White Roofs Can Reduce Energy Costs

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Painting building roofs white is a movement that's slowly catching on in big cities. A light-colored roof reflects light, rather than absorbing it, a function that can significantly reduce energy costs. And when air conditioning use is decreased, the amount of carbon emissions released by the units falls, too.

White roofs are a trend that's catching on for commercial use, especially in large metropolitan areas like New York City. One of the significant drawbacks is that white roofs show dirt, wear and tear much faster than their dark countertops, meaning that maintenance is required on a more frequent basis.

You may not have noticed many homes with white roofs in your area, but they are available. Some roofing companies offer a white composite roof tile, which has a similar aesthetic to Spanish-style tile.

If you live in a hot, sunny area, investing in a white roof may be a great way to decrease your energy costs. Your roof won't require as much maintenance as a commercial building.

Another benefit of white composite roof tiles? Some offer longer warranties than traditional asphalt shingles and roof coatings, another factor that may help you justify the significant investment of a new roof.

Would you consider a white roof, or do you prefer a more traditional look?

Photo courtesy of www.whirlwindsteel.com

 

 

  • White color attracts cooler air..

  • I just required some information and was searching on Google for it. I visited each page that came on first page and didn’t got any relevant result then I thought to check out the second one and got your blog. This is what I wanted!
     

  • I think this is a nice idea since white makes anything look cleaner or fresher. Saving on electricity can be difficult, and the little things we do can mean a lot in achieving energy conservation. My house for example, has white exteriors to reflect sunlight during the day. :)

  • Well, the reason why white rooves can reduce energy costs is because they have the ability to deflect heat, unlike dark colors which absorb heat. Not only that, white rooves also looks cleaner and cool to the eyes.

  • It's nice to know that some white paints may help reduce cost in your home. White paints on roofing gives simple appeal to your home. Maybe this is the reason why some of us want white paints on their exterior.
     

  • Gary

    I'm looking at a metal roof for my home, over top of asphalt shingles/. What are the cons of a white or very light roof? One contractor showed me the range of solar reflectance for the metal roofing he sold. The lights are of course much higher than the dark greens or reds that people in my area choose for their metal roofs. Does a light roof get dirty and look soiled after a short time?

  • Hi Gary - It really depends on the roofing material regarding the the soiling issue of a white roof. I believe the sun will have have a more detrimental effect to a roofs color than dirt will. Even a painted white metal roof will suffer some discoloration over time due to the sun.

    All roof types need maintenance including those painted white.

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