Did you know that nearly half of your electricity bill is spent heating and cooling your home?
Many Texas homes are made of brick to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. That doesn’t matter if you have the wrong kind of roof.
Energy efficient roofing materials can keep your home well-insulated and help you cut utility costs.
Keep reading for the best types of roofing to save you money on energy bills.
Metal Energy Efficient Roofing
Metal roofs are one of the best ways to save money on electricity. Metal makes for a highly reflective roof, beaming the sunlight up and away from your home.
Installing a metal roof can save you up to 40% on your electric bill each month.
Metal roofs are also extremely durable. They’ll hold up well against the hail and windstorms that are common in Texas.
Another advantage of metal roofing is being able to use recycled materials. If you’re environmentally conscious, a metal roof could be perfect for you.
Although metal roofs can be pricey, it’s worth it for all the money you’ll save on electricity each month.
Slate Roofing
A slate roof is one of the most common energy efficient roofs installed today. Slate is naturally reflective and will keep the sunlight from baking you in your home.
Slate’s one of the most popular roofing materials because of its lifespan. Depending on the type of slate, it could last for up to 200 years.
The best thing about slate is the many colors it comes in. You can choose a light color to reflect more sun, or choose a color that matches your home’s aesthetic.
Because of its durability, the likelihood of needing repair is very low. Slate tiles will save you money on electricity, but it will also save you money on damage repair.
Clay Roofing
Clay roofs or “Terra cotta” tiles are another great material for an energy efficient roof. They’ve been a choice roofing material for thousands of years.
Terra cotta tiles are just clay heated in a kiln for maximum hardness. Because of the lack of porous material, terra cotta is great at reflecting heat away from your home.
The unique shape of clay tiles is pretty, but also practical. The curvature allows air to flow through, which prevents most heat from being trapped under the tiles.
Terra cotta tiles will make your home stand out while saving you money each month.
Energy Star Shingles
If you’ desire a more traditional look for your Texas home, energy efficient shingles are perfect for you.
Energy Star rated shingles reflect solar energy. This will keep most of the heat out and reduce the amount of energy used on air conditioning.
Energy Star shingles also last longer than normal shingles. The reflecting properties keep them from aging fast in the heat and sunlight.
Concrete Roofing
Using concrete as a roofing material is more popular with commercial buildings. It’s cheap and easy to install and repair.
It takes a long time for concrete to heat up. This makes it a prime material for roofs in hot climates like Texas.
The lack of heat absorbed will keep your building cool even on the hottest summer day. Saving on your electricity bill isn’t the only benefit of concrete roofing.
Because concrete is so durable it will withstand hail, wind, and rain damage. It also does a great job of preventing leaks and pest problems in your building.
Living Roof
You’ve heard of a living room, but have you ever heard of a living roof? They’re one of the coolest options for energy efficient roofs.
A living roof, or a green roof, is a roof that’s covered in plant life. Covering your roof in plants of all types limits the amount of heat absorbed by your home or building.
Because the plants don’t reflect the heat, you eliminate the risk of reflecting heat to other homes and buildings around you.
With a living roof, you can save money on electricity and give back to the environment at the same time.
Rubber Roofing
Speaking of unconventional roofs, rubber is a great material for energy efficient roofing. Rubber roofs are highly absorbent, so they keep the heat out of your home.
A rubber roof won’t only save you money on electricity, it’ll save you installation costs and repair fees. They are cheap and easy to install while being extremely durable in bad weather.
Rubber roofing is another easily customizable roofing material. It comes in many colors to fit your home or building perfectly.
Rubber roofing should last anywhere from 20 to 30 years depending on the weather it faces.
Roof Coating
If you’re happy with the roof you have but you still want to save money, you have a few different options. The first of which is coating your roof.
Roof coating is like sunscreen but for your house. It will protect your roof from the sun and all types of weather.
You’ll want to apply a reflective roof coating to avoid absorbing heat into your home or building. There are several types of coating you can use; some people even coat their roof with cooking oil!
Roof Underpinning
Another way to make your roof energy efficient without changing the roof itself is a roof underpinning.
Roof underpinnings are made with a special reflective material. It’s installed between the inside of your home and the roof itself.
An underpinning is easy to install and will keep your home or building well-insulated.
Raise the Roof
By now you’re well informed on the many types of energy efficient roofing. All that’d left to do is choose what’s best for your Texas home or building.
Fitz Roofing would be delighted to help you save on your electricity bill. Visit Contact us and we can provide an energy efficient roof perfect for your needs.
