Energy saving homes allow us to enjoy reduced heating/ cooling costs and better thermal comfort. Opting for energy-efficiency is a responsible solution and a way to consume fewer resources and combat climate change.

Do you want to live in a house that contributes positively to the quality of the environment? Then you should consider renovating your home to improve energy efficiency. These efforts will contribute to reaching climate goals, as you gain more control over your energy consumption and even enjoy cheaper utility bills in the process.

There are several ways to make your home more sustainable and reduce energy consumption, one of them being through the use of energy-efficient roofing materials. Now, there are three types of roofing designed with energy efficiency in mind: green roofs, white roofs and roofs with solar panels.

For owners of buildings in hot and dry climate, one of the simplest and cheapest ways to significantly reduce energy consumption is to paint their roofs in a light color (white is the best), but how about those who live in cold climate areas? Which option offers them maximum benefits?

A recently published study gave a complete assessment of the life cycle of energy-efficient roofs located in different areas. The first place was taken by solar roofs, the second place – by green roofs and the third place – by white roofs. The study considered not only the energy efficiency of the roof, but also the way the roof affects air quality and human health as well as its overall impact on the environment, including: the production, transport and installation of the roof and the presence of toxic chemicals used in the fabrication process.

White roofs are quasi-inefficient in cold weather because, although they reduce the cooling requirements in houses situated in warmer climates and extend the life of the building, they increase the heating costs.

Green roofs are much more efficient in this regard. They reduce the need for heating and cooling, improve air quality and reduce problems caused by pluvial water. Other benefits include:

• Increasing the life of the waterproofing insulation
• Ecosystem diversity
• Better water drainage
• Improved air quality
• Reducing the greenhouse effect
• Increasing thermal comfort and energy efficiency
• Better sound insulation
• Reducing stress level

Solar roofs are the most efficient solution because they produce clean energy, and the more they work, the faster they compensate for any harmful emission produced during their manufacturing and transportation. Solar roofs reduce considerably the amount of natural resources used for heating buildings during the cold season and reflect heat during the summer months, reducing the need for cooling the indoor air.

Improving the thermal insulation and transforming the roof into a complex system, which also includes solar energy recovery equipment (used for heating water and producing electricity) is a must in the current environmental context. More and more manufacturers of roofing systems already started to produce photovoltaic panels besides regular roofing materials, or use the photovoltaic technology to produce solar shingles that can replace successfully regular shingles and provide energetic autonomy to a building.

For additional information regarding energy efficient roofing, you can rely on trusted roofing Ellicott City contractors for knowledgeable and experienced roofing and customer services.