Materials for our roofs are basically the same that's why we rarely change them
, but now there are energy efficient roofing shingles that can be purchased to help our environment. The type of roof may vary depending on where you live. If you live in the Northeast you have asphalt shingles, but if you live in the South you may have ceramic. Green roof technologies are also available in cities where homeowners benefit from park life roofs. Picking the right roof for your home is challenging.
The U.S. spends about $40 million on air conditioned buildings that is why there is a need for more energy efficient materials to be marketed.
Buildings that are constructed commercially focus on construction costs and operating efficiency thus a white roof is a suitable answer. Recently, homeowners have been able to find roofing shingles that are energy efficient and still look like a normal roof. These roofs concentrate on the effects of the sun on the home. It either reflects sunlight to minimize the heat or captures sunlight to convert into energy.
Certain Teed, a building manufacturer sells a solar reflective asphalt roofing shingle that have advanced colored granules that reflects sunlight and minimizes the roof's temperature by as high as 20% during the summer. The Energy Start Site has a list of products that are eligible for the energy tax credit of 2009-2010 with this product being included. This site has also devised a roofing comparison calculator that helps you calculate the savings you will get if you purchase these energy efficient roofing materials.
Here are some facts to think about energy efficient roofing materials:
* These materials can only save you money if you have air conditioning because the costs will be lowered, although you will have a cooler home.
* The savings you make depends on the square footage of the floor that is covered by the roof. It is the space that will require less air conditioning.
* Although savings will be made due to the less demand of your air conditioning, your heating requirements will increase. The calculator gives us an account of the savings we make for the both.
* The calculator will take into account the insulation that your roof has. Insulation lessens the loss of heat or cold air in your roof. Solar shingles lessens the heat and the need for ventilation in your attic which is a common problem.