30 May What Makes An Aluminum Roof Energy Efficient?
One of the most common comments from our past customers is that their home is kept cooler by their new aluminum roof. For some folks before they become customers, that concept seems counter-intuitive. But, every day, owners of aluminum roofs are saving up to 20% and sometimes even more on their electric costs due to a reduced need for air conditioning.
So, how does that work?
There are several things which add to the energy efficiency of an aluminum roof. We are going to do a series of blog posts which explains it all.
The first fact we want to discuss concerns the reflective pigments in the coatings on our aluminum roofs. These pigments block radiant heat. Radiant heat is the heat when you stand inside your home next to a window and feel the sun warming you.
For many years, homeowners in hot climates have known that white roofs keep their homes cooler. This is thanks to the reflectivity of white and similar light colors. But, homeowners avoided dark colors for their roofs because dark colors absorbed radiant heat.
However, starting a few years ago, reflective pigments were developed which reflect radiant heat even in dark colors. This is special military technology that is used to hide vehicles and weapons from radar.
By installing a metal roof with reflective pigments in the coating, your home will be kept naturally cooler in hot weather. Products that utilize this technology are often Energy Star listed.
Please watch for future blog posts where will further discuss roofing and energy efficiency.