Too often, when homeowners are selecting a roof, they neglect to consider the color. The color of metal buildings can have serious impacts on the roof’s energy efficiency. Temperatures of the top floor of a building can swing by anywhere from 20 to 40 degrees simply based on the color of the roof. This can drive up energy consumption by 20 percent, leading to greater utility bills. Therefore, it is critical for every homeowner to know how the color of a metal roof can impact energy consumption.
Black versus White Metal Roofs
Darker colors tend to absorb light, soaking up its energy and passing it to the area underneath. In contrast, white colors will reflect UV radiation and sunlight away from the roof. As a result, on a sunny day, a black roof will tend to get anywhere from 10 to 15 degrees warmer than white roofs. In contrast, when the sun goes down, black roofs are going to cool off much more quickly than white roofs. At night, the overall temperature of black and white roofs tends to be similar. The greatest difference is when the sun is shining. This can play a role in how much the HVAC unit runs during the summer and winter.
Summer Colors
During the summer, a lightly colored roof is going to absorb less sunlight. This means the top floor of the building is going to stay cooler. As a result, the air conditioning unit is going to run less frequently. This leads to less AC use and lower energy bills. In contrast, a dark roof is going to cause the top floor to warm up. This means the AC unit will have to work harder to cool off the building. This will cause energy bills to rise.
Winter Shades are Important
This pattern is flipped during the winter months. When the temperature drops outside, homeowners would like their house to stay warm. A darker roof is going to soak up as much sunlight as possible. This will help the building hold its heat more efficiently. As a result, the building’s heater will not have to run as often. In contrast, a lighter roof will not soak up the sun’s rays. This means the heat dissipates from the building more quickly. Then, the heater will run to make up for the difference. This can drive up utility bills.
Roof Quality is More Than Just Color
The color of the metal roof is only one of the many factors that will influence the energy efficiency of a home. Some of the other factors that homeowners need to consider include:
- The material used to make the roof (such as asphalt, metal, or rubber)
- The orientation and slope of the roof
- The quality of the roof’s ventilation system
- The elevation of the roof itself
It is critical to make sure your house has a high-quality roof that can handle the wear and tear of every season. Call us today for a no-obligation quote on your next roof installation, upgrade, or repair. We provide high-quality, personalized service that we will tailor to meet your individual needs.
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