What color roof is most energy efficient in Ocean County?
If you are wondering this question then the odds are that you are going to replace your roof within the next few months to a year. A short and simple answer would be that lighter colored roofs are more energy efficient compared to black roofs. The answer isn't as simple as that however since there are other aspects of the home which will determine how much energy is being used for heating and cooling. We will discuss what these aspects are within this article and whether a lighter colored roof will actually make a noticeable difference in the amount of energy you use at the home.
Generally speaking the color of the roof will in fact make a difference for the overall temperature of the shingles and the temperature of the attic. An attic space can vary as much as 15 degrees depending on the color of your shingles and the quality of the material. This means that If you have a black roof for example that the attic could potentially be 15 degrees warmer on a hot summer day compared to a roof that was grey. There are however other factors which will be of more influence in regulating the temperature of the home such as insulation and proper ventilation in the attic. You may ask “why do the majority of homes have a black roof then?” which there are two common answers.
The first response to this question is that the majority of all attics across the country and state of NJ are heavily insulated and designed to release hot air through ventilation systems. Professionally installed ventilation systems and insulation keep the majority of heat from entering the home in the summer months when the temperature gets hot. This means that even if your attic is 15 degrees warmer due to a dark colored roof, if you have the proper amount of insulation you won't notice a huge difference in energy bills (energy efficiency). However if your insulation has not been replaced for 30 years then you may notice a large increase in energy costs to both heat and cool the home which would not be very energy efficient.
The second response to the question is that balck shingles tend to be the most common type of roofing material due to the affordability and durability for the cost. These black shingles almost always match the color of any home which makes it more appealing compared to a grey or brown shingle. Generally speaking black shingles are the most common in the country and have a long lifespan of 20-25 years. Darker colored asphalt shingles tend to be more affordable compared to a “modern” grey shingle which means the cost you save on energy efficiency may be offset by the increased price of grey shingles. In most homes the reason energy bills keep rising are due to leaving windows and doors open, constantly changing the temperature and keeping the temperature too low.
Black shingles may get hotter in the summer but they also help stay warm in the winter months and will melt ice and snow on the roof more than a grey or brown shingle. Since these shingles absorb more heat from the sun this will keep the home a little bit warmer in the winter months which may help lower the heating bill during the wintertime. It is also understood that darker colored roofs help water from rain evaporate faster which will result in less water damage and mold.
Some shingles may be more energy efficient compared to others but it is important to consider everything such as insulation, attic ventilation, curb appeal and lifetime expectancy of the shingles. Be sure to pick colors that fit your home well, if you need any help with picking out new shingles be sure to give our Ocean County roofers a call today.
Generally speaking the color of the roof will in fact make a difference for the overall temperature of the shingles and the temperature of the attic. An attic space can vary as much as 15 degrees depending on the color of your shingles and the quality of the material. This means that If you have a black roof for example that the attic could potentially be 15 degrees warmer on a hot summer day compared to a roof that was grey. There are however other factors which will be of more influence in regulating the temperature of the home such as insulation and proper ventilation in the attic. You may ask “why do the majority of homes have a black roof then?” which there are two common answers.
The first response to this question is that the majority of all attics across the country and state of NJ are heavily insulated and designed to release hot air through ventilation systems. Professionally installed ventilation systems and insulation keep the majority of heat from entering the home in the summer months when the temperature gets hot. This means that even if your attic is 15 degrees warmer due to a dark colored roof, if you have the proper amount of insulation you won't notice a huge difference in energy bills (energy efficiency). However if your insulation has not been replaced for 30 years then you may notice a large increase in energy costs to both heat and cool the home which would not be very energy efficient.
The second response to the question is that balck shingles tend to be the most common type of roofing material due to the affordability and durability for the cost. These black shingles almost always match the color of any home which makes it more appealing compared to a grey or brown shingle. Generally speaking black shingles are the most common in the country and have a long lifespan of 20-25 years. Darker colored asphalt shingles tend to be more affordable compared to a “modern” grey shingle which means the cost you save on energy efficiency may be offset by the increased price of grey shingles. In most homes the reason energy bills keep rising are due to leaving windows and doors open, constantly changing the temperature and keeping the temperature too low.
Black shingles may get hotter in the summer but they also help stay warm in the winter months and will melt ice and snow on the roof more than a grey or brown shingle. Since these shingles absorb more heat from the sun this will keep the home a little bit warmer in the winter months which may help lower the heating bill during the wintertime. It is also understood that darker colored roofs help water from rain evaporate faster which will result in less water damage and mold.
Some shingles may be more energy efficient compared to others but it is important to consider everything such as insulation, attic ventilation, curb appeal and lifetime expectancy of the shingles. Be sure to pick colors that fit your home well, if you need any help with picking out new shingles be sure to give our Ocean County roofers a call today.