How does Roof Color affect your Atlanta homes energy bill?
Here in the South, a darker colored roof is most common. Black, dark grey and brown being those dark colors. As we all know dark colors absorb light and light color reflect light. Think of an asphalt road in the middle of summer after a storm. All that steam from the road is the heat built up in the asphalt evaporating the water. Same kind of heat build up occurs with your roof.
The question really is how much heat builds up and how much affect it has on your Atlanta homes cooling cost. The difference between a dark colored and light colored roof in the middle of summer is about 10 to 15 degrees in your attic. So what does that come out to cost wise? Well, that has more to do with your homes insulation and attic ventilation.
Needless to say that the cooler the temperature in your attic the less it will cost to cool your home. But the color of your roof is only one of three variables in that problem of cooling down your attic temperature.
Most homes don’t have enough insulation and improper attic ventilation. To greatly reduce your homes cooling cost all three issues most be addressed. The color of your Atlanta roof material can affect your energy bill but only so much like 10 percent. While dealing with all three issues can reduce your bill by 30 or 40 percent.
What if I don’t want a light color roof on my Atlanta home?
Shingle manufacturers have come up with what the industry calls cool roofs. These shingles, which come in many common and desirable colors, reflect the sun’s solar rays reducing heat build up in the shingles.
There are other benefits to cool roofs as well. Not only does your dark colored roof heat up your home but also the area surrounding your home. When you put together a neighborhood of homes, the temperature of the entire area increases. Now think of the affect city wide. Cool roof shingles reduce this affect as well. If many people reduced there energy usage cooling there home then a large amount of energy consumption is alleviated.
What if I don’t need a new roof on my Atlanta home?
If you have a dark colored roof and want to decrease your energy bill, get an Atlanta roofing contractor to check your attic ventilation and insulation. Improving both of these areas will help with energy cost and extend the lifespan of your roof.
Regular roof maintenance can spot storm damage from hail and high winds, find leaks before addition damage is created, and extend your roofs life expectancy. A qualified Atlanta roofing contractor will inspect all aspects of the complete roof system. If you are having a new roof installed, choose an experienced and dependable Atlanta roofer who will do the job accurately and precisely. Your new roof is only as good as its installation.
