Make Your Roof Energy Efficient

Having an energy efficient home tends to dredge up thoughts of installing energy efficient windows, adding insulation or putting solar panels on the roof. But the reality of going green at home doesn't have to include expensive and slow returning energy efficient home improvements. In fact, just by starting at the top (your roof) you can create three cheap energy efficient home improvements that can save you tons of money each year on energy savings.

Be Cool

While you may already be as cool as a cucumber; your roof could use some help. The older your shingles are, the less energy efficient they become. Aging shingles lose their granules and fiberglass after time. This exposes the black-colored asphalt or organic felt to the surface. As the shingles get darker, they absorb more sunlight and get hotter, decreasing the energy efficiency of your home.

But you don't have to replace all of your shingles. Replacing shingles can get pretty expensive but by adding a layer of cool coating or elastomeric paint onto your aging shingles, you can extend the life of your shingles while reducing solar gain and heat retention. And all of that transfers into your roof making you money. Learn more about cool roofing paints and cool roofing materials at the Cool Roof Rating Council.

Be Sustainable

In some cases, your old roof just might be beyond a quick and cheap fix-reroofing is inevitable. Before you slap on another layer of asphalt shingles, consider the options of installing eco-friendly roofing materials.

Metal roofing may be a more expensive roofing material than asphalt shingles, but its green features outweigh the costs and actually saves money in the long term. A metal roof could result in as much as a 30 percent decrease in your homes energy consumption rates. Another benefit of metal roofing is it ages very slowly. A metal roof will outlive you. A typical metal roof will last easily over one hundred years. Before you buy any roofing, learn more about sustainable roofing materials from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Flip Side

When we think of going green on the roof we neglect to remember that there is a flip side to your roof. The plywood, joists and attic space are the first areas that are affected by an overheated roof. Insulating the backside of your roof can deflect radiant solar energy, stop air leaks and trap your hard earned energy where it belongs-in your home.

Cell foam or spray foam insulation sprayed onto the existing roof can significantly decrease your homes heating and cooling costs. But don't get "green-washed" with a closed cell foam product that can be poisonous to the environment. Check out the difference between spray foams here and be informed before you buy.