Growing Demand for Energy Efficient Roofing

Metal roof energy efficiency

Across the streets and suburbs of Canada’s largest city, Toronto, there is a patchwork of roofs, many of which are topped with asphalt shingles. Asphalt shingles are not only abundant – they represent more than 75% of the roofs installed across North America – but they have traditionally been the bread-and-butter of the roofing industry.  However, as these aging conventional roofs near the end of their useful lives, something is changing. Homeowners are showing growing awareness of the long-term benefits of energy-efficient metal shingles roofing, and a quiet shift is underway toward an increased embrace of sustainability in the very near future. It is far more than just a trend – it is about finding eco-friendly cheap roofing solutions.

 

What makes a roof energy efficient?

Solar Reflectance Index of different roof colours

An energy-efficient roof is well considered down to the last detail, starting with individual materials, their colours, coatings and an understanding of thermal masses. In combination, all these contribute to lower energy consumption. 

  • The material chosen for the roof will form the basis for the building’s energy consumption: this includes not only the light absorption qualities of the material itself, but also new materials having reflective properties or reflective coating treatments. The temperature of the building will lower if the solar radiation is not absorbed by the roof surface, but instead reflected. This is very important as the temperature of the roof surface will notably impact the entire building. 
  • The colour of the roofing material will play a decisive role because various shades of colour reflect different portions of the solar spectrum. This meaning that lighter and brighter shades will reflect a greater part of the sunlight, reducing a building’s need for cooling, and keeping its roof surfaces cooler. 
  • The Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) is a measure of this effect and considers both the material’s ability to reflect sunlight and thermal emittance. As a rule of thumb, the higher the SRI of roofing materials, the greater the resistance to solar heat absorption. 
  • The thermal mass also has an impact on how much heat is absorbed by the product and subsequently released, affecting the interior temperature of a building. 
  • The right combination of attic ventilation and roofing insulation will remove the accumulation of heat and allow proper control of temperatures. 

Energy-efficient roofs will therefore predominantly help reduce the need for cooling and heating inside a building. 

Metal Roofing with Solar Integration

Metal roofing, for example stading seam with solar integration is one of the highest energy-efficiency roof technologies, as the combination of the two uniquely takes advantage of the best features each has to offer and provides a natural synergy. It optimizes the value of metal roofing through the use of solar, which is a renewable energy enhancement. 

solar panels on a metal roof - the most energy effective solution

The long life, high reflectance and durability of metal roofing have been widely applauded for half a century or more, but combining it with solar delivers the added benefit of renewable energy production. 

Through solar, metal roofing adds significant value, benefitting the roof (and the remainder of the building) for decades to come. Given the market and directional motivation for renewable and even ‘net-zero’ buildings, why not just install a solar pack without a roof? The answer is simple: you first need the metal roof, and metal roofing is exceptionally strong, withstanding both the environments and more than half a century of usage on many buildings in North America. This includes the weight of solar packages and will never allow the panels or framing to cause damage to the roof structure. 

More important is the fact that the metal roof is highly reflective, resulting in less heat gain beneath the roof. This subsequently results in a lowering of the roof temperature and area over the period of daylight, providing a cooler environment that allows solar panels to operate at higher efficiency. 

In this way, the metal roofing contributes to producing more power from the solar panels, which is the primary goal of combining the two elements. This combination maximizes the energy production of the roof while also reducing the consumption of non-renewable energy to produce that electricity, saving money right away and contributing to a lower carbon footprint, which is the very essence of green and net-zero buildings. No matter how the industry may try to sell them, flat roofs are not green. Our lifestyles are expensive enough without driving up electricity costs unnecessarily. Metals are the most sustainable option.

Are Energy-Efficient Roofs More Expensive?  

metal roof cost

At first glance it is likely that energy efficient roofs are more expensive for the home owner and installer, due to a higher initial purchase price. After all, energy efficient roofs are made with cutting edge technology and specialized materials. This includes reflective coatings, new types of insulating material and solar technologies that are integrated into the roof. But when we start to look at it from a long term perspective, the story shifts dramatically. 

Based on a span of 50 years, the investment in an energy efficient roof is economically positive, with the homeowner gaining all the investment back and more. The primary reason is that the energy efficiency of the roof reduces energy expenses by providing less heating in summer and less cooling in winter. This reduction reflects in the energy bill that the homeowner has to pay each year. If you multiply that value on a yearly basis, the savings associated with having an energy efficient roof are substantial compared to a non-insulated conventional roof. 

Especially if you take the lifespan of the energy efficient roof into account. Since they are more durable than other roofs and don’t need to be replaced every 10-15 years, they are more cost effective in financial terms. Together, these two factors make energy efficient roofs one of the great investments you can make in your home.

Do energy efficient roofs reduce energy bills?

metal roof weather resistance

The energy-savings benefits from energy-efficient roofs is very real, and their benefits are measurable, which makes them very appealing from a financial perspective. 

