate. As an illustration, there are some energy efficient roofs that are more effective in tropical regions that have only two main seasons, which are the wet and dry season. On the other hand, there are energy efficient roofs that work well in regions that can 
handle winter, which includes a lot of snow, and so on. All these must be put into consideration when deciding on which type of roof to go with.
Below are some of the common energy efficient roof options:
- Asphalt shingles
- Shake shingles
- Metal roofing
- Tile roofing
- Slate Roofing
The things energy efficient roofs share in common is solar reflectance and emittance. These are the necessary features that make roof energy efficient. Energy efficient roofs reflect the sun’s energy and release the energy into the surrounding air, which keeps the living space below cool. Other factors that also play a role include the color. The color is one of the factors that determine if a roof is energy efficient or not. Lighter colors tend to reflect more of the sun’s energy, while darker colors do absorb heat. This is why it’s important to consider the color of your roofing materials for more than aesthetic value.
The decision of choosing energy efficient roofs usually boils down to two popular options, which are a shake or asphalt shingles.
These two types of roof are the most popular and energy efficient roof shingles. On the one hand, shake shingles are durable and can withstand natural elements such as strong wind, storms, tornados with little or no damage. They are also highly energy efficient, as they give room for better air circulation in the home. In addition, they also have a high aesthetic value. However, they can be a lot to maintain. The woods and mildew used in making this type of roof are prone to rot and decay, especially in areas that receive a lot of precipitation and humid environments.
On the other hand, asphalt shingles are cheaper to maintain, are equally energy efficient. They also exist in several colors, which makes them unique. The downside to asphalt shingle is that they can be easily damaged by storms and wind. They are also prone to the growth of algae.
References
Insurance | NRCA, National Roofing Contractors Association. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.nrca.net/roofing/Insurance-631
Roof system types | Everybody Needs a Roof. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.everybodyneedsaroof.com/roof-system-types
Roofing. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.angieslist.com/roofing/
The Best Roofing Contractors Near Me (with Free Estimates). (2019). Retrieved from https://www.thumbtack.com/k/roofing/near-me/
