Making your home more energy efficient is great for a variety of reasons. You can help the environment, save money on your energy bills, and increase your home’s resale value. And a great place to start improving your home’s energy efficiency is with the roof.
You might think it will be too costly to make any significant changes, but there are a range of options for different budgets, and even implementing one can make a substantial impact on your home’s energy efficiency. Read through our advice to making your home more energy-efficient, beginning with your roof.
Keep to Cool Colors
Just like with a black car or black clothing, when you have a dark-colored roof, it will absorb heat from the sun and become much hotter than the outside temperature. In summer, when it’s already hot enough, this added heat will make your air conditioning have to work extra hard to keep your home cool and comfortable enough for you and your family.
Using cool roof techniques and solar reflecting colors can help to reduce the heat that your roof absorbs. The materials you can use for this include paint, tiles, shingles, and sheet coverings, so depending on the level of energy and investment you want to make, there are plenty of options.
If you’re already getting a new roof, replace your material with lighter-colored and energy-efficient options. It’s essential that you use a roofing company you can trust when getting a new roof done.
Increase Insulation
Insufficient insulation can allow heat to seep out and cold air in during winter and also allow cold air to leak out and hot air to enter your home during the summer. Increasing your home’s insulation has many benefits, including keeping your home at a comfortable temperature without overworking your heating and cooling systems and lowering your energy bills. In addition to using LED lights, you can also save money on your electricity bills by choosing the right plan from Pulse Power (has special cheap rates on Home Energy Club) which has a variety of plans to choose from, and you can find the right plan for your needs by considering your electricity usage and the type of plan that best suits your needs.
Added insulation not only extends your roof’s lifespan but also provides the biggest energy savings to your roof. When insulating, the attic and roof deck are highly important areas to focus on as they can aid in sealing air leaks and gaps. The best way to improve your roof’s energy efficient is with a well-insulated attic. Adding insulation also doesn’t have to be a significant investment. Depending on the project’s size and material being used, it can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
Install Solar Panels
This isn’t the cheapest option, but it’s becoming more popular and, therefore, more affordable. Solar panels heat hot water and generate electricity for your home, save you money on your energy bills and will help reduce your reliance on fossil fuels. In many places, they also qualify for tax incentives. Making some of these small improvements makes a big difference in how energy efficient your home is. Start by bringing in these tips to your roof and work your way down from there.