When you replace the roof with an energy-efficient one, it saves so much energy that you can keep your house at a better temperature, and the [utility] bills are much less. 

As 25-year energy-efficient roofing expert Malcolm Lindsay says: “Homeowners say metal roofing has helped them cut their energy bills by up to 35%. If, for example, a homeowner previously paid $250 a month for electricity, then after installing an energy-efficient metal roof, his bills will drop by 30-35%. Thus, the annual savings will exceed $900. This is a significant amount for the family budget”.

An energy-efficient roof can keep the interior of your house cool, even in the sweltering heat of every summer and save you hundreds on your energy bills. This is because energy-saving roofs reflect the solar heat instead of absorbing it, meaning that they keep homes cooler during hot weather. And in winter, this kind of roof also insulates the home so that warmth doesn’t escape as easily, leading to lower heating bills.  

What is the best roofing to reduce heat?

energy efficient metal roofing panelsFor these applications, white roofing products are the best available option for limiting the amount of solar heat absorbed into the building, with stronger impacts on a building’s energy performance. White roofs typically remain 60 to 90% cooler when in direct sunlight than do darker surfaces. They will reflect more of that solar energy back into space, and less of it will be absorbed into a building, which can lead to improved indoor comfort. This characteristic of white roofs is what truly separates the energy-performance benefits of cool roofs from simply broad, energy-performance benefits of energy-efficient roofs. 

Any cool roof is, by definition, an energy-efficient roof, since cool roofs by definition reflect more of the sun back into space and, in doing so, naturally absorb less and sequester less heat into buildings. 

Yet not all energy-efficient roofs are cool roofs, since energy-efficient roof products can offer a broad array of features (up to and including high solar reflectance values) that, when combined, increase the efficiency of the buildings in which they are deployed. 

A clear distinction between the two roofing categories is that the specific cooling benefits of an energy-efficient white or light-coloured roof are directly attached to elements that clearly reduce the urban heat island phenomenon as well as lower cooling costs in hot weather. No other energy-efficient roof materials can promise the same dual benefits of being cool for the individual in buildings and cooling for the community in cities.

Main Benefits of an Energy-Efficient Roofs 

metal roof recyclability

Environmental Impact Reduction. Some are superb at mitigating carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere: green roofs combate urban air pollution as part of the year-around photosynthesis done by their inhabitants. 

Durability and Longevity. Most are longer lasting than the roofs that they replace (a common issue with roofs is that many homeowners cannot afford to replace them as they eventually need to). They might not even need replacing very often, which will save a lot of energy and resources on producing roofs for buildings, and a lot of energy on dumping the roofs removed in landfills. 

Recyclability. Many of the modern sustainable options are recyclable: this will save resources on producing more roofs as well. Ultimately, this all leads to less waste in landfills and less wasted energy in production.

Benefits for contractors

The most obvious is the benefits it offers to roofing contractors as a competitive edge. 

Competitive Advantage. By providing a roof with eco-friendly attributes, the contractors can appear unique and attractive in a crowded marketplace. In fact, this environmentally responsible attribute appeals to a growing segment of the population when considering making home improvements, including roofing decisions. I call this eco-conscious segment of the population because they are willing to spend more on such products because of the long-term environmental and financial advantages. 

Reduced Maintenance and Repair. Another advantage associated with the improved efficiency of sustainable roofing is the reduced maintenance and repair required to maintain the roof in peak condition. Reduced maintenance and repair measure result in increased homeowner satisfaction and good word of mouth for the roofer and the material. 

Installation Efficiency. In fact, durability of roofing solutions, such as a metal roofing, also reduces the demands on installation aesthetics,since the attractive part remains for a much longer period of time. This benefit also affords roofers to get the job done more quickly and conveniently compared with traditional roofing solutions. 

The cumulative benefits of energy-efficient and sustainable roofing, shown above,cast an umbrella of benefits ranging from improving building performance and reducing the environmental footprint to providing exciting business advantages to roofers.

energy savings on a steel roof

Final thoughts

Finally, it can be said that the switch to energy-efficient roofs is a massive progressive shift in the construction industry and roofing world because of the joint initiative of environmental responsibility and economic benefits. 

Incorporating cutting-edge materials, functions, and tools, including technology, energy-efficient roofs do offer a lot of benefits in different aspects: 

  • an enormous reduction in energy bills, 
  • creation of pleasant and comfortable indoor atmosphere,
  • and a significant reduction in carbon emissions. 

In other words, for homeowners and building managers, this investment will not only be a means of participation in a greener world but also long-term savings. 

For roofing professionals, there is one more reason to consider using eco-friendly roofs: it’s a progressive way to distinguish their services from others, meeting the expectation of eco-conscious consumers and building a sustainable built environment.

 In conclusion, what seems to be a new trend in building and construction right now, the energy-efficient roofs won’t stay just a charming choice for environmental protection. Energy-efficient roofs are the most beneficial step towards a greener future today.