When it comes to creating an energy-efficient home, it helps to take a holistic approach. Most energy consumption in the home comes from heating and cooling. By designing your home to passively reduce the amount of heating and cooling you need, you can save money on your monthly energy bills – and help save the planet, too.
These principles apply to all buildings, not just the home. We have to look at the building envelope – everything that keeps the outside climate out, and the indoor climate in. That includes walls, the foundation, doors, windows, and, of course, your roof.
So what’s the most energy-efficient roofing option? A seemingly simple question, the answer is incredibly complex. It depends on the climate in your area. It depends on transportation-related logistics. It depends on how your local power company handles solar energy.
We’re going to attempt to address all of these points in this guide – while there’s no definitive most energy-efficient roofing option, we’ll help you find the most energy-efficient option for you.
Let’s get started.
Cool roofs are cool – but consider your climate
In warm climates, you need a cool roof. There are a variety of different types of cool roofs available, and they all share an important feature – they’re designed to reflect the sun’s rays. This often involves a coating of reflective paint, though reflective tiles and sheet coverings can also do the trick.
Cool roofs are beneficial in the summertime in all but the coldest climates. In colder areas, you’re better off getting a roof that absorbs the sun’s rays – lower reflectivity becomes a boon.
Generate your own power with a solar roof
Looking to get a new roof and upgrade to solar panels? You can opt to do both – solar shingles are an increasingly popular material for roof construction.
Solar shingles have pretty impressive longevity – about the same as that of solar panels. They can last 20-30 years – though they haven’t been around for that long, so manufacturers are mostly making an educated guess. Compare that to the 15-20 year lifespan of classic asphalt roofing, and it’s clear that you’re better off going solar.
Not everyone will see the full benefit from solar shingles, however. You’ll need to check with your utility to see if they offer net metering or another power purchasing scheme, otherwise excess power you produce will be wasted.
Comparing roofing materials
There are many different types of roofing materials, but all of them offer fairly similar levels of protection against the elements. They’re all energy efficient on a small scale (though there are certainly differences between them) – in light of that, it can be helpful to look at whether or not they’re efficient on a macro scale.
Take for example asphalt roofs, which are incredibly common. They’re a fine roofing system, and they’re inexpensive, but producing them creates a ton of greenhouse gases. What’s more, they can’t be recycled, and they typically only last for 15-20 years.
Compare that to metal roofs, which can last 40+ years, can be recycled, and are often made from recycled metals. Slate roofs are also long-lasting, and are made of natural stone in a process that emits few greenhouse gases. There’s even bamboo roofing, a low-cost, durable alternative to other materials that can be used in certain climates.
You can also compare where your roofing materials are coming from – talk to your contractor to see where the materials are sourced from. The nearer they are to your building, the fewer emissions are produced transporting them.
As we mentioned, there are differences between these types of roofing that go beyond longevity. The cost to replace a metal roof is higher than the cost to replace an asphalt roof, and bamboo roofs require different care than slate roofs.
These differences aside, however, roofing materials mostly do the same job – though metal roofs can be particularly nice in very warm climates. The real difference between energy efficiency depends on how you insulate.
The importance of insulation
The main factor that will affect your roof’s energy efficiency is how well insulated it is. Modern insulation techniques involving cell foam insulation can drastically improve your roof’s energy efficiency.
When you’re looking into getting a new roof, talk to your contractor about how they’ll insulate it. You’ll also want to consider replacing your old insulation. Keep in mind that damage to your roof can lead to damaged insulation, so make sure to get roof repairs as soon as you need them.
Green roofing
We’re going to finish this article off with what might be the most energy-efficient form of roofing on the planet – green roofing.
Now, green roofing is expensive, but the payoff is totally incredible. The most basic definition of a green roof is any roof with vegetation growing on it – that means you’ll need a method to grow the vegetation, and a way of diverting the water away from your home in the form of a waterproof membrane.
A green roof will keep your home warmer in the winter, and through evaporative cooling, it will keep your home cooler in the summer. Green roofs go beyond that, too – they actually reduce the heat island effect of cities. If everyone had a green roof, the temperature in cities would drop by several degrees.
So what’s the most energy-efficient roofing option? A well insulated roof – and, we’d argue, a green roof if you can do it. Solar tiles are another excellent option, but you can install solar panels around your home without needing to use roofing space. You could even do a combination solar panel/green roof.
We hope this has helped you better understand the roofing options that are available to you. You can save money, save the planet, and give your building a unique look. Happy roofing!
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